Nancy Wilson had an unforgettable introduction to Led Zeppelin — one that left her, quite literally, walking out of their performance.
Appearing on the 100 Guitarists podcast on January 7, the Heart guitarist shared the humorous yet eye-opening story of when she and her sister Ann first witnessed the legendary rock band live. The encounter, however, left her scandalized by guitarist Jimmy Page’s provocative stage presence.
Wilson, 70, reflected on hearing Led Zeppelin for the first time at a high school party in a friend’s basement. The setting, she recalled, was a hazy scene with “people making out” and “booze” while the pulsating riffs of “Whole Lotta Love” filled the room. “It was the coolest den of iniquity,” Nancy remembered, with the band’s music creating an unforgettable vibe.
But the real shock came when Led Zeppelin opened for The 5th Dimension at the Seattle World’s Fair in 1977. Nancy recalled how Jimmy Page, known for his iconic stage presence, was practically oozing sex appeal. “He was suggestive with his shirt wide open and those low-rider jeans,” she said. The pair, who were still “square little hippie chicks” at the time, were taken aback when Page sang the infamous line “squeeze my lemon” from “The Lemon Song.” “We were just shocked,” Nancy confessed. “We must leave, we must leave the premises.”
And so they did, exiting the performance at the Green Lake Aqua Theater. However, it wasn’t long before the two realized they had witnessed something monumental. “Later, in my high school friend’s make-out basement, I realized the band I saw was Led Zeppelin,” she laughed.
As for whether they went back to hear The 5th Dimension perform after the chaos caused by Page’s fiery performance, Wilson humorously admitted they returned—after a quick detour for some corn dogs.
Nancy and Ann are continuing to make waves with Heart, having extended their Royal Flush tour into 2025 with stops across North America, including cities like Las Vegas and New York City.
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