LED ZEPPELIN & THE MUDSHARK - The Truth is Far More Shocking!! 

Disgusting and degrading. No justification.

Lest we forget Jimmy Page's 13 year old 'girlfriend' in 1973.

I’ve always liked that Christgau line about Led Zep - ‘The inconvenient paradox of good music happening to bad people’.

"What Kind of Girl Do You Think We Are?" is, of course, the song that follows "The Mud Shark" on the fantastic Mothers 1971 album. Do with that what you will...

Soon as I saw "The Mudshark" I just knew. There have been so many ways this story has been told, of who was involved and what happened. I think Carmine Appice's story is closest to the truth. It is good to know that no known tape or photos exist.

Wow. That was disturbing, disgusting, and degrading. Absolute disdain for humanity in general. WTF As a father with two daughters, like you, my stomach was churning listening to this.

Mick Walls biography strongly suggests that tour manager Richard Cole (the primary and most repellent perpetrator by the sound of it, and possibly the instigator of the mudshark incident). From what I remember, Wall after his research points the finger at Cole and a few shady characters he brought on board, for creating the creepy and violent atmosphere that marred the band's later days and contributed to their downfall. I think in truth is it's more of a Richard Cole story, than a Zeppelin story. Think I'm right in in saying that Cole fabricated many stories in a cash-in book, which left both Plant and Page furious and feeling betrayed. Plant even remarked, "Farewell Ricardo... sadly no more tall tales...." when Cole died in 2021

Zappa refers to this again in the song "Nanook Rubs It" from the Aposrophe album: "hereupon I proceeded to take that mitten full of the deadly Yellow Snow Crystals, and rub it all into his beady little eyes. With a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people in this area, but destined to take the place of THE MUD SHARK in your mythology"

This takes depravity and entitlement to a whole new level..i've never been enamoured or wowed by this kind of rock n roll excess..it's utter bullshit ... just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Pot, booze and boredom are a dangerous combination.

ROFLMAO at the " finding Nemo " line. Thanks, I needed to laugh

I fear future revelations will expose yet more depravity as artists from that era begin thinning out in the coming years ahead.

I wasn't going to watch this one based on the title and image, but my darker curiosity took over. I wish I hadn't now. I can't un-know this, even if rumor or exaggerated. Ugh. I hope Barry returns to reviewing the music and avoids this tabloid fodder.

I've heard this event alluded to before but have never heard it described in such detail. I believe it happened. I believe that there are a good many aging rockers who break out in a cold sweat over things they did in their youth that would have been and were laughed off then but now would be received quite differently. And some of those things would be legally actionable today. By the way, if you're up for another such video how about one on the 'billboard incident' in the marketing campaign for the Stones's "Black and Blue" album -- including what Sir Jagger said when he was asked about it. That's another questionable moment in Rock history that would go down very differently today

She's the female Troy McClure. Nowadays, "mudshark" has another meaning, which is what I thought this was going to be about. I figured I'd better watch it before RU-vid takes it down 🤣🤣🤣

The mud-shark story is to rock music what the 'Aristocrats' joke is to stand-up comedy: everyone tells it slightly differently.

Hmm. Not sure this retelling was sufficiently dignified either.

Mick Fleetwood once said he was glad they had two female co workers to answer to and that he didn’t have something like this on his conscience

I remember my older brother bringing home that "Mother's Live at the Fillmore East" album when it was released... Listening to The Mud Shark and Zappa's apocryphal narrative. Being a Zeppelin fan, I found it amusing that Zappa avoided any possible litigation by using the creative name "Robert Planet"! Lol

She moved to Alaska to relish in all the gigantic salmon. BTW: What happened to the poor mudshark? Somethin' smells mighty fishy. Q: What is the definition of a sardine? A: It's a little fish that smells like a finger.

This is an example of why a person shouldn't idolize, or even respect, 95% of all famous rock musicians. Enjoy their music, but tell them to 'stick-it' when it comes to lifestyle, politics, and wisdom.

And Richard Cole said "Here's a Red Snapper for your snapper"

Weird timing, I just finished watching a video about the behind the scenes of JAWS.

Love the Quo tee. Where’d you find that one, Barry?

knew about the mudshark follies, but not the Richard Cole dump. Now that's disgusting.

It seems like there were two or three psychopaths in that crew, dragging some easily lead young blokes along for a corrupting ride. Sad for the girl, and for the poor shark. There were a few rock stars who engaged in public animal cruelty back then. It's just bullying weaker creatures. Hopefully they have grown up enough to regret it now.

I've been hearing bits and pieces of this story for decades, and I do believe Carmine Appice. Although I'm a huge Zeppelin fan, I'm sad that this girl was degradated. It's way beyond a groupie giving sexual favors- they took advantage of her good nature with unnecessary and disturbing treatment.

I didn't know that Batman was the manager of Vanilla Fudge.

You’ve really been struggling for content recently, Barry. I shudder to think what you’ll drag up next. Top Ten Devil Worshippers perhaps?

Some have said the video was in bad taste The events were VERY bad taste, but relating the story would only be in bad taste- IF - it was told in an excited or sensationalist way - which Barry did not do - especially if Barry did not say the events were in bad taste. Which he did Ergo, the video is not bad taste, it’s simply the full story on an infamous little set of events (In some ways much the same as retelling Nazi atrocities isn’t in bad taste ) Barry - much appreciated, well done

A few years before this story The Beatles fished out the window at this very hotel.

Not only did Frank Zappa heard about the mudshark incident, but he also questioned Alice Cooper about the chicken slaughtering event at one of Alice's 1969 concerts. Frank supposedly asked Alice "Did you strangle that chicken", and Alice said "No, the fans did when I threw it back to the rabid audience, thinking it would fly away." Frank then said "Don't tell anyone about that, that makes for good press." It 's interesting that Jimmy and Robert were not present at this infamous incident.

Funny, I have the same feelings as you about this stuff from that era because I am 57 and I have a 16 year old daughter, it now makes me cringe.

I must tell you, that your just better then anyone else at this. Absolutely incredible stuff.

Listening to the story made me go put on the Mud Shark by Frank Zappa. His story agree’s with yours.

It’s an ancient story. Inspiring, if that’s the right word, Zappa’s monologue on Live in LA - the smut fest that it is.

Wow! Didn't know that story... Over the top and sad.

I thought Bonham was involved as well? I read Richard Cole’s book a while back. Supposedly Bonzo was catching tons of fish from his bedroom window and just throwing them in the closet. When the cleaning lady opened the door, they all descended upon her and she was mortified.

Please, do not go down this line of podcasting, Classic album review/Barry

To compound the most grotesque chapter in the Zeppelin storybook is Carmine Appice, a great drummer but an unreliable narrator extraordinaire. Did all the fishy business happen? It is highly likely. But, for me, what takes the bang out of the story is three of the Zeppelin wives were in the room at Seattle's Edgewater Inn with the band where the mudshark incident happened. They were laughing with everyone else because Zep's wives partied just as hard as their husbands, if the boys were smoking and drinking, so were the girls. Two nights after Zep opened for Three Dog Night in Seattle (May 11 1969: day of the shark) the band's next stop was Honolulu (May 13). In the early days Peter Grant would fly the band wives in so they could enjoy a short Hawaiian vacation, they were in Seattle to fly out the next day. If you've seen the famous picture of Zeppelin performing outdoors next to a swimming pool that is the Seattle venue. Also if you've ever seen pictures of the band posed on an airport tarmac in Honolulu with leis around their necks, holding boxes of tape reels (LZII masters, they were recording/overdubbing in studios on the road!) you've probably seen the photo of Plant posing with his wife Maureen on the tarmac too because she'd flown in from the west coast with him.

Yikes! That's got to be the worst of those kinds of stories I've ever heard in my 54 years long life! 😳 It's proof to me of what the Devil is capable of doing, if people invite him in via enough drugs and alcohol 😬

There is no way it was a mudshark, it would have torn her to pieces. The whole story is revolting and degrading. I don’t see why you did this video. Maybe a follow up on the stories we know are true about Plant and Page and their barely pubescent baby groupie girlfriends. Led Zeppelin were a band that always made my skin crawl.

I’m sad I ever had to hear that story… I could definitely be entertained by a tale of depravity and fish paraphilia, but this sounds very much like a group rape/sexual abuse situation. Disgusting people, and Zappa too if he found this to be humorous.

Well John Paul Jones has gone down in my estimation. There's really no excuse for bad manners.

I actually worked at the Edgewater hotel for a few months in 1994. No one ever spoke of this. I don't say that as if it's not a true story, just that we didn't discuss it!

I think the world has moved on now, the stories used to be rock n roll legend. These days they're rightly just seen as decedent excess and debauchery at best, sexual abuse/violence and child molestation at worst. Rock stars used to give a nod and a wink and a cheeky smile when asked about the veracity and details, now they are probably best advised to stipulate the interview stays well clear of the subject.

I'd seen an interview, unfortunately I can't remember where. That said it was actually a red snapper. That the girl had red hair, with jokes being made about a red snapper meets a red snatch. This is more believable because the mud shark, has spines near its dorsal fin with which, when attacked, it will arch its back elevating these spines, which then secrete a poison. I don't see even the most kinky of girls being too happy with this development.

The hideous events that go on behind the scenes. Some things are just better left unknown.

Yup. I read about it in the book "Hammer of the Gods", and all the same details in their as well.

Man, I have read SO MANY conflicting stories about this particular occurrence; including two descriptions from Richard Cole which don't jibe. 🤣 I've heard people say they were there, when they weren't and vice versa. No one can seem to agree on any of the events, or even what type of fish was allegedly used. Then, there are some that claim none of it ever happened. But, you know what they say, "If you remember it, you must not have been there."

I've listened to that Zappa album (Filmore East June 1971) at least 100 times. Flo and Eddy (formerly of The Turtles) are hilarious in this. I never knew a. if the story was true and b. that Zeppelin was involved. Why doesn't that surprise me? Thanks.

Richard Cole's book tells a different story (obvs). Most of the book is him explaining that he didn't steal the takings

Zappa has a few of these moments in his repitoir. But i think rockers are a tenth the decadence that policy makers get up to.

What was Jimmy Page doing?I didn't hear his name mentioned once!

I usually enjoy your channel Barry but thought this was a case of "Too much information ". Basically beneath you if I were to be frank.

Unfortunately Barry, it was just one of those moments in time of complete and utter debachery that "you just had to be there" for.

Is this anything to do with the line in apostrophe by frank Zappa “ destined to take the place the mud shark in your mythology “

I'm just wondering... is the date correct? I only inquire because in Frank Zappa's Nanook Rubs it, he mentions the circular motion was bound to take the place of the mudshark in your mythology. And didn't We're Only In It For The Money come out in early 1968. Maybe Frank had a premonition. Enjoy your videos. Stay well.

Did that girl bring any legal action against those guys? Apparantly she enjoyed the whole thing! Now I don't want to doubt your telling it, but when a story is told over and over, and over sometimes the storyline changes.

I remember once wondering about that line of Zappa's. Well, now I know. (in a little too much detail)

This story is pretty tame compared to the activities of a lot of other bands. Even Kiss did more outrageous things.

They believed themselves to be demigods : those were the seventies, those were rockstars. Sad but true... CA looks like a silent accomplice though...

Fish , drugs and rock n roll !!

I don’t believe it was a mud shark, have you seen the size of one of those things …and the teeth.

Why is it my instinct that it was strictly Zappa's invention and that the Vanilla Fudge members were only trying to capitalize on Frank's legend by attaching themselves to the story?

Was that what Moby Dick was about? No wonder the lyrics are so hard to understand…🎣🤣🤣🤣

It's all fun and games until someone takes a dump.

Well if Carmine Apice said it then you know it’s true.

I remember hearing this on a nsfl iceburg and it's wow...

I always figgered it was just normal zappa nonsense. too bizarre to believe.

Strange. Why is Led Zeppelin getting slammed in this post, when a member of Vanilla Fudge wrote about it and participated?

There is an interview with Robert Plant where he admits the story, isn't it?

Mudsharknado....

Thanks for the fish tale (or tail).

I was always lead to believe the fish in the fishy incident was a red snapper 😂

That thumbnail! It's like the mudflap girl, but... different.

I remember Ian Anderson saying in an interview that Led Zep would show him photos of their night time japes… ugh.

I stayed at the Edgewater in the early 90s, this event in mind the whole time.

Was it really necessary to post this?!

I've heard many different versions of what ACTUALLY happened, let's hear this one too.

Did you say you are 50! No way! I'm 54 and look 20 years younger.

I like the Quo "heads down" T-shirt.

I have read about this incident in various books etc. I always assumed the shark was dead and you are saying the shark was flailing between her legs, does this mean it was alive? Puts a whole new visual on it!

That is as disgusting as ridiculous.

"He said "mudshark " He. he he." A comment from the US cartoon "Beavis and Butthead." (Just my theory. Sorry.)

Stay classy Zeppelin

I’m not going to watch this video. If it offers more than what Davis’ Hammer of the Gods has to say, I’ll pass like a quarterback on 3rd and long. See you for your next video. Cheers.

In Northern England they'd call it a fishy fanny.

well said

Whats next ? The Rod Stewart stomach pumped story ? Sheesh.

Why is this story attributed to Led Zeppelin none of the band were involved 😕

Vile story but I laughed at the mention that the woman moved to Alaska. Everyone who moves to Alaska has a dark past.

There was a story that Frank Zappa once took a dump onstage and then ate it. That wasn't true either.

I can imagine how embellished this story has become. I believe about 30% of it

The version I read of had Robert Plant and his wife there as well.

Like Zep for their entertainment value not as a moral guide for life.

Why Barry?

“A new meaning to Finding Nemo” 😂😂😂

So, to get this clear - Frank Zappa wrote a song, and a legend was constructed around it?

Is Babyshark a retelling of this incident?