For Badgeholders Only
Encyclopedia
For Badgeholders Only is a bootleg recording
of a rock concert
by English
band Led Zeppelin
, performed on June 23, 1977 at the Los Angeles Forum
in Los Angeles
, California
, a show which came towards the end of the band's 1977 North American concert tour
.
The title For Badgeholders Only most likely comes from Robert Plant's numerous references to "Badgeholders " (A slang term for a Groupie
) throughout the concert. For example, before performing "Trampled Under Foot
", Plant asks "Is there anybody on the spotlights who could find us a badgeholder?"
When it first appeared, this release was notable not only for the band's strong performance and superb sound quality recording, but also for the surprise guest, Keith Moon
from The Who
. Moon plays throughout the nearly 20 minute drum solo and returns later for the encore
s.
This concert occurred just two days after the equally-famous June 21, 1977 show, with that concert having been immortalised on the bootleg Listen to This Eddie. However, whereas the "Eddie" bootleg featured a recording made by audience member Mike Millard
, the recording that appeared on the original "For Badgeholders Only" vinyl bootleg was the work of an unknown taper. Millard did make his own recording of the June 23rd concert, but his tape did not appear until years later, when it was released on other bootlegs of the show. As with all bootlegs that have been made of Led Zeppelin concerts, these recordings were done in secret, and were issued illegally on vinyl and CD without the permission of the band.
The original vinyl issue of "For Badgeholders Only" was released on two separate double-lp releases, with the songs from the concert featured out-of-sequence, spread out over the two sets. The first release was simply titled "For Badgeholders Only", and came packaged in a plastic-wrapped sleeve, with a photocopied insert featuring a live shot of Page and a matrix number of "LZ 1234". "For Badgeholders Only (Part 2)", featured a picture of Plant and a matrix number of "LZ 7", and the remaining songs from the show, save for "The Song Remains the Same", which was not featured on either release. The labels on the records themselves all bore the same logo of a picture of a dragonfly on one side, and the words "Dragonfly Records" on the other. Later pressings of the album bore alternate labels on the records themselves, such as "Ruthless Rhymes", while still using the same covers.
As has since been revealed in recent years, it turns out that there were actually multiple tapers in the audience who were able to record the "Badgeholders" show. However, it appears that none of them were able to capture the entire concert without missing sections of music, or entire songs altogether. Because of this, collectors and bootleg labels alike have taken it upon themselves to compile the best parts from the numerous sources, so as to create a seamless listening experience of the complete concert.
Given the potentially limitless possibilities in mixing the multiple sources, as well as the good sound quality that most of them share, this concert has been released on bootleg many times. In most cases, the bootlegs have used the same "For Badgeholders Only" name as the title, even though the content on the release may be different from other releases that use the same name. Some bootleg labels have opted to use different names for the show, with one such release having been titled "Sgt. Page's Badgeholders Club Band", being a play on both the "For Badgeholders Only" moniker, as well as the Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. That bootleg release has since been discovered to have been directly copied from an existing fan-made compilation, made years before, entitled "Zeppelin Digital Volume 3".
" is the second song on the track listing, though the song was only played as a segue between "The Song Remains the Same" and "Sick Again". Some bootleggers have been known to put the song in the track listing and state "Whole Lotta Love
" and "Rock and Roll
" as one song, but this is misleading and only results in an improperly labeled track listing.
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
of a rock concert
Rock concert
The term rock concert refers to a musical performance in the style of any one of many genres inspired by "rock and roll" music. While a variety of vocal and instrumental styles can constitute a rock concert, this phenomenon is typically characterized by bands playing at least one electric guitar,...
by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
band Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, performed on June 23, 1977 at the Los Angeles Forum
The Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, a show which came towards the end of the band's 1977 North American concert tour
Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977
Led Zeppelin's 1977 North American Tour was the eleventh and final concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into three legs, with performances commencing on 1 April and concluding on 24 July 1977...
.
The title For Badgeholders Only most likely comes from Robert Plant's numerous references to "Badgeholders " (A slang term for a Groupie
Groupie
A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation....
) throughout the concert. For example, before performing "Trampled Under Foot
Trampled Under Foot
"Trampled Under Foot" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin, featured on their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.-Overview:The song was written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, and evolved out of a jam session in 1972...
", Plant asks "Is there anybody on the spotlights who could find us a badgeholder?"
When it first appeared, this release was notable not only for the band's strong performance and superb sound quality recording, but also for the surprise guest, Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
from The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. Moon plays throughout the nearly 20 minute drum solo and returns later for the encore
Encore (concert)
An encore is an additional performance added to the end of a concert, from the French "encore", which means "again", "some more"; multiple encores are not uncommon. Encores originated spontaneously, when audiences would continue to applaud and demand additional performance from the artist after the...
s.
This concert occurred just two days after the equally-famous June 21, 1977 show, with that concert having been immortalised on the bootleg Listen to This Eddie. However, whereas the "Eddie" bootleg featured a recording made by audience member Mike Millard
Mike Millard
Mike Millard, nicknamed "Mike The Mike" was an avid concert taper in the 1970s and 1980s, recording mostly Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The Rolling Stones concerts in California, especially at the Los Angeles Forum. He taped virtually every show at the Forum from 1974 to 1980...
, the recording that appeared on the original "For Badgeholders Only" vinyl bootleg was the work of an unknown taper. Millard did make his own recording of the June 23rd concert, but his tape did not appear until years later, when it was released on other bootlegs of the show. As with all bootlegs that have been made of Led Zeppelin concerts, these recordings were done in secret, and were issued illegally on vinyl and CD without the permission of the band.
The original vinyl issue of "For Badgeholders Only" was released on two separate double-lp releases, with the songs from the concert featured out-of-sequence, spread out over the two sets. The first release was simply titled "For Badgeholders Only", and came packaged in a plastic-wrapped sleeve, with a photocopied insert featuring a live shot of Page and a matrix number of "LZ 1234". "For Badgeholders Only (Part 2)", featured a picture of Plant and a matrix number of "LZ 7", and the remaining songs from the show, save for "The Song Remains the Same", which was not featured on either release. The labels on the records themselves all bore the same logo of a picture of a dragonfly on one side, and the words "Dragonfly Records" on the other. Later pressings of the album bore alternate labels on the records themselves, such as "Ruthless Rhymes", while still using the same covers.
As has since been revealed in recent years, it turns out that there were actually multiple tapers in the audience who were able to record the "Badgeholders" show. However, it appears that none of them were able to capture the entire concert without missing sections of music, or entire songs altogether. Because of this, collectors and bootleg labels alike have taken it upon themselves to compile the best parts from the numerous sources, so as to create a seamless listening experience of the complete concert.
Given the potentially limitless possibilities in mixing the multiple sources, as well as the good sound quality that most of them share, this concert has been released on bootleg many times. In most cases, the bootlegs have used the same "For Badgeholders Only" name as the title, even though the content on the release may be different from other releases that use the same name. Some bootleg labels have opted to use different names for the show, with one such release having been titled "Sgt. Page's Badgeholders Club Band", being a play on both the "For Badgeholders Only" moniker, as well as the Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. That bootleg release has since been discovered to have been directly copied from an existing fan-made compilation, made years before, entitled "Zeppelin Digital Volume 3".
Set List Of The Complete Concert
Please note that some bootlegs state that "The RoverThe Rover (song)
"The Rover" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.The song was originally meant to be an acoustic piece, being written at Bron-Yr-Aur in 1970 and then recorded at Stargroves during the Houses of the Holy sessions in 1972...
" is the second song on the track listing, though the song was only played as a segue between "The Song Remains the Same" and "Sick Again". Some bootleggers have been known to put the song in the track listing and state "Whole Lotta Love
Whole Lotta Love
"Whole Lotta Love" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is featured as the opening track on the band's second album, Led Zeppelin II, and was released in the United States and Japan as a single. The US release became their first hit single, it was certified Gold on 13 April 1970, when it...
" and "Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)
"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track from the band's fourth album in 1971, with a guest appearance by The Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart.-Overview:...
" as one song, but this is misleading and only results in an improperly labeled track listing.