The Song Remains The Same, (The Rover intro) Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer ~ Black Mountain side, Kashmir, (Out On the Tiles intro) Moby Dick, Jimmy Page solo, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Trampled Underfoot, Rock and Roll.
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Click here to view the US '77 Tour Programme (flipbook) |
Review excerpt: Led Zeppelin Rises to a Night of Firsts
At 8:12pm, the house lights were extinguished. The flickering lights from matches and disposable lighters blossomed around the hall. Twin spotlights cascaded around guitarist Jimmy Page as he hit the opening chords of The Song Remains the Same.
We’re sorry about being 2 ½ years late,” singer Robert Plant said after the second song. “We’ll try to make up for it with little chatter and a lot of music.”
This was an event – Zep’s first show since 1975 and it was happening right here in Dallas. The audience was primed; more so because of Plant’s throat problems.
But Led Zeppelin did not disappoint. The band played for three hours – way over the norm for a rock concert. And for a first show, it was amazingly professional – loose, easy going but never sloppy. If Plant felt too much time was being taken between numbers, he would apologize to the crowd. During one of these apologies, he said: “You realize that this is the first one.” The remark was greeted by a standing ovation.
The first laser beam was spotted at 9:05pm during No Quarter.Smoke was billowing from the side of the stage and John Paul Jones was in the midst of a piano solo when the two green lasers spread from the rear of the stage and cast figure-eights on the ceiling. The fire marshall said he restricted some of the pyrotechnics Zeppelin planned for this show, but they weren’t missed.
The band displayed more of its talents than one would expect from its last couple of albums or last year’smovie The Song Remains the Same, filmed largely at Zep’s Madison Square Garden concert.
Zep devoted a good bit of its show to music such as that found on the second side of the band’s third album – acoustical, almost folk-like in its appeal.
During one number (Battle of Evermore), Page played the mandolin. Jones played acoustic guitar. John Bonham played a tambourine…. And on another (Bron-Y-Aur Stomp), Page played acoustic guitar and Jones played stand-up bass – possibly a first for a “heavy metal” rock band. But these were not the only “firsts” or “records”… The show could make the latest revision of Guinness for:
-The world’s longest drum solo
-The first use of synthesized kettle drums
-The most equipment repair required during a drum solo
-First use of a sliding drum platform that eased Bonham to the stage apron, assuring a standing ovation at the completion of his solo.
-The longest interlude during the drum solo in while not a single cymbal was struck
-The largest revolving ballroom light ball
-The most stage lights
-The most following spotlights (15)
-The cleanest stage
The concert also attracted one of the most well-behaved audiences for a show of this type. These were people who came to see and hear their idols, not to cause trouble. Their calls for an encore seemed to be an honest tribute more than an excuse to set things on fire.
Outside the hall, after the show, vendors hawked Zeppelin t-shirts, posters, programmes and even bumper stickers.
Yes it was an event – and its significance was not lost on the media. Radio station KAFM did a remote broadcast from the lobby after the show. Radio station KZEW played an hour of uninterrupted Led Zeppelin music beginning at midnight. KFWD promised the first couple of persons to come to the Esquire Theater after the show would receive free Led Zeppelin records. (Times, April '77)
The Song Remains The Same, (The Rover intro) Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer ~ Black Mountainside, Kashmir, (Out On the Tiles intro) Moby Dick, Jimmy Page solo, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Trampled Underfoot, Rock and Roll.
|
Click here to view the US '77 Tour Programme (flipbook) |
The band rehearse for three days at the Memorial Auditorium in Dallas.
Review excerpt: Led Zeppelin Rises to a Night of Firsts
At 8:12pm, the house lights were extinguished. The flickering lights from matches and disposable lighters blossomed around the hall. Twin spotlights cascaded around guitarist Jimmy Page as he hit the opening chords of The Song Remains the Same.
We’re sorry about being 2 ½ years late,” singer Robert Plant said after the second song. “We’ll try to make up for it with little chatter and a lot of music.”
This was an event – Zep’s first show since 1975 and it was happening right here in Dallas. The audience was primed; more so because of Plant’s throat problems.
But Led Zeppelin did not disappoint. The band played for three hours – way over the norm for a rock concert. And for a first show, it was amazingly professional – loose, easy going but never sloppy. If Plant felt too much time was being taken between numbers, he would apologize to the crowd. During one of these apologies, he said: “You realize that this is the first one.” The remark was greeted by a standing ovation.
The first laser beam was spotted at 9:05pm during No Quarter.Smoke was billowing from the side of the stage and John Paul Jones was in the midst of a piano solo when the two green lasers spread from the rear of the stage and cast figure-eights on the ceiling. The fire marshall said he restricted some of the pyrotechnics Zeppelin planned for this show, but they weren’t missed.
The band displayed more of its talents than one would expect from its last couple of albums or last year’smovie The Song Remains the Same, filmed largely at Zep’s Madison Square Garden concert.
Zep devoted a good bit of its show to music such as that found on the second side of the band’s third album – acoustical, almost folk-like in its appeal.
During one number (Battle of Evermore), Page played the mandolin. Jones played acoustic guitar. John Bonham played a tambourine…. And on another (Bron-Y-Aur Stomp), Page played acoustic guitar and Jones played stand-up bass – possibly a first for a “heavy metal” rock band. But these were not the only “firsts” or “records”… The show could make the latest revision of Guinness for:
-The world’s longest drum solo
-The first use of synthesized kettle drums
-The most equipment repair required during a drum solo
-First use of a sliding drum platform that eased Bonham to the stage apron, assuring a standing ovation at the completion of his solo.
-The longest interlude during the drum solo in while not a single cymbal was struck
-The largest revolving ballroom light ball
-The most stage lights
-The most following spotlights (15)
-The cleanest stage
The concert also attracted one of the most well-behaved audiences for a show of this type. These were people who came to see and hear their idols, not to cause trouble. Their calls for an encore seemed to be an honest tribute more than an excuse to set things on fire.
Outside the hall, after the show, vendors hawked Zeppelin t-shirts, posters, programmes and even bumper stickers.
Yes it was an event – and its significance was not lost on the media. Radio station KAFM did a remote broadcast from the lobby after the show. Radio station KZEW played an hour of uninterrupted Led Zeppelin music beginning at midnight. KFWD promised the first couple of persons to come to the Esquire Theater after the show would receive free Led Zeppelin records. (Times, April '77)
December 15, 2008 10:33pm Ken Atkinson
I was at this concert and it was something I'll never forget.
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Dallas 1977 'Ticket Lineups' Article
July 20, 2010 4:05pmChris Walker
Hey that's me in the article with the tent! My buddy Scott C. is no longer with us but I remember those two days very well. The local weather man Troy Dungan (bow tie guy) interviewed us as the temp that night went way below freezing. We skipped school on Friday and were called into the principles office Monday morning. He slapped the newspaper down on his desk and said “You guys wanna explain this”? Uhhhhh. I think we ended up selling some tickets to the Vice Principal and all was forgiven! This was my first concert and which was an injustice to all subsequents! Thanks for the web page… Chris W.
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LZ Dallas 1977
December 10, 2007 10:41pm "Barney Snowden"
Great! Unbelievable performances. This, and LZ at Tarrant Co in '75, were the best shows I ever attended.
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At the age of 19 it was and
November 20, 2007 11:05pm Kenny Monson
At the age of 19 it was and still is the best concert that I have been to. Being in a small venue sounded great. I will never forget how professional the band was and sounded. I just wish I could of bought some t shirts ect., they sold out fast
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I was there!
December 16, 2013 1:25am David Dawson
I spent the night out there waiting for tickets. I was the second one in and you can imagine my disappointment of getting tickets on row 14 since this was pre-computer. The ticket counter lady explained that VIP's, Radio Stations, friends of the band, ect. consumed most of the front rows.
Anyway... The show was great and so were the laser lights. John Bonhams drum solo on "Moby Dick" was fantastic as a track mounted drum stage moved up front.
Jimmy Page really got down at this show and plant was classic!
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I was the last one in! The
June 16, 2021 7:46pm Jon
I was the last one in! The riot squad was called in after the crowd got out of hand, and once they restored order one of the officers went around the edge of the perimeter they had set up and pointed at peopel 'You... you... you.." letting ten at a time to buy tickets. I got up to the front, he was going around. He pointed at me, said "You"... before he could point to the next person someone poked their head out the door and said "Sold out! No more tickets." A huge groan went up, because there were still hundreds of people waiting and hoping. I hesitated for a half second then walked in fast, and nobody tried to stop me. Bought three tickets, "obstructed view" because there were way around to the side of the stage where you couldn't see much of anything but screw that. I was there!
The ticket you see is dated March 4 because that was the date the show was originally scheduled for. Robert Plants son passed away unexpectedly early during the tour, so the band put everything on hold and returned to England. The show was eventually rescheduled for April 1.
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35 Years Gone
August 21, 2014 8:48am Chris U
I feel very fortunate to have seen this show. After all these years, I swear to you that 'Trampled Underfoot' was the last song on the setlist that evening.
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1977 Dallas Show
October 18, 2014 1:22pm Jerry Butler
Best ever show by far !!!!!!!!! I was 18 at the time, some how we got 5th row tickets. I was stoned out of my mind and the anticipation was increadable. When they hit the stage I was so focused on the music it was the only thing I could hear.I will always remember the acoustic set!!! In all the shows I had seen by then to see heavy metal rock and roll gods perform unplugged it was perfect!!!
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The show of shows...
September 15, 2016 4:23pm Mark mcCord
Awesome show that was and will always be!
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I was 16 when I was at this
March 21, 2021 6:18pm Randy Lee
I was 16 when I was at this concert. I am trying to find some memorabilia for my home studio.
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I spent all night long as a
March 21, 2021 6:27pm Randy Lee
I spent all night long as a 16 year old in front of the Dallas Convention Center and was only able to get a balcony seat. Still have the stubb. I still use this to measure all concerts since. Page is why I play a Les Paul.
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