LED ZEPPELIN

As preparations for the iconic Knebworth concerts in 1979 began, Jimmy Page took a meticulous approach to his performance. He crafted a cassette tape featuring a soundboard recording of three distinct parts of his guitar solo from a show two years prior, intended for Steve Jander, the Showco laser technician. Accompanying this tape was a carefully handwritten set of instructions that would allow Jander to synchronize the visual effects with Page’s music. Page was determined to elevate Led Zeppelin's return to the stage that August, and he penned detailed notes outlining his vision for his guitar solo, highlighting how visual elements should enhance the audience's experience. Notably, he specified that his violin bow should glow dramatically as he pointed it skyward.

In his notes, Page articulated his creative vision: “Bow strobed overhead leading into the first bowed chords and the appearance of the pyramid. Staccato repeat (pyramid turns 1/4). Repeat speeds up, and the pyramid revolves and stops when I start on the wah-wah. Smoke rises from behind the pyramid. More high and low wah-wah notes lead to more staccato repeats, culminating with the bow waved and strobing above my head. The pyramid builds to a spin even before the drum entrance.”

This invaluable piece of loose-leaf paper, which outlined Page’s ambitious ideas, was entrusted to Steve Jander, who led Showco’s laser department from 1977 to 1980, along with the personalized cassette tape and its three handwritten stickers. With Page’s vision in hand, Jander was poised to transform these artistic concepts into an unforgettable reality for the Knebworth shows, ensuring that the performance would leave an indelible mark on the audience.