Jah Paul Jo, Ed Zeppelin, Carl Jah, Fresh Cheese 'n' Cheese, Put-Mon & Tortelvis.
Influences
ser-en-dip-i-ty n: the gift of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for
It is a well known fact that Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll’s, birthday falls on January 8th. It is a slightly lesser known fact that Jimmy Page, the creator and mastermind of Led Zeppelin and arguably the greatest hard rock (read: heavy metal, kids!) band ever, celebrates his birthday on January 9th. Given that England is six hours ahead of Tupelo, Mississippi, these two musical icons could have been born on the same day!!
It is almost an unknown fact that a strange, yet supremely talented, group of musicians calling themselves Dread Zeppelin played their first gig on January 8th, 1989 (or 1956 if you believe lead vocalist Tortelvis; but be forewarned, if you do, you’ll also be hearing stories of alien abductions, exploding Ford Pintos, otherworldly weight gains and bizarre parentage).
Elvis, Jimmy and Dread Zeppelin all born on the same day?!! Truly serendipitous!
Since that all-hallowed day in 1989, DREAD ZEPPELIN have released four full-length albums worldwide, have starred in several videos (including their clip of “Heartbreaker Hotel” that appears regularly on the MTV Beavis & Butthead show), have appeared in the motion picture “National Lampoon’s Last Resort” (playing themselves, natch) and have toured the world several times, including stops in such exotic locales as Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia & Japan.
Combining outlandish costumery, a tight and agressive musical approach and conjuring the charisma of three kings (Elvis, Zep and Bob Marley), Dread Zeppelin’s stage show has become a favorite the world over. Indeed, Kerrang Magazine (UK) were so moved after a live performance that they proclaimed Dread Zeppelin to be “The greatest covers band ever…”; and Robert Plant himself, lead vocalist of Led Zeppelin, admitted that he preferred Dread Zep’s version of “Your Time Is Gonna Come” to the original.
REVIEW: TOWN AND COUNTRY CLUB, LONDON UK - KERRANG Magazine (UK): July 13, 1991
By Chris Watts
Thursday, July 4, 1991 DOES ANYONE remember laughter?
You don't, of course, get to be a Dread Zeppelin by mistake. You don't get to be Tortelvis by simply wearing a fright wig and a rhinestone belt. It's not as if Dread Zeppelin are bozos. In fact, everything about the greatest show on earth is exquisitely engineered for maximum 'inner-tainment' - Memphis style - and who would have thought that they'd be on their second album and third tour of Europe? A joke? You must be kiddin'.
Dread Zeppelin are superlative cabaret. The whole glorious concept is an utter show from the minute the band introduce the awesome sight of Tortelvis and his faithful moron sidekick. The response from the capacity crowd is suitably deflating: "You fat bastard! You fat bastard!"
Tortelvis is indeed a fat bastard and no yank thicket. In fact, Dread Zeppelin are smarter than the whole sorry system put together. You don't get to be a Dread Zeppelin by being crap at what you do. Behind the silly costumes and surreal stagecraft, Dread Zeppelin are as talented as their namesakes. It's no mean feat to combine 'Heartbreak Hotel' with 'Black Dog' and 'Rock 'N' Roll' with 'Misty Mountain Hop' and avoid the pitfalls of becoming a simple piss-take. That would be too lazy. Dread Zeppelin are a cartoon, certainly, but they are also highly sophisticated.
Tortelvis himself - equal parts a superb vocal mimic and a master of the absurd - is deadpan. If the original fat tragedy from Graceland can see all this, I hope he's smiling like everybody else. You don't, after all, get to be a legend by taking yourself too seriously.
Dread Zeppelin finally deliver their showstopper-from-hell. 'Stairway To Heaven' closes the circus, and just how they've managed to transform this overlong epic into a reggae sunsplash singalong remains a mystery. It shouldn't, but it works. Brilliantly. Wipe away a tear.
The fact that Dread Zeppelin are Grammy-nominated is as much of an appeal as the shaky drum solo and the ever-faithful closing announcement of, "Ladies and gentlemen, Tortelvis has left the building!"
Rediculous? Of course Dread Zeppelin are rediculous, but if you haven't gotten the point of it yet then don't bother coming round to my place for a fancy dress karaoke party.
Greetings ayah, new stuff out now! Get nu shirtz & hoodies fi dem cold days dem on www.jah-army.com. for more infos plz subscribe to I&I blog: http://lnk.ms/0NXCt or become a fan on facebook at http://lnk.ms/1w2wl 1love J.A.H.
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