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On This Day October 31^st, 1974

Led Zeppelin throws a Halloween launch party for their new label, Swan Song Records, [Read my previous post on Swan Song Here] at Chislehurst Caves in Surrey, England. Legends of the wild party abound: drinks are served by topless nuns in suspenders, a naked woman lies in a coffin filled with jelly, naked male wrestlers grapple for the crowd, while fire-eaters and magicians do their thing.

The invitation read:

The Swan Song Launch in England was on Halloween at Chislehurst Caves, which was like a labyrinth. Everywhere that was accessible, they seemed to find something to put on in it. There were a bunch of naked male wrestlers writhing around in dust. I just stood in the doorway and looked at this: nuns walking towards you with the complete dress on, and then you looked back and there was nothing on the back except suspenders.
- Geoff Grimes

It was like being at a medieval orgy. Flames from huge torches flickered light across the dark, dank recesses of the caves, while a crowd of maybe two hundred people watched George Melly perform jazz tunes and bawdy songs in a nuns habit, naked girls wrestling in Jelly in open coffins at his feet. In all, it was a strange and disturbing night…
- Bob Harris [BBC’s Old Grey Wristle Test, 72 – 78]

Chislehurst Caves are a 22 miles (35 km) long series of tunnels in Chislehurst. Although called caves, they are entirely man-made mines from chalk and flint.

The earliest mention of the mines is circa 1250 and they are last believed to have been worked in the 1830s. During the early 1900s the caves were a popular tourist attraction. In World War I they were used as an ammunition depot associated with the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. During the 1930s they were used for mushroom cultivation.

During World War II, in September 1940, the aerial bombardment of London began, and the caves were used as an air raid shelter. Within a short time, it became an underground city of some 15,000 inhabitants with electric lighting, a chapel and a hospital. Shortly after VE Day the shelter was officially closed. Only one baby, christened Rose Cavena Wakeman, was born in the caves.

In 1903, William Nichols, then Vice President of the British Archaeological Association, produced a theory that the mines were made by the Druids, Romans and Saxons. This theory was used to give names to the three parts of the caves. Tour guides point out supposed Druid altars and Roman features. However this can at best be speculation as the earliest documented evidence for mining is 1250 AD. However these stories proved attractive to tourists and the increase in ourists led to the mines being used as a music venue.

In the 1960s, the caves were used as a music venue. David Bowie, Status Quo, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd all performed there. In October 1974 a lavish media party was held there to celebrate the launch of new UK record company Swan Song Records by the band Led Zeppelin. More recently, some of the tunnels have been used by the live action role-playing game “Labyrinthe”.

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