LED ZEPPELIN at KEZAR, SF 6/2/73

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. 

Rare footage of the event, (live clip).

A closer look, (live clip).

Announcement of the tour

just weeks before. 

A shot of the band
in front of "Starship 1"
Photo © Vanity Fair Magazine.
On Board Starship 1, (live clip)

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.

Bill Graham

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!

Whole Lotta Love from Kezar Concert, (audio clip)

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.

Band of Joy

Band of Joy, (audio clip)

Led Zeppelin start their own label, 

"Swan Song" a year after 

playing Kezar.

An interview with Jimmy Page 

and Robert Plant 3/75.

Jimmy Page at 14, (live clip)

Jimmy Page with the Yardbirds, (live clip)

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. 

Their 5th album, "Houses of the Holy"
with cover by Hipgnosis.
"Houses of the Holy", (a history)

The inside cover.

The inner sleeve.

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.

John Bonham died after a drinking
binge in 1980. They were
preparing to rehearse for their
next album. Led Zeppelin
decided to disband as they
felt they could not continue
on with out him.
This was the best tribute
anyone could get.
John Bonham
John Bonham Interview,(live clip).
A Tribute to John Bonham

Recommended reading 

Tight But Loose Magazine