The two most popular and successful live acts of the 1970s were Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin, who played to capacity crowds night after night. Coincidentally, both were handled by Concerts West, one of the biggest tour promoters in America. In May 1974, the company offered complimentary tickets to Zeppelin for Elvis' gig at the LA Inglewood Forum, with the possibility of meeting him afterward. The group were huge Elvis admirers and three members (Plant, Page and Bonham) gladly accepted along with their infamous manager, Peter Grant. Although not a big fan of hard rock, Elvis knew who Zeppelin were and was amused that his young step-brother, Ricky, was so excited to hear that they'd be in the audience.
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Bonham were in Los Angeles for the launch of their record label Swan Song. The night after the launch party at the Bel Air Hotel, the band, minus bassist John Paul Jones, attended Elvis Presley's concert at the Forum. At some point, Elvis must have been alerted to the presence of the rock group in the audience because during the show - which was taped and later released on record as 'Live in L.A'. - he can be heard saying to his band, 'Wait a minute. ... If we can start together, fellas, because we've got Led Zeppelin out there. ... Let's try to look like we know what we're doing, whether we do or not'.
Plant also revealed a funny turn near the end of the evening. 'At that meeting, Jimmy Page joked with Elvis that we never sound-checked - but if we did, all I wanted to do was sing Elvis songs', Plant said. 'Elvis thought that was funny and asked me, 'Which songs do you sing?' I told him I liked the ones with all the moods, like that great country song 'Love Me' -- 'Treat me like a fool / Treat me mean and cruel / But love me'. So when we were leaving, after a most illuminating and funny 90 minutes with the guy, I was walking down the corridor. He swung 'round the door frame, looking quite pleased with himself, and started singing that song: 'Treat me like a fool ... ' I turned around and did Elvis right back at him. We stood there, singing to each other'.
Zeppelin's and Elvis' paths would cross another two times in the '70s. The next meeting took place at Elvis' home in Memphis, which Jerry Schilling, a noted member of the King's Memphis Mafia, wrote about in his book, Me and a Guy Named Elvis. After swapping jewelry, Elvis thought it would be funny to pull a prank.
'Before the evening was over, Elvis said he wanted to make another exchange. He was out of watches, but had another bit of fashion in mind', remembered Schilling. 'So he stood, eyed John [Bonham], and said, 'Let's swap pants', while simultaneously, in expert Python fashion, letting his pajama bottoms drop beneath his robe. [Zeppelin tour manager] Richard [Cole] was shocked into silence, while quiet Sheila and John burst out laughing. Nobody accepted Elvis' offer, but it was a great note to end the night on'.
The final meeting between Zeppelin and Elvis took place on the Baltimore airport tarmac while both were on tour in 1977. Elvis' stepbrother David Stanley later recalled the encounter.
'There was one other time the Elvis tour ran across the band while out on the road. It was at the Washington / Baltimore airport. We were playing in Washington, and Led Zeppelin was playing at the Capital Centre. We arrived on the Lisa Marie, Elvis' private jet, and Led Zeppelin arrived on the Caesar's Chariot. It was a hell of a sight to see these two private jets sitting side-by-side on the private tarmac'.
Elvis Presley inspired most, if not all the great rock 'n' roll acts of the '60s, '70s and beyond. Led Zeppelin were no exception, and the opportunities when their paths crossed remained a thrill for the band and the King himself.
Elvis Presley and Memphis Mafioso Red West are on their way to the Felt Forum in Los Angeles on May 11, 1974. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham attended the sold out evening concert.
RobertPlant on CBS's The Late Show with David LettermanFebruary 4, 2011 The first time Robert Plant heard Elvis Presley: 'It was an opiate'
