The soundboard bootleg of “Deus Ex Machina,” Led Zeppelin’s March 21, 1975 Seattle show was uploaded to a torrent site on August 2 but then later removed.

The torrent site, which we’re not going to name here, listed the torrent as “banned.” Speculation spread that the uploader had received an advance copy of the bootleg and agreed not to share it for a designated period of time but broke that agreement.

However, LedZepNews has spoken with the original uploader of “Deus Ex Machina” who denies having an agreement or any contact with bootleg label Empress Valley. “[I] have not had any contact with EVSD,” they said.

The uploader, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they ordered the bootleg release in May when it first became available. “I was not aware it was an advance copy,” they said.

The uploader said that “my request to withdraw the torrent was solely on the basis of the insert which (in my hurry to hear the discs) I did not notice — I’ve never been too bothered about packaging.”

The retail version of “Deus Ex Machina” included an insert written in English and Japanese which asked people not to share the bootleg:

(Twitter/LLX2774)

“I asked [the torrent site] to take the torrent down as I did not wish to prejudice further releases from a label that is responsible for many of the most important releases in the LZ cannon [sic],” the uploader said. “I do want this cleared up as there have been negative comments on some sites about EVSD which is not warranted.”