WARNER/ELEKTRA/ATLANTIC – WEA RECORDS
The world’s biggest band at the time was coming to tour Australia. Early 1972 saw Led Zeppelin arrive for a concert tour of Australia and New Zealand. The news press, media & TV channels were in a frenzy wanting to get interviews and photos of the band. Excitement was also building in the office when we heard the boys were coming to visit us in person. Robert Plant, John Bonham and Jimmy Page arrived and were so very charming and social with everyone. Robert prowled around the office like a lion king. He stopped point blank when he saw me at my desk typing something or other. In a flash he launched himself onto a chair in front of my desk and leaned over the top of my typewriter halting 2 inches (4cm) in front of my face. “Hello there” he purred “I really think you should come out with me tonight”. What could I say? We were all aware of his reputation, but diplomacy as a record company executive meant that I should say yes. However Jimmy Page then asked me if I knew where he could borrow an Australian Maton acoustic guitar as he’d heard they were very good. I contacted my former Go-Set journalist Greg Quill who was more than happy to lend Jimmy his Maton. Not wanting to go to their hotel on my own, my bestie Ronnie came with me to deliver the guitar to Jimmy.
We entered the hotel room only to be rushed at by John Bonham who picked me up and swinging me into the air a few times. Robert grabbed Ronnie on the boob and said “very nice”, at which she jumped back in shock. Jimmy Page apologized to her for their bad behavior. He was such a gentleman.
The concert at Sydney Showground was truly amazing and drew 28,000 fans, though some thought it was more like 38,000 as lots of people climbed the fence causing a stampede. Zeppelin played for 3 hours straight to the adoring audience. Ronnie and I took our seats in the top tier of the jam packed showground and the Lenard PA struggled to keep the sound above the noise of the screaming fans.
My son Daniel, a mad Zeppelin fan, hearing this story years later said “Dang Mum, do you mean there’s a chance Robert Plant could have been my father??” You gotta laugh!