If you've not already heard here is the official press release.

Atlantic Records has announced the forthcoming release of the mother lode of
Led Zeppelin live recordings.

Slated for a simultaneous May 27th release are "LED ZEPPELIN DVD," a
two-disc set, and "HOW THE WEST WAS WON," a three-CD set. Long sought-after
by Zeppelin devotees and collectors, this marks the first-ever official
release of these rare and legendary performances, which span the group's
entire career. Much-rumored and eagerly anticipated, the DVD and CD sets
each contain entirely different material, so there is no overlap between the
two releases. As a gesture to the band's millions of fans, both sets are
specially priced - the 2-DVD set at 29.98 list, and the 3-CD set at 26.98
list. "LED ZEPPELIN DVD" will be marketed by Atlantic Records in
collaboration with Warner Strategic Marketing.
Clocking in at nearly five and a half hours, "LED ZEPPELIN DVD" has been
culled from just a handful of performances which were ever filmed during the
band's extraordinary lifetime. As guitarist Jimmy Page explains, "We were
never really part of the pop scene. It was never what Led Zeppelin was
supposed to be about. Our thing was playing live. In that sense, Zeppelin
was very much an underground band. The fact that it became as successful as
it did was something that was almost out of our control. We actually shunned
commercialism, which is why so little official footage of the band has ever
been seen before."

Featured are performances from: London's Royal Albert Hall in January 1970,
just one year after the release of their debut album; their triumphant
five-night run at London's Earl's Court in May 1975; and their
record-breaking shows at England's Knebworth Festival in August 1979, just
one year before the death of drummer John Bonham led to the band's
dissolution. Also included are songs from New York's Madison Square Garden
in July 1973 which were not included in "THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME" concert
film, the only previously released live Zeppelin footage. Other highlights
of the DVD include: extremely rare television appearances, among them a
performance for Danish television in March 1969; promotional clips; TV
interviews; behind-the scenes material; and even a bit of fan-shot "bootleg"
footage.

Visually and sonically stunning, "LED ZEPPELIN DVD" has been painstakingly
restored, remixed, and remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS, and
PCM Two-Channel Stereo - under the personal supervision of Jimmy Page and
director Dick Carruthers.
Recorded in California, "HOW THE WEST WAS WON" is a brilliant audio
complement to the DVD. The material on the three CDs has been culled from
two of the most legendary and incendiary live performances by Led Zeppelin,
at the Los Angeles Forum and Long Beach Arena on June 25th and 27th, 1972.
Melded together and sequenced to replicate a single concert from beginning
to end, it captures the band at the height of their formidable powers. Among
the highlights are a 25-plus minute version of "Dazed And Confused" and a
23-minute medley based around "Whole Lotta Love." Alongside such classics as
"Stairway To Heaven" and "Rock And Roll," these shows find the band
introducing songs from their forthcoming "HOUSES OF THE HOLY" album, which
would not be released for another nine months.

2003 marks the 35th anniversary of the first fateful rehearsal which brought
together the talents of guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant,
bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham in the summer
of 1968. Universally recognized as one of the most innovative, powerful, and
influential groups in rock history, Led Zeppelin has sold some 200 million
albums worldwide. This is all the more impressive considering that the band
only existed for a comparatively short 12-year period. In the decade between
1969 and 1979, the British quartet released eight studio albums and a live
soundtrack (a posthumous set of previously unreleased studio material
followed in '82).

While their work in the studio was brilliant, Led Zeppelin's work onstage
was transforming. In concert, the band displayed a power and charisma
unparalleled in modern music. Never content to simply replay their
recordings, Zeppelin used the stage as a creative platform in its own
right - introducing material live before it was recorded, and always
expanding, improvising, and pushing into uncharted territory. Their
legendary, epic live sets - often lasting more than three hours - were
shamanistic experiences which traversed exceptional musical territory, sonic
journeys which were truly cathartic experiences for the band and audience
alike.


I for one can't wait. Apparently Jimmy Page is looking to release a host of previously bootlegged performances all properly mastered and from soundboard sources. Prince wake up!

i'm really glad to hear this. i had read an interview with jimmy page where someone asked him about releasing some old live stuff like this and he replied something on the order of - what for, they're all bootleged. i am glad he changed his mind. the june 25, 1972 show is a good choice.

I have that Earls Court show on video
and it is pretty incredible.

So it'll take another 10-15 years before
Prince dries up and THEN releases the vault stuff??

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin about!

I cant believe this..this is great news. This is going to be the be all to end all.

origmnd said:

I was gonna get that one but heard the sound wasn't too hot. The Seattle 77 show is also doing the rounds too. Is that any good?

that DVD with the MSG show is out here already,nearly bought it the other day cos it was pretty cheap.

WildheartXXX said:

Everybody and their grandfather says that's one of the best ones.

I'm talking about the Seattle show, btw.
[This message was edited Sun Mar 9 18:53:04 PST 2003 by Supernova]

Yes the seattle is just as good.

too farkin coool!

Thank God! I think I have most of this stuff but it'll be great to hear the remastered, cleaned-up versions.

This is what I have been wating for all my life.

...and, yes, Seattle '77 is awesome.

First Bowie, The Jam and now Led Zep. Come on Prince follow suit. Kiss and make up with Warners please...

Incredible ,that's a great news! 1 of my dreams is released now I wanna the same things with Prince.

Sounds Good&I've heard alot about the 77 Seattle gig.

seattle 77 is quite good, but i much prefer 1971, 1972, & 1973 shows from zep. but like i said earlier, i'm really very excited about this release.

medoc2003 said:

I have over 100 zep shows on CD. But haven't got any of the vids 'cept Knebworth 79 which isn't that great as its all close ups. The best shows are from 71/72 i think. However i do like the 75 and 77 tours for their sheer audacity.

i was lucky enough to have seen zeppelin on their 1977 tour back when i was in high school at the omni in atlanta, ga. cool show.