June 3, 1977
Tampa, FL US
Tampa Stadium
Setlist:
The Song Remains The Same, (The Rover intro) Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine.
Notes:
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Click here to view the US '77 Tour Programme (flipbook) |
Show ends early due to rain.
The promoters then ran a full page ad, apologizing to fans for the turn of events – it read:
“Concerts West Apologizes and is sorry for the humiliation & inconvenience to you and your faithful fans at Tampa Stadium, June 3, 1977.
You did everything that you could and wanted to do so much more. You are the best and deserve the best, not the worst treatment.
-Respectfully, Concerts West.
News Report: At Least 100 Injured At Led Zeppelin Concert
TAMPA Fla. - City officials, reeling from a mini riot which erupted when a thunderstorm washed out a Led Zeppelin concert, canceled a rain check rerun Saturday, leaving fans from as far as Michigan and New York holding "rain or shine" ticket stubs.
"If I were in Buffalo, I'd go home right now," said Bonnie Strickland. The 19-year-old youth and three companions had driven 24hours to get to Florida for the concert. Strickland said they were the first ones in the stadium when the doors opened at 11:30 a.m. Friday for the8:30 p.m. concert. After spending the day in 90-degree weather on the sun baked football field, they settled down for the concert.
The British band played for 20 minutes before the thunderstorm hit. About 45minutes later the concert was called off.
The cry "We want Zeppelin. We want Zeppelin" came from the 70,000 fans as rocks and bottles began flying onto the stage."We had what had to be called a small riot. There were between 3,000 and4,000 people who were unruly and disorderly," Tampa Police spokesman Johnny Barker said.
About 250 police officers, all in riot gear and using billy clubs, broke up the rioting and herded the fans out of the stadium. The scene was followed by 26 reported traffic accidents near the grounds. "The cops didn't give any warning," one teen-aged girl said. "They just waded in. I ended up at the bottom of the crowd and a cop kicked me in the head. My brother got a broken leg and broken ribs."
The melee left an estimated 100 fans with injuries. Eight were arrested. Shift Commander Tom Wilson said "in the neighborhood" a dozen officers were treated for injuries." One had a concussion, there was one with a broken hand, one with a broken ankle, one with cut lips and some teeth knocked out, one with a dislocated shoulder..." There were so many people you just couldn't move," a 32 year-old man from West Palm Beach said: "I was just trying to get away. The ticket said rain or shine."
Persons holding ticket stubs can get refunds, but we are encouraging them to mail in their refund requests," Barker said. (Newswire - June 5, 1977)
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I Remember
I drove up from Key West alone for that show cause this stupid friend of mine cxld at the last minute.I remember that they sold tickets for the Tampa show AT the Orange Bowl in Miami a month or so before Jun 3. I read in the paper that ticket buyers there caused a small riot there so I had weird vibes to begin with. I remember arriving an hour or so before the show and being blown away by the buzz in the air,the thousands of people,even the crane holding the huge mirror ball.I jumped up on the concrete wall that goes around the field and settled in with a good seat looking over everyone at about the 35 yard line closest to the stage,with the stage to my left.I could see the black cloud behind me creeping toward us & knew we were in for it. I remember JP jones organ was tested with a little taste of the beginning of trampled under foot.Wish they would have gotten to play it.It seemes they did start a little early cause they just appeared & started cranking.I jumped off the wall when it started raining hard as they were playing nobodys fault but mine & it almost seemed Plant was appologizing for what was about to happen.They first announced that they would be back shortly.I was on the field at about the 40 yard line at this time and saw nothing.But when they said they would come back the next night I left & outside the stadium was pandemonium.People running every which way.Bloodied people.Screaming people.Cop cars everywhere.A cop car drove right past me and the windows exploded from several bottles thrown from behind me.I thought for sure that cop would think I did it but I fought the urge to run.Thank God cause he kept on going.I slept in my car that night & was gonna stay for the make up show but the radio said cxld so back home I went.All these years I've wondered how great it would've been if they had played a whole set instead of 3 songs.