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Ramble On: Introduction

After a mere four years of working freelance for Orange I decided it was time for me to make an attempt of getting one step further, to second base, you might say. ‘Can I pretty please have a column where I write about everything music related, and give it a cool Lester Bangs sorta name?’ I was holding my breath waiting impatiently for the reply; ‘Let’s give it a go.’ Shit, so I’m doing this – a column where I share my thoughts on whatever, but what do I call it?! Then all of a sudden, there it was, clear as day; ‘Ramble On’ – it’s perfect! I landed on this name as I, well, talk a lot, and the Zeppelin song is an absolute banger.

Growing up I knew Led Zeppelin from my dad’s record collection, to me they were one of those epic bands from way back when, when rock ‘n’ roll was still new, and giants walked the earth – there was no one like them, except maybe Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd. All three giants from lost times that helped shape music the way it is today. I never dreamt in a million years that I’d ever get the chance to catch any of them live, well, Zeppelin for obvious reasons, that ship tragically sailed and sunk on the 25th of September 1980 with the passing of John Bonham. 

Ozzy, photo by Fin Costello

However, I’ve managed to see Robert Plant twice, first with Alison Krauss in 2008, then second at the iTunes festival at Roundhouse in 2014. My heart skipped a beat both times as I cried myself through ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ – how could I be hearing these songs played live? I’ve also seen another quarter of Zeppelin in the flesh with John Paul Jones playing with Seasick Steve, where he played a variety of instruments alongside bass, some of which I’d never seen before and to this day am still unaware of what were. Obscure to say the least! 

I’ve somehow also managed to catch Black Sabbath twice before it all ended (although not with Bill Ward, gutted!) – first time in 2014 with Motörhead (which again for me was a major childhood dream come true!) and Soundgarden supporting, not knowing the importance of what I was witnessing and the end of two eras to come as both Lemmy and Chris Cornell, two such massive figures within their own genres, passed away within the next couple of years.

Pink Floyd

Last summer I also got to see Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, my Virgo birthday brother from another mother; I’d been obsessing over Waters since watching his ‘In the Flesh’ DVD at 13, and being gifted Floyd’s ‘Wish you Were Here’ for Christmas that same year. Fast forward a few years to finding ‘Live at Pompeii’ and the damage was done, hell, you don’t get that stuff these days. The stuff they use to have, do, well, we probably don’t get that these days either… Anyway, I’m loosing track as I often do, hence the name ‘Ramble On’ (works well, huh?), which brings me to my next point of the fact that I have yet to see Jimmy Page perform; the ultimate guitarist, and the final boss of rock ’n’ roll legacy. Maybe just break out that Earls Court dragon suit one last time…?!

Despite being fortunate enough to have caught these incredible artists decades after it all begun, I can’t help but speculating and dreaming about how it would have been to see them in the glory of their heyday, when Black Sabbath spent more money on coke than recording, Pink Floyd exploring psychedelics and visuals at the UFO club, and Led Zeppelin melting minds with four day long versions of ‘Dazed and Confused’ while taking on the title as ‘the greatest band in the world’. Until time travel’s invented I’ll just watch ‘The Song Remains the Same’ religiously instead, and ramble on.

  1. Axel
    Axel says:

    Sorry, but Jimmy Page used an Orange/MATAMP 200 Watt amplifier.
    Until about 1970, all Orange amps were produced by MATAMP and therefore at that time wore the name Orange/MATAMP.
    MATAMP still makes great guitar and bass amps in absolute craftsmanship.
    Every MATAMP – made in Huddersfield, GREAT BRITAIN!
    Best regards

  2. Hutch
    Hutch says:

    Very nice start! Interestingly, I discovered the Mighty Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath by stealing Zep II, Smash Hits, and Sabbath records from my older bro, I was 8 years old (1979), played them on my Scooby Doo record player- still have them today…Mind blowing!!
    Looking forward to your next article!
    Good luck

    • Ella Stormark
      Ella Stormark says:

      Hey Hutch! Pardon the extremely slow reply on my end. Thanks so much for reading and for the kind words!

      Hearing those bands played through a Scooby Doo record player, what a collision of worlds! Your eight year old mind must have been blown, that’s so awesome you still have the records too!

      Thanks again for reading, take care!

      Ella

  3. Marion Sanchez
    Marion Sanchez says:

    I was fortunate enough to see Zeppelin’s last concert in the states In Oakland. Just turned sixteen and a buddy and I drove 100 miles, definitely worth it! Also saw Jimmy at the ARMS concert and three other times solo. Saw Plant solo once as well.

    • Ella Stormark
      Ella Stormark says:

      Hey Marion! That must have been absolutely incredible! I saw Iron Maiden at sixteen and that sorta live music experience at that age really is incredible – I cant even imagine seeing Zeppelin! I’m still yet to see Jimmy but have been fortunate enough to see Robert Plant twice, as well as John Paul Jones with Seasick Steve. Seeing the four of them back in their heyday though, oh my.

      Thanks for reading and sharing that with me, take care!

      Ella