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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Missed '77, and was robbed again in '79-80!
In '77 I lived in St. Pete & I had the opportunity/offer of going w/ a friend and his much older Brother to that infamous show but being only ten yrs. old my parents responded with a "dream on" response which at that age (and especially that show) was a wise decision on my folks part - I didn't really know who Zeppelin was, I only knew one zeppelin song: D'yer maker...I would have to wait on enlightenment it seemed.
Fast forward two years.
The year was 1979, I was 12 yrs. old. That was the year I discovered two of the most wonderful things in the beginning of my teenage years -High grade cannabis and LED ZEPPELIN! lol
To Me, at the time that was like God giving you just a thimble-full of understanding as to what the universe really was about.
Just enuff to boggle the mind; but not enuff to make your head explode.
I had never heard anything musically like them; not then or now.
Driving home from school in my Mom's Carmen-Ghia VW station-wagon, (I know, I wish I had that car now & yes, they were cool!) The DJ on the Radio came on and said Zeppelin was rumored to tentatively be planning a North American Tour the next summer in support of the "In through the out door" album and would be coming to our area. Of course by then I was well versed in all things Zeppelin.
I screamed at the top of My lungs! Led F'n Zeppelin is coming! After being slapped for saying the "F" word in my mother's presence, I commenced the process of BEGGING RELENTLESSLY for the dinero's for tickets when and if they went on sale...We all know the rest of the story.
When I heard about Bonham's death, immediately I thought of his family...and then the music.
Those Guys were consummate musicians & performers from day one - that was a given.
But, by the time they released the last Album you KNEW it (In thru the out door) was the result of an Engine that was fully broken in...mature if ya like and the vehicle that was Led Zeppelin was getting ready to take us truly into the new and unknown - just like they always did. It always made me sad to think of what would have been musically for them AND us.
In the years that have since passed I've seen Plant solo, the Firm @ The Ocean Ctr in Daytona and Page & Plant on the No quarter tour where I watched literally an entire Auditorium break into tears towards the end of the show as they EXPLODED into Kashmir - all of us in Unison thinking how unbelievable it was that we were seeing this live and, while it wasn't LED ZEPPELIN it was as close as any of us were gonna get.
But alas, it is what it is and, we will never know what could've been. As for the critics who (especially in the U.K. it seemed) systematically always seem to bash them I say BLOW ME! You are intellectual MIDGETS! And, not allowed to hang w/ the cool kids! lol
Cameron Crowe was right when he said Zeppelin was like a good joint that's passed secretly among friends - we didn't & still don't mind folks knowing the Secret as long as they are intellectually worthy. (lol)
I have bloviated long enuff but must say one more thing before I depart and it's directed at the Guys in the band - Living and departed:
Thanks Guys...I really mean it. Not just for YOUR music but, all the other styles/forms of music you turned me on to THROUGH your music. I hope the Trip was worth it...it was for me.
Now, take Jason and do one more tour!
He's the only one who could stand in his fathers shoes.
Just look at it as filling the coffers one more time for retirement. lol