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)
Comments
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Great job Bill!!! Your
Great job Bill!!!
Your description is right on. It was the most accurate description of events that I've read regarding this tragic almost concert. The tales have been told through the years and I've heard them all. I started out up in the stands, as I remember it was a little after 7:30, the printed silver ticket stubs said 8:00 showtime. But all of a sudden the crowd went wild and I look and see Jimmy Page has walked on stage, then Plant and Jonesy and Bonham, all totally unanounced which caught me off guard. No anouncement??? for the Biggest and most Bad Ass band in history. Weird I thought in my 16 year old head ... Well , my theory is that they knew there was a huge storm coming , we could all see it coming , It was one of the darkest most ominus clouds I've ever seen, we were all concerned, but, "Rain or Shine" was on the stub so that kept us comfort a little, But, I believe they came on stage early to get the show going in hopes that the show would not be a total wash out, which it turned out to be.
I do believe that Zep would have played a make up show the next day if it were not for the cops over reacting and causing bedlem in the field which is were I ended up by the second song. Yes some people were pissed, I remember some beer cans hitting Bonzo's chrome Lidwig drum kit, and some people were lifting up the barrior and it did get a little heated. But like you said it wasn't a riot. It wasn't until the tear gas hit us, it was all I could do to get out of there The cops started their shit and people were running to get away from them and the dreaded gas, I was almost crushed in a sea of humanity trying to escape, I think I stepped on a few people myself, I was pulling myself out from under arms and legs and whatever, It was a terrifying 3 mins. of hell getting out of the field, all caused by the police over reacting in fear of a riot, which caused the melee. As a result the city of Tampa banned the group from playing in their city ever again..