Led Zeppelin's US tour in 1973 was a
major success. It established them
as one of the most popular rock
bands in the world. It had been nearly
a year and a half since the release of their
4th album, their most successful.
Their 5th album, "Houses of the Holy",
was released in March 1973. They
toured the US in May and June, in grand style.
Flying in Starship 1, the same jet Elvis, The Rolling
Stones and Elton John had used, they ended the
tour on June 2nd in San Francisco.
Bill Graham began his, "Day on the Green"
series that Spring with
The Grateful Dead and then
Led Zeppelin. 50,000 fans
poured into Kezar Stadium. My friends
and I were there, too. To see our photos
and read our memoirs of that event,
go to -
Brit Rock By The Bay
Here are a couple of ads that ran
in the local SF publications.
The coveted ticket!
My friends slept over night along with dozens
of fans to be among the first to enter.
Dan Cuny can be seen with his head propped up
against the cyclone fence. Gary Hodges is
curled up in his sleeping bag to his right.
Dan took this picture of me waiting for the show to begin.
I had not slept over night to get in first, but I was
just a few yards behind them.
You can see the jeer on my face.
A clip I saved from a SF paper.
Announcement of the tour
just weeks before.
A detail of the text above.
Atlantic Records released
the tour dates.
From the Book "Hammer of the Gods"
Published by William Morrow & Co.
Text is © Stephen Davis 1985 .
A review of the concert.
From Bill Graham's
autobiography "Bill Graham
Presents". Published by Doubleday.
© Estate of Bill Graham 1992.
The late, great Phil Elwood was
a lover of jazz, but not so much of
Led Zeppelin, as can be seen in this
review. Probably from the
SF Examiner.
My photos of the concert, before, during and after.
That is Dan Cuny jeering back at me.
The girl nearest me is mentioned in my memoir.
Someone always has a huge balloon.
I had to leave my spot to use the restroom.
I left my jacket on the ground in hopes that
my space would still be there. I managed to find my
way back through the crowd. The jacket was still there.
I made sure I got a shot of the sign,
"IMPEACH NIXON"
Gary can be seen among the
tangle of arms and hair.
Some people stood to see
Lee Michaels, some didn't.
Led Zep arrives. We all stood up!
They used a smoke machine for
the song, "No Quarter".
One of the doves they released
at the end of "Stairway to Heaven"
returned and landed on Robert
Plant's hand. Jimmy Page went over
and they both petted the bird,
A blow-up op of the same shot.
After the show I met up with
my sun-baked friends, Gary
and Michael. You can see the doves
in the background. I guess they
returned for the encore.
Dan puts away his camera.
The aftermath.
One last look at Kezar. It was demolished
in 1989 and rebuilt as a much
smaller structure.
An article from Circus magazine 10/73.
Circus Magazine article 4/74.
Robert Plant is interviewed.
Led Zeppelin are revered as
the biggest English rock band
since the Beatles. Plant was
just 25 at the time of this interview.
Before Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant
and John Bonham were in
Band of Joy.
Led Zeppelin start their own label,
"Swan Song" a year after
playing Kezar.
An interview with Jimmy Page
and Robert Plant 3/75.
A review of their
first album. It received
some mixed reviews as they
were still shaking off the
image of being the "New
Yardbirds".
Their 2nd release was a super
hit with "Whole Lot of Love"
and other songs that became standards.
Their 3rd release had great
moments, but was not the
major hit they wanted. It used more
acoustic instruments.
With their 4th album,
there was no doubt of their
abilities. "Stairway to Heaven"
and many other songs on the album
are rock classics.
"Houses of the Holy" was their
5th album. It, too, had it's
great moments, but met with
mixed reviews.
Since their albums did not have
the name of the band or album
printed on the cover, a paper band
or sticker was added by the
record company.
Recommended reading
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