September 7th: The Biggest Music Headlines

Led Zeppelin Make Their Live Debut As The New Yardbirds

On September 7, 1968, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham made their live debut at the Gladsaxe Teen Club, housed in a school gym outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. Approximately 1,200 kids from the school watched the band – who were billed as The New Yardbirds – play songs like “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown.” Following the Scandinavian tour, the group spent nine days in the studio recording and mixing their first album, which was reportedly built from their live setlist. Not long after, the band changed their name to Led Zeppelin, after a member of The Yardbirds issued a cease and desist letter.

In 1978, Keith Moon, the high-spirited drummer for The Who, died at the age of 32. Joining the band in 1964 before they released their first single, Moon appeared on the band’s first eight albums – from their 1965 debut, My Generation to 1978’s Who Are You, which was released two weeks before his death. While Moon reportedly said he only enjoyed playing with The Who, he participated in the occasional outside project as well. In 1966, he worked with Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck, pianist Nicky Hopkins, and soon-to-be Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones on the instrumental “Beck’s Bolero,” which was the b-side to “Hi Ho Silver Lining” and appeared on the album Truth.

In 2003,​​ singer, songwriter, and musician Warren Zevon lost his battle to cancer at the age of 56. Zevon began his career as a session musician, and eventually became the piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers. By the late 70s, Zevon gained fame as a solo artist, scoring such hits as “Werewolves of London,” and eventually releasing 15 albums. He was also a sought-after songwriter, whose works were covered by a variety of artists, including Linda Ronstadt.

In 1968, The Doors began their first UK visit with a two-night engagement at The Roundhouse in London. Granada TV filmed the sold-out gigs (later broadcast as The Doors Are Open). The star-studded audience included members of The Rolling Stones and Traffic.

In 1997, Fleetwood Mac went to No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their live album, The Dance, which found the group reuniting after a ten-year hiatus. The album went on to sell over six million copies worldwide, becoming the fifth best-selling album of all time in the US. It featured such hit singles as “Landslide,” “The Chain,” and “Silver Springs.”

In 2001, Michael Jackson reunited onstage at Madison Square Garden with the Jackson Five at his 30th Anniversary Celebration. The New York City show, which also featured guest appearances by Eminem, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Britney Spears, and Destiny’s Child, also ended Jackson’s 11-year hiatus from performing in the US.

In 1985, David Bowie and Mick Jagger vaulted to No.1 on the UK singles chart with their duet version of the Martha Reeves and The Vandellas’ 1964 hit, “Dancing In The Street.”

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BORN ON SEPTEMBER 7:

1936: Joe Simon
1936: Buddy Holly
1947: Gloria Gaynor
1951: Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders)
1956: Diane Warren (Songwriter)
1961: LeRoi Moore (Dave Matthews Band)
1964: Eazy-E (NWA)

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