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FRED ZEPPELIN AT THE FLOWERPOT
Pounding, power-rock of the very highest order as the Fredz led the Flowerpot faithful in a celebration of the music of demi-gods Led Zeppelin.
From the first notes of an electrifying ‘Communication Breakdown’ right through to a crescendonic ‘Kashmir’ encore, this fab four-piece paid tribute to Messrs. Page and Plant’s legacy with fitting passion and the ultimate respect.
Cool Kevin Brown as John Paul Jones on bass and drummer Stephen ‘Blackie’ Black as John Bonham hammered out the perfect back-beat for the band’s two virtuosi. Vocalist Steven Gale, a dead ringer for West Bromwich’s number one son Robert Plant, with his tousled strawberry-Titian curls, signature strutting and back-arched pouting, scream/sang the seething, sell-out crowd into willing submission, orchestrating their singalongs with experienced expertise.
Bandannaed lead guitarist Keith Jenkins as legendary axe-man James Patrick (Jimmy) Page illuminated the stage with breath-taking, flying-fingered riffery of the highest quality and in the most extraordinary quantity, classic cut after cut. ‘Ramble On,’ ‘Black Dog,’ ‘S.2.H.,’ a storming ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Maid’ double-header plus an extended, special effects-spattered ‘Whole Lotta Love’ were just some of the highlights in an altogether stratospheric performance.
We took a ride on a Stairway to rock Heaven and stayed there all night.
******. Eleven out of ten. In a word. Superb.
Derby Evening Telegraph - 1st May 2007
FRED ZEPPELIN? WE WHOLE LOTTA LOVED IT
10:30 - 29 March 2007 Saturday saw a first visit to Tamworth from West Midland cover band Fred Zeppelin.
Formed in 1993, The Fredz as they have become affectionately known, were the first big cover band.
The band comprising of Steven Gale (vocals), Keith Jenkins (lead guitar), Kevin Brown (bass), and Steve Black (drums) gave the 200-plus audience at The Palace a night to remember.
The two hour set was a good selection of classics and not so well known tracks, but the audience bopped, stomped and sang their way through all of them.
Steven's vocals were a powerful tribute to Robert Plant, who has seen the band himself on three occasions over the years.
Backed up by Keith Jenkin's awesome guitar riffs and a driving beat from bass and drums, they made full use of The Palace's amazing PA system, which once belonged to Metallica.
Ramble On and Since I Been Lovin' You warmed the audience, the acoustic set was superb and was well appreciated by the crowd.
Superb solos by the band, showed they really are a class act, one of the reasons they played Rock and Blues festival ten years ago, to an audience of over twenty thousand.
Classics like Heartbreaker and Whole Lotta Love had the crowd singing along.
All in all a good night's entertainment.
Tamworth, has in The Palace, a top flight music and entertainment venue, with many more big bands booked and a few more in the pipeline I would certainly recommend having a look for yourselves.
Tamworth Herald
February 2005. RPM Magazine, Reviewed by 'The Voice' FRED ZEPPELIN, The Chestnuts Marquee, December 2004
I must admit that I was a Fred Zeppelin VIRGIN. Not anymore. I had heard good things about this lot, so I just had to check em out and I'm glad I did. Walking through the door and doing a double take on this guy at the entrance I had this sudden freeze thinking Mr Plant himself was in the room, and when he took to the stage, noy only is he a dead ringer for Robert Plant, but he moves and sounds incredibly like the original, as indeed do all the members of this wonderful tribute band. Not the biggest of venues, but filled with wonderful sounds like, 'Rock and Roll, Stairway to Heaven, Black Dog and Whole Lotta Love', it had me wishing my hair was down to my arse again. An excellent nights entertainment, a must see band if you haven't already done so! I can't be the only virgin out there with a hairy arse, oh no that was wishing my hair was down to........Forget it
Are you ready for Freddy? at Marrs Bar (Nov 2004)
THERE was a whole lotta love in Worcester at the weekend as a Led Zeppelin tribute band rolled into the Faithful City.
Scores of fans packed the Marrs Bar on Friday night for the sell-out show to see the group tackle hit after hit from the band.
The audience were treated to Black Dog, Dazed and Confused, Whole Lotta Love – and plenty more.
Everyone from teenagers to greying rockers, danced along wildly, proving the timeless appeal of Led Zep's tunes – and of their imitators ability to pull off accomplished renditions faithful to the original.
There was a show of lighters as the band launched into Stairway To Heaven and the crowd were whipped up into a frenzy as punchy numbers such as Heartbreaker and Rock and Roll were given an airing alongside lesser known, but no less amazing, songs such as Dancing Days.
The group – who all have day jobs – have been playing together for 11 years and really packed the punches, gelling as a unit with Steven Gale – at their helm with his crystal clear vocals and some unbelievable jamming from their bandanaed guitarist.
It was evident from their gargantuan two-and-a-half-hour performance that their passion and belief has driven them forward. In the absence of the real thing, it doesn't come a lot better than this.
Joby Mullens
Rock Stars Secret visit at Robin2 (23rd Dec 1998)
Members of Fred Zeppelin were staggered when they discovered ... Robert Plant ... had slipped into their recent gig at the Robin2. He arrived with relatives and hovered for 50 mins ... But it was not until afterward that FZ found out that they had been observed by the man himself: who also bought a T-shirt for guitarist Jimmy Page ...
Drummer Steve Black said it was the third time the rock star had attended one of their gigs ... "Everybody had known Robert Plant was in the room except for ourselves !"
... "It would be great if Jimmy Page would come to a gig too !"
(excerpt) - the Express & Star
A Great Birthday at Kinver Comm Centre (21st May 1998)
This was the first time I had seen the 'Freds' perform the great "Stairway To Heaven" - and what a stunning performance it was.
As singer Steve Gale said, what other song could they possibly their fifth anniversary gig with ?
The village hall in leafy Kinver was hotter than a pizza oven and packed to the rafters with rockers of all ages.
It was a more appropriate venue than it may appear, given Led Zeppelin's forte for music to chill out in the middle of a field to.
The great Fred Zep treated us to more from their never-ending catalogue, including 'Dazed and Confused' and 'The Rain Song'.
It was one hell of a birthday party!
Leigh Rowley - the Dudley News
Fred Zeppelin at the Lickey End Club (13th March 1998)
Fred Zeppelin...an ultimate tribute
Travelling to England last week, I had the pleasure of visiting a show which I will remember the rest of my life... FRED ZEPPELIN, a tribute land situated in the Midlands (Near Birmingham I believe) were playing at a local club.
The first thing I noticed, was the remarkable appearance of the vocalist Steve Gale: He looked amazingly like Robert Plant some 15 years ago! Then, after the first 15 seconds of the opening song, THE ROVER, i knew it.... this would be more than well worth a detour of 200 miles to my original travelling route! They just kept on...ACHILLES, GALLOWS POLE, NO QUARTER, WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, GOING TO CALIFORNIA, were the highlights of this bunch of sheer energy.
Truly skilled musicians, a guitar player to whose speed and precision I seldom have seen equals. A vocalist whose voice could not come closer to R.P. unless it was himself, a steady bass player who also showed his 6-string capabilities in GALLOWS POLE, and a powerful drummer who kept the things going at any time.
Just to complete a perfect performance and make a zephead complete happy, they rounded off with DAZED & CONFUSED and this V12 engine of a guitarist, suddenly had a VIOLIN BOW in his hand ...and I tell you, he knows how use it.....
Don’t miss a FZ gig if you have a chance!
Per (from the Land of the Ice and Snow) (Norway !!)
Fred Zeppelin at the Kings Head Worcester (24th January 1998)
The "Freds" do the whole range of Zeppelin songs. From the blues riff based rock of the first album, through to the eastern influenced tunes from the later albums. And just as Led Zeppelin could be delicate and subtle as well as heavy, in the middle of the "Freds" set is an acoustic session. With favourites like "Going to California", "Thank You" and the "Rain Song" (sadly they didn't play it this night). That's the other thing about the "Freds" they don't play the same set twice.
At the end of the night they were called back for two encores, finishing with "Stairway to Heaven", a number they don't play very often. In all they had played for two and a half hours.
The "Freds" aren't just a tribute band. They are four musicians playing the music they enjoy, with a synergy, reminiscent of the original Zeppelin, that takes the music beyond just performing covers of tunes.
If you only go to one gig this year make it a Fred Zeppelin one, you won't be disappointed.
Guitar George - the SpecTater -(Worcestershire) [Excerpt]
If you hav'nt seen FRED ZEPPELIN before, try to, they're awesome. The guy that fronts the band looks and sounds just like Robert Plant, in fact the whole band sounded just like the real thing, really bringing back the atmosphere of the seventies, and they were well received by everyone especially me, bloody hippy.
NEIL - AWOL Magazine
Freds rock village
FRED ZEPPELIN - Kinver Community Centre
Kinver did not know quite what had hit it when the two Steves, Keith, and Kev brought their faithfull Led Zeppelin homage to the village hall. Kicking off with the catchy Misty Mountain Hop, the awesome foursome rocked the place to its rafters for two uproarious hours. The Freds never play the same set twice, so there is no danger of them ever falling into the predictability trap. Their hard-edged 70's sound deserves ten out of ten for authenticity. The crowd may not have been massive, but we made more than enough din - proving the old adage quality is better than quantity. And the likes of Whole Lotta Love, Black Dog and Dazed and Confused had us demonstrating our flair for immaginative footwork. By the end, the audience resembled a cross between a line dancing convention and the cast of Riverdance. Robert Plant and Co. would be proud.
Leigh Rowley. STOURBRIDGE NEWS
The Running Horse Nottingham
"Hey - did you hear the one about the skinny guitarist, bricklayer drummer, quiet bass guitarist that no-one knows anything about, and the lead singer with the leonine hair?"
No, it's not the start of a joke, it's how Steven Gale described 'Fred Zeppelin', tribute band to Led Zeppelin. Away from their home territory, where the Freds are established, may have made some bands nervous, but not so. The musicians were relaxed and chatting before their blistering set, telling tales of drum kit negotiations, bootleg videos, and meeting Plant.
The Running Horse is a small pub venue, but had filled up by the time the intro-tape began. 'In The Evening' strode in with the assuredness that told us the score - be impressed - be very impressed. This was a well paced set with three exellent opening songs - especially 'Heartbreaker'- that had a blistering solo from Keith and a titanic Plantesque scream from Steven. 'Since I've Been Lovin You' brought the energy level down to the restless' about to lose my mind' blues. This showed the rhythm section of Steve Black - sat behind a tangerine drum set and cymbals the size of a satelite dish, and Kevin Brown (bass) with a halo of dark-angel hair, as a marriage made in musical heaven. 'How Many More Times' wah-wah-ed its way in like a start to a seventies cop show (think Starsky and Hutch) where we were spoilt to an interaction of vocals and guitar on the 'Rings, Peals and All' call and response section.
Okay, so I'm a soft-touch for an acoustic section, but I thoughly enjoyed 'Going To California'. which saw Kevin swapping his bass for a six string, whilst Kieth did the mandolin-thang on his six-string. There was some impressive bass and guitar double-stopping in 'Ramble On'.
My favourite was'Dazed and Confused', which incorporated the 'If You're Going To San Francisco' line and had a bewitching section were Keith, wielding an incandescent bow like a sorcerer, threw magical spells out into the audience.
The Freds are brilliant, their set is authentic and comprehensive. Go and see them - I guarantee you won't be disapointed.
Jill Bellamy - 'THE LEMON TREE' The Robert Plant Fanzine.
After finally catching up with the band myself at The Meadow Club, Nottingham last month, I'll certainly add my recomendation. The lads are fans like us and are friendly and down to earth as well as talented. A great night out.
LIZ HAMES 'LEMON TREE' EDITOR
The Lyndhurst, Birmingham.
With the 'full house' sign hung on the Lyndhursts door by 8.45pm, this was clearly going to be a memorable night. Fred Zeppelin are one of the better tribute bands to appear in recent years, Zep classics bounced off the walls of the room, and the assembled metal-heads were dazed into a state of rock'n'roll nostalgia. After playing every Zep song imaginable (including an awesome 'immigrant song') Fred Zeppelin left the walls of The Lyndhurst sagging with sweat, and the crowd gagging for more.
The Sutton Coldfield Observer
'The Health Cafe' - Cannock
4th April 1997
THE FREDS on Friday featured Led Zep tribute band Fred Zeppelin at The Health Cafe. The band was late starting - delayed by an aerobics class still in progress when they arrived!
So the punters were treated to a sound check and allowed to watch the band set up. Eventually getting started at 9.45pm, the band performed for more than two hours, giving more than value for money. Lead singer Steven Gale was so laid back he looked fit to fall off his stool. ut he can afford to be so cool. He has crooned his way through 100 gigs - the Cannock one being that centenary marker.
As you would expect, with all that experience under their belt, the guys pulled off a confident, well-rehearsed performance. Faithfull to the originals, The Freds meandered through a varied set of up-tempo and acoustic numbers. All the band, without exception are enormously talented. They even managed to hold the sizeable audience's attention during the lesser-known numbers. Particulary popular were 'The Lemon Song'-and of course the encore 'Whole Lotta Love' which would have been criminal to leave out.
THE CANNOCK MERCURY
The Running Horse, Nottingham
Saturday March 8th 1997.
This was a Zeppelin fans night; every inch of floor space being taken, it was probably safest behind the bar or on the stage. No one seemed to mind as they had a feast of high octane Zeppelin to propel them to and from the bar. The pleasure of this tribute band is that they not only sound right, they look the part too - Steve giving the most calorie burning vocal performance that i've seen in a long time. The finale was as expected - Stairway To Heaven; in fact the audience was not letting them off stage untill they got it! Guaranteed brilliant night.
Hilary , at 'The Runner'
The Kings Highway, Quinton
Fred Zeppelin -23rd May 1997.
Spot-on tribute to Midland heroes
The last time I ventured inside The Kings Highway I was still in a carrycot. Twenty years later - and minus the carrycot, though I think I was still the youngest in the room - I made a return trip, to share in the Fred Zeppelin experience. And what an experience it was.
The foursome, Midlanders like their heroes, gave a spot-on tribute to 70's supergroup Led Zeppelin. Lead singer and Robert Plant lookalike Steven Gale put heart and soul into faithfull renditions of numbers like Misty Mountain Hop and No Quarter. Backed up by guitarists Kev Brown and Keith Jenkins and Dudley drummer Steve Black, they awed the audience with a selection ranging from hard-hitting heavy metal to an atmospheric acoustic section.
Spectators sat cross-legged on the floor, absorbing the ambience of the latter part of the show.
Hopefully, I won't have to wait another 20 years for a repeat performance.
by Leigh Rowley - HALESOWEN NEWS
The Forest Inn, Bromsgrove
THE FREDS PLAY A SET OF TRULY CLASSIC ROCK
Deep in The Forest, something stirred... a long-extinct rock monster, the Tyrannosaurus Rex of its age, was being brought back to life with energetic and startlingly realistic skill by a bunch of fanatical Midlands Led Zep aficionados.
Fred Zeppelin's third visit to Bromsgrove saw a sold-out crowd enthralled by almost two hours of truly classic rock. A superb extended Whole Lotta Love, an epic Dazed and Confused, a raucous Rock 'n' Roll, a ballsy Black Dog - all these and more were belted out with conviction and near-perfect authenticity. Close your eyes and it could have been 1974 again... Open them and you would have seen new Fred Zep vocalist and Robert Plant lookalike, Steven Gale, in howlingly confident form. And although Keith Jenkins bears little resemblance to Jimmy Page facially, he can certainly play like the Led Zep axeman - his solo on Heartbreaker was nothing short of astonishing.
Acoustic songs were dealt with brilliantly and the band even resisted the temptation to play Stairway to Heaven!
- long live Fred Zeppelin!
Howard Walker - Worcester County Standard
