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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I remember this concert
I remember this concert well. It was the week of my 19th birthday. I saw Led Zeppelin in Indianapolis but decided to drive to Tampa for vacation, to celebrate my birthday and to watch the greatest musical group in the entire world perform. Being die hard Zeppelin fans, my husband and I drove 1000 miles and purchased tickets for the unbelieveable price of $10. We got decent seats just to the right of the stage above the exit. As they took to the stage, we watched as a black ominous cloud appeared behind us. After three songs, the sky opened up and the rain came down in torrents. We sat drenched in the stands while the band left the stage and tarp covered the stage. We sat in out seats wet to the skin waiting for them to return and then we heard the announcement that the show had been canceled. Universal sounds of disappointment filled the stadium then the confusion started. With the rain coming down and the police desending into the crowd, people paniced and as we were leaving the stands I suddenly felt myself moving although I was not moving my feet. The entire group of people were being pushed into the much smaller opening the separated the stadium outdoors from inside. In that tunnel I just remember the feeling of not being able to breathe because my face was buried in the back of the person standing in front of me and we were packed so tightly in there that no one could move their arms or legs or turn their heads. I felt like I was going to die right there in that short passage. Finally we were on the other side and could breathe again. We found our way out of the stadium and back to our car. We went back to the hotel anticipating that the show would be rescheduled for the next day. The next day we went to a pancake house for breakfast and read in the paper that Led Zeppelin would not be returning. It was so disappointing. I tried to get the chance to get tickets for the London show but was not lucky enough to be one of the fortunate ones to go... I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will consider a tour and hopefully I will be able to get tickets to see them again at least one more time in my lifetime.