Editing Dread Zeppelin (section)

==Career==
===1986–1989: The Prime Movers===
The nucleus of Dread Zeppelin, bassist Put-Mon (Gary Putman), drummer Cheese (Curt Lichter) and guitarist [[Jah Paul Jo]] (Joseph "Severs" Ramsey), were from a [[Pasadena, California]] group called  [[The Prime Movers (Los Angeles band)|The Prime Movers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.primemoversmusic.com/bio.htm |title=Prime Movers Biography | work= primemoversmusic.com |date=August 6, 1988 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080512091549/http://www.primemoversmusic.com/bio.htm |archive-date=May 12, 2008 }}</ref> Signed to Island Records in 1986, The Prime Movers had some success in the UK with singles "On The Trail" and "Dark Western Night".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bigcountryinfo.com/pages/guests/g_sa.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090105172227/http://www.bigcountryinfo.com/pages/guests/g_sa.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2009 |title=Stuart Adamson |website= bigcountryinfo.com |access-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref> The late [[Stuart Adamson]] of [[Big Country]] contributed his trademark E-Bow guitar to "Dark Western Night" and another Prime Mover song, "Strong As I Am", was featured in [[Michael Mann (director)|Michael Mann]]'s motion picture thriller, ''[[Manhunter (film)|Manhunter]]''.<ref>{{cite web |first= Kyrby |last= Raine |url= http://www.ink19.com/issues/october2006/musicReviews/musicP/primeMovers.html |title= The Prime Movers |publisher= Ink 19 |access-date= July 15, 2011 |archive-date= May 26, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110526083938/http://www.ink19.com/issues/october2006/musicReviews/musicP/primeMovers.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>

When The Prime Movers ended in 1989, Jah Paul Jo hatched the idea for a new group that would call itself "Dread Zeppelin".<ref name = "Wall Kerrang">{{cite web | first= Mick | last= Wall | url= http://home.earthlink.net/~lhoskins/kerrang1.html | title= Dread Zeppelin | work= [[Kerrang!]] | date= July 21, 1990 | publisher= republished online by L Hoskins | via= earthlink.net | access-date= July 15, 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111208191554/http://home.earthlink.net/~lhoskins/kerrang1.html | archive-date= December 8, 2011 | url-status= dead }}</ref> Aside from the three original members, the band recruited guitarist [[Carl Jah]] (Carl Haasis) and 300-pound Vegas-era Elvis impersonator Tortelvis (Greg Tortell).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,425064,00.html |title=Dread Zeppelin Biography |publisher=ARTISTdirect Music |work=Artistdirect.com |date=January 8, 1989 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605170518/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,425064,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The band supposedly met Tortelvis when he rammed his [[milk float]] into the back of the band's car.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Dread-Zeppelin.html |title=Dread Zeppelin Biography |work= OLDIES.com |access-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref> Longtime graphic artist for The Prime Movers, Bryant Fernandez, was brought in as conga-man Ed Zeppelin.<ref name = "Wall Kerrang" />

The concept for Dread Zeppelin may be less bizarre than it seems. Notably, [[Led Zeppelin]] did make a recording which reflected a prominent [[reggae]] influence, the 1973 song "[[D'yer Mak'er]]".  Also, the band frequently performed [[Elvis Presley]] songs in concert, often presented as a medley which occasionally flirted with self-parody. (Led Zeppelin met Elvis briefly in 1974 after attending one of his concerts in Los Angeles.)<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/music/led_zeppelin_meet_elvis.html | website= elvis.com.au| title= Led Zeppelin and Elvis - Robert Plant Talks About Meeting Elvis in This Interview| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080214073005/http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/music/led_zeppelin_meet_elvis.html| archive-date= February 14, 2008| access-date= June 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/n6ss8g5SIAM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190304110915/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6ss8g5SIAM&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite interview| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6ss8g5SIAM| via= YouTube.com| title= When Zeppelin met Elvis: May 1974| first= Robert| last= Plant| access-date= June 20, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===1989: Birdcage Records===
The first Dread Zeppelin recording was meant to be a goof on Led Zeppelin's 45 single "[[Immigrant Song]]" and its sought-after non-LP B-Side "[[Hey Hey What Can I Do]]". Produced by Jah Paul Jo and Rasta Li-Mon (Lee Manning) and released on their indie Birdcage Records label, the single sold amazingly well and represses featured the seven inch 45 RPM in a rasta rainbow of colors: red (original), green, yellow, blue, white and clear vinyl. All early Dread Zeppelin recordings and most of the band's first album ''[[Un-Led-Ed]]'' were recorded at the home studio of [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]] of [[Eurythmics]], where Rasta Li-Mon was a house engineer.

[[File:Dread zeppelin drivein.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Dread Zeppelin at the Edwards Drive-In, [[Arcadia, California]], 1989]]
After the success of "Immigrant Song", a second single, "[[Whole Lotta Love]]/Tour-telvis: A Bad Trip", was released on Birdcage Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tralfaz-archives.com/coverart/D/dread_whole.html |title=Cover Art: Dread Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love |publisher=Tralfaz-archives.com |access-date=July 15, 2011}}</ref> A third, "[[Your Time is Gonna Come]]/[[Woodstock (song)|Woodstock]] (live)", was released not as a single but as part of a singles compilation entitled ''Komm Gib Mir Deine Zeppelin'' (a play on the title of the German version of The Beatles' song "[[I Want to Hold Your Hand]]"). There was also a live cassette issued by Birdcage, but only to members of The Dread Zeppelin fan club, called ''Live On Blueberry Cheesecake.''

===1990: I.R.S. years===
In 1990, Dread Zeppelin were signed to [[Miles Copeland III]]'s IRS label. Their first album, ''Un-Led-Ed'', consisted of more covers taken from ''[[Led Zeppelin (album)|Led Zeppelin]]'' and ''[[Led Zeppelin II]]'', plus "[[Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)|Black Dog]]" from [[Led Zeppelin IV|Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album]]. Original drummer Cheese (Curt Lichter) left the band just after recording ''Un-Led-Ed''. He was replaced by Fresh Cheese (Paul Maselli). Shortly before ''Un-Led-Ed'' was released, the original Ed Zeppelin (percussion and Reggae Dub) was replaced by his identical twin brother who was the former lead singer of local LA bands: Rampage, Blue Frontier and Public Eye.

''Un-Led-Ed'' was successful. In autumn 1990, Dread Zeppelin took a three-week break from touring and recorded their second album, ''[[5,000,000|5,000,000* *Tortelvis Fans Can't Be Wrong]]''. In addition to the usual "Zeppelin in a reggae style", this album also featured a cover of [[Bob Marley]]'s "[[Stir It Up]]" as well as three original songs.

For the next album, the band had planned a [[rock opera]], ''Albert'', about a rock critic who wanted to be a star (based loosely on the real rock critic [[Albert Goldman]]), but this never materialized. The plan changed to an album of [[disco]] covers, ''[[It's Not Unusual (Dread Zeppelin album)|It's Not Unusual]]''. Both Ed Zeppelin and Fresh Cheese had left the band after ''5,000,000* *Tortelvis Fans Can't Be Wrong'', and during rehearsals for the new album, Tortelvis also quit. Bassist Put-Mon (Gary Putman) took over the vocals, assuming the name Gary B.I.B.B. ''It's Not Unusual'' featured guest spots by both [[Screamin' Jay Hawkins]] and [[Randy Bachman]].

Whether it was the public's resistance to disco, or the lack of Dread's popular frontman, Tortelvis, sales of ''It's Not Unusual'' were disappointing. The band was dropped by IRS and for all intents and purposes, had dissolved.

===1993: ''Hot & Spicy Beanburger''===
[[File:Dztv inxs72.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Dread Zeppelin with [[Michael Hutchence]] of [[INXS]]]]
Unknown to the band, Dread Zeppelin were being sought by Australian rock band [[INXS]] to be the support band on their US tour. INXS were fans of Dread Zeppelin. Tortelvis was persuaded to return to the band; however, without a recording contract, he could only perform at the May 8, 1993, show at [[INXS: Live at Barker Hangar|The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica]]. Dread Zeppelin returned to the studio. With Jah Paul Jo and Rasta Li-Mon again producing, they recorded ''[[Hot & Spicy Beanburger]]'', a 1993 release on Birdcage Records.

In the spring of 1994, Dread Zeppelin appeared in the feature film ''[[National Lampoon's Last Resort]]'' and provided a song for the closing credits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mooviees.com/10559/soundtrack |title=Last Resort (1994) Soundtrack |website=Mooviees.com |date=January 22, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219192200/http://www.mooviees.com/10559/soundtrack |archive-date=February 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Carl Jah (Carl Haasis) and Ed Zeppelin left the band shortly thereafter.

With Put-Mon moving from bass to lead guitar and the addition of David Raven (drums), bassist Derf Nosna Haj (Freddie Johnson) and Fernandez (Pete Burke) on conga and toast, Dread Zeppelin recorded ''[[No Quarter Pounder]]''. Released by Birdcage Records in 1995, ''No Quarter Pounder'' would be the band's final Birdcage CD as Jah Paul Jo left the group shortly after its release.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

===1996: Imago===
The remaining members of Dread Zeppelin signed onto Imago Records and released ''[[The Fun Sessions]]'', a collection of [[classic rock]] covers. It was the first all non-Led Zeppelin cover recording with the exception of "BBWAGS (Butt-Boy's Wearin' a Girls' Shirt)" written by Gary Putman. This would be Derf Nosna Haj (Freddie Johnson) and Fernandez (Pete Burke) last recording with the band. After the Imago release, Carl Jah and Ed Zeppelin returned to the band.

===1999: Cleopatra===
The band then signed to Cleopatra Records and recorded ''De-jah Voodoo'' in 1999. The recording was produced by bassist Bob Knarley (Howard Ulyate) and includes 11 Led Zeppelin covers and two tracks written by the band (Putman, Ulyate, Fernandez, Tortell, and Boerin).<ref name="Re-Led-Ed album credits">{{cite AV media |people=Dread Zeppelin |date=2004 |title=Re-Led-Ed |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4430935-Dread-Zeppelin-Re-Led-Ed-The-Best-Of/image/SW1hZ2U6ODgyMjIwNw== |access-date=March 21, 2024 }}</ref>

''De-jah Voodoo'' was later re-released with a new cover and title (''Re-Led-Ed''); some versions include an acoustic version of "Hey Hey What Can I Do" as a bonus track.<ref name="CJV album credits">{{cite AV media |people=Dread Zeppelin |date=2000 |title=De-jah Voodoo |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/26690018-Dread-Zeppelin-Dejah-Voodoo/image/SW1hZ2U6OTMzMjQ5MjM= |access-date=March 21, 2024 }}</ref>

===2000–2011: Cash Cow===
In 1995 Dread Zeppelin had a new production company, Cash Cow, run by original members Gary Putman (Butt-Boy) and Greg Tortell (Tortelvis), which had produced the ''Fun Sessions''. They released the live album ''Front Yard Bar*B*Que'' in December 1996 and the all-original album ''Spam Bake'' (a take-off of the Elvis movie sound recordings of the 1960s) in November 1997.

Also released on Cash Cow Records were the band's first full length Christmas recording ''Presents'' in 2002, followed by ''Chicken and Ribs'' 2004; both were produced by Bob Knarley. In February 2008 the band released ''Bar Coda'', produced by Spice (Cris Boerin). Other Cash Cow releases included the DVDs ''Jah-La-Palooza 2004'' and ''Live in Minne-Jah-Polis 2002''. The album ''SoSo'' (the title referencing [[Zoso|Led Zeppelin's fourth album]]), followed in 2011, produced by Spice.<ref name="Soso producer credit">{{cite AV media |people=Dread Zeppelin |date=2011 |title=SoSo |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/13279672-Dread-Zeppelin-SoSo/image/SW1hZ2U6OTk4NjgzNTQ= |access-date=March 28, 2024 }}</ref>

Lead singer Tortelvis sang "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" at Bank One Ballpark, now known as [[Chase Field]], in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] on May 27, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadzeppelin.com/anthempics.html |title=Dread Zeppelin at Bank One Ballpark - National Anthem |work=Dreadzeppelin.com |date=May 27, 2005 |access-date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016234021/http://www.dreadzeppelin.com/anthempics.html |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He had been scheduled to sing the song at a [[Minnesota Twins]] game in 1990, but [[Roseanne Barr]]'s notorious version quashed that opportunity.

===2012-2016===
Carl Jah released a solo album in 2012;<ref name="Carl Jah Solo">{{cite news |title=Carl Jah Lets Nothing Go to Waste on 'Re-Purpose' |magazine=[[Guitar Player]] |date=June 4, 2013 |first=Matt |last=Blackett |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907161506/http://www.guitarplayer.com/artists/1013/carl-jah-lets-nothing-go-to-waste-on-re-purpose/23497 |archive-date=September 7, 2016 |url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/carl-jah-lets-nothing-go-to-waste-on-re-purpose/151807 |accessdate=August 30, 2013 }}</ref> in 2014, founding guitarist Jah Paul Jo died following years of poor health.<ref name="JPJ obit">{{cite web|url=http://www.sierramadrenews.net/?p=19634 |title=Long-time Sierra Madrean Joe Ramsey Passes Away |publisher=Sierra Madre News Net |first=Bill |last=Coburn |date =January 10, 2015 |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref> Dread Zeppelin toured regularly through 2014; Putman is the only member of Dread Zeppelin to have performed on every record and played every live show to date.

They last performed live on [https://web.archive.org/web/20230207142947/https://dreadzeppelin.com/dates#:~:text=Apr%202%20%E2%80%A2%20St.%20Louis%2C%20Mo.%20%E2%80%A2%20Blueberry%20Hill April 2, 2016].