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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Might Be? Hell, They Were GIANTS!
We drove up from Miami the night before, and camped on the beach...we arrived in the stadium as early as we were allowed. We were looking for our friends, and in turn made friends with ever one we met.
There was an air that day, maybe the coolest vibe I'd ever felt in the near 1000 concerts I'd attended. Love was in the air, and most had a fun buzz on.
I remember there were a few false eruptions from the crowd... then they finally hit the stage. WOW. Very surreal, and awesome sounding.
I had drawn a poster of Jimmy playing guitar with his bow, and wanted to through it up to him so I made my way to the front. They looked like giants on that stage! So graceful.
There was only one person between me and the barricades at the stage when the rain came. Damn! My poster got soak and wet....then they left the stage. I was bummed and tired so I made my way to the bleachers to wait out the bands return.
I clearly remember the band/manager coming over the PA asking us to chill...first saying they would be back shortly, then saying if we left calmly they would come back for a 4 hour request show the next night...that would have been kool. But instead the bottles flew. I do remember seeing a cop hit with a JD bottle on stage, and a small fire under one of the stacks of covered equipment.
I left, and don't remember ever seeing a riot inside or out.
I will tell you that it was the most amazing 3 songs I'd ever seen!
After the show we did hit the Holiday Inn, and there was an amazing party surrounding the pool, and in every room. But that's a whole other story!
I do remember that Led Zeppelin took out a two-full page ad in every major newspaper in the State of Florida apologizing for the tickets that said Rain or Shine. They said that they never approved of that, and were very sorry. I had my copy of the Miami Herald AD for many years, and would love to have another or a facsimile if anyone has got one.
Also, with the advent of the internet, I found a copy of that show about 5 years ago. The quality of the recording was poor, but the guys sounded great, and it brought me right back.
As I was writing this, I listened the 2007 concert for the first time. F#cking AMAZING!
Please come back to Florida guys!
I'd like to do a new portrait of/for you all....