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Graf Zeppelin ( I had a dream,
a crazy dream)
Imagine having a dream, a life long to do something that always seems just
out of reach.
Well that dream would become reality with one local phone call.
Just such a dream happened in 1998 for two musicians from Doncaster, each
having a lifelong ambition to do justice to a tribute to LED ZEPPELIN, a
legendary band in it's own right and extremely difficult to emulate.
Raith Wilson had been playing guitar from an early age, his idol was Jimmy
Page, the man who founded LED ZEPPELIN and even today stands as an example
to new generations of guitarists. Raith had turned professional but longed
to do a tribute to Zeppelin so he could play to his ability. On similar
lines, Richard Oxby had been looking for a band to match his excellent
vocal talent,
'an exact copy of Robert Plant' has been the way his
incredible vocal power has been described. He had an idea for a super
tribute, but year after year he had searched for the musicians to do the
job. All those talented enough were already working in other bands. Word
of mouth brought Raith's number and a cold December evening brought a
first meeting over coffee. Both knew they had what was needed and the
first buzz about their efforts coming to fruition. Richard sang 'Stairway'
to a backing track and the neighbours started knocking. Rich wasn't even
using a microphone!
From there events went stale, the band Raith had been rehearsing with
split, ironically, waiting around for a singer had been too much to bear.
Coming this far, Rich wasn't about to give up and he assured Raith that he
could find a line-up second to none. He called on his old friend Jonny
Booth, who he had known since his teens, knowing he would be an excellent
stand in for John Bohnham and the answer was favourable even if Jonny
wasn't sure at first. Finding a bass player was much harder as most of
those with the talent were in established bands, but rumour in music shops
was that a Nottinghamshire band had split and the bass player needed work.
Phil Firth came to the next meeting and the first rehearsal was set for
Jan 5th 1999. From the second attempt at 'Rock n Roll' everyone knew the
band would work, Rich giggled out the second verse he was that excited at
what he heard. Working on five songs a week the rehearsals grew stronger (rumour
of the quality of sound had brought mentions in two Sheffield based music
reviews) until on week four Raith came and announced the first gig date,
March 17th just weeks away.
After only a couple of months
the tribute band Graf Zeppelin have dispelled any doubts about the
strength of their reception on the pub and club scene.
Fronted by the Big Richard and his chums the lads have found themselves on
a heady cloud of success since their first gig.
Charity shows, clubs and pubs, they have done them all in this short time
and word is spreading fast about these four guys who have brought back
such a resurgence of interest in the original seventies super group.
Audience head counts have
revealed regular travellers from Sheffield, Nottingham and Chesterfield to
view this Doncaster based foursome.
Keeping faithfully to the songs of their heroes during all performances,
the favourite and most requested track is predictably Stairway to Heaven.
The success snowballed very quickly, too quickly for Raith, who
found it hard to combine playing in Graf due to work commitments. Jonny
too was finding it difficult to juggle full time work and family life
with life on the road. So after 3 fantastic years, the band were
looking for both another drummer and guitarist.
Their places were filled with Ritchie Spencer on the guitars and
Paul Oliver on drums. Both were talented musicians, and the gigs
continued on for a short while. But Rich knew that it didn’t have the
same feel or vibe as before, something was missing. He decided to call
time on the band.
The band was re-launched in 2004, with Raith back in the fold, and
joined by Bill Moon on bass and Paul Marshall taking over the sticks.
It was a good line up, many gigs were played and the old feelings were
coming back. But unfortunately this line up didn’t last as long as it
could have, due to personal and medical problems within the band. It
seemed that Graf Zeppelin had their final ‘swansong’.
But then in late 2007, a chance drive by between Rich and Raith led
to a roadside chat and the proposal of doing some sort of band again. A
phone round the last line up brought them together for a band meeting
and a few rehearsals, but Bill decided that he didn’t want to carry on.
Jon Booth came back into the band, and brought with him lifetime
friend and follow member of Gypsy Rose, Daz Chandler. Daz was willing
to try the bass duties; he had been a rhythm guitarist before.
Suddenly, rehearsals were back on full Graf Zeppelin power, with the
same vibe as when it first started.
2008 consisted of a few gigs here and there, putting the name back
into the market and now in 2009 it seems to be paying off with gigs
coming in at a nice pace. Keep looking in the gig guide section to see
where we are playing close to you. We would love for you to see us, and
please give us some feedback, either on the night, or via this website.
So the ends the lesson..10 years on, and still going strong. Thanks
to everyone who has helped us on the way and we look forward to making
many more friends over the next 10 years…..
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