Led Zeppelin fans around the world are excited after the discovery of a previously unheard rehearsal recording from 1980, one of the final years of the legendary band. This rare audio has appeared on a new bootleg CD titled Soundboard Scraps, and it gives listeners a fresh and emotional look at Led Zeppelin during their last period together.
What Is This Recording?
The recording comes from band rehearsals held in June 1980 at the Victoria Theatre in London. At the time, Led Zeppelin were preparing for their “Tour Over Europe”, which would later become their final tour. While parts of these rehearsals were already known to collectors, this release is special because it confirms the existence of a much longer 85-minute soundboard tape.
For many years, fans only had access to a shorter 39-minute version of these rehearsals. The longer version had reportedly been privately shared among collectors since 2019, but this is the first time a piece of it has been officially released to the public through a bootleg.
The Highlight: “Since I’ve Been Loving You”
The most talked-about track on Soundboard Scraps is a nearly nine-minute version of “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” This song is one of Led Zeppelin’s most emotional blues tracks, and hearing it in a rehearsal setting is special. The performance feels raw and unfinished, but that is exactly what makes it interesting. You can hear the band experimenting, adjusting, and feeling their way through the music.
For fans, this is not just another version of a song — it is a window into how Led Zeppelin worked together behind the scenes.
More Than Just One Rehearsal
The bootleg does not only include the 1980 rehearsal. It is called Soundboard Scraps for a reason. The CD also features several other high-quality rare recordings, including:
-
A live performance of “Tangerine” from Tokyo in 1971
-
A soundboard sample from Jacksonville, Florida in 1973
-
Additional rehearsal material from 1980
All of these tracks come from soundboard sources, meaning the audio quality is much clearer than typical audience recordings.
The Full 85-Minute Rehearsal
According to Led Zeppelin archive researchers, the full rehearsal tape includes a wide range of songs the band was preparing for their tour. The setlist shows how ambitious the band still was in 1980. Some of the songs rehearsed include:
-
Train Kept A-Rollin’
-
In the Evening
-
Hot Dog
-
All My Love
-
White Summer / Black Mountain Side / Kashmir
-
Achilles Last Stand (played twice)
-
Stairway to Heaven
Some tracks are incomplete or cut, but together they paint a clear picture of a band still deeply committed to their music.
Why This Discovery Matters
This recording is especially meaningful because it captures Led Zeppelin near the very end of their journey. Just a few months after these rehearsals, drummer John Bonham tragically passed away in September 1980. His death led to the band’s breakup, making these recordings some of the last moments of Led Zeppelin creating music together.
For fans, this tape is not just about sound quality or rare songs. It is about history, emotion, and legacy. Hearing the band rehearse reminds listeners that even legends had to practice, make mistakes, and slowly build their performances.
What’s Next?
Now that a piece of the 85-minute tape has finally surfaced, fans are hopeful that the rest of the recording will someday be released. Until then, Soundboard Scraps stands as an important and exciting find — a reminder that even decades later, Led Zeppelin still has secrets left to uncover.
For longtime fans and new listeners alike, this discovery keeps the spirit of Led Zeppelin alive. 🎸