Led Zep's record breaking concert attendance
4th & 5 May 1973
Led Zeppelin had just released their fifth album 'Houses of the Holy', they were at the top of their game and played a string of live performances that put them in the record books several times over. At the opening night in Atlanta Braves' Stadium Led Zeppelin pulled in a crowd of 49,000 which destroyed the Beatles previous record of 33,000 and grossed $246,180 for the band. But this wasn't all, the band then moved on to Tampa, Florida and played to the largest crowd that had ever gathered to a single concert performance. They broke another Beatles attendance record (55,000 at Shea), drew 57,000 to the event and grossed $309 000. Which at the time was the highest amount ever grossed for a rock concert. Not bad for a couple of hours work.
I was there
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Have Your Say
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Elin Edwards, Wales
I am so disappointed that Led Zeppelin only got about 10 minutes on this program - they were the kings of rock! Led Zeppelin are way more famous and popular than most of the other bands that were on there. They are my favourite band ever and I say this despite being born in 1990, 10 years after John Bohnam's tragic demise. The year is 2007, 27 years since LZ's last concert and yet they are still admired by thousands. I am disappointed that they did not recieve the coverage that they deserve.Roger - Wigan
Zep did all this without releasing a single in the UK. They played and filled the biggest venues on thier own. They could and would fill Glasto single - handedThey are without equal.Barni, Maidstone
Led Zeppelin have the musical genius, talent, skill and creativity, which is surpassed by no band in history. They truly are the titans of rock, and my favourite band. Give Achilles Last Stand a good listen!Andrew Elliott
I was outraged by how bias the stadium rock episode was. Bias because most air time was given to Bruce Springsteen over any other band. Led Zeppelin where the band who created the concept of stadium rock. These facts where not even touched upon and there record breaking attendence feats where to my memory not even mentioned. Total Rubbish BBCmatt birt bedworth england
was really loooking forward to this series, but once again the bbc has let me down. The way Led Zeppelin have been ignored in this series is criminal!Andy, Alcester
Led Zeppelin were simply the best rock band ever. I consider myself very lucky to have seen them live. Knebworth August 11th 1979.Alison, Dundee
Led Zep's influence is totally underrated in this series, agree 100% with the other posts. Crazy emphasis on lesser bands- as Alasdair and AdeyAde say, where the heck are AC/DC and Aerosmith, also Def Leppard, Yes, Hawkwind and Van Halen? This is like watching one of the dumb top ten best...programs where the verdict is decided by 15 year olds who don't know anything about the origins of rock.Amanda, London
I completely agree that Led Zeppelin are seriously under-represented ... and I'm making two assumptions. The first is that the range of styles they encompass is just too broad to fit conveniently into just one of the seven pigeonholes you've landed yourselves with. And the second - that it's all about access. I'd guess you're paying much more for the rights to use Led Zeppelin material. And getting Jimmy Page on camera ? That's going to be a tad more difficult than getting Ozzy in... But still - it's a travesty !Amanda, London
I completely agree that Led Zeppelin are seriously under-represented ... and I'm making two assumptions. The first is that the range of styles they encompass is just too broad to fit conveniently into just one of the seven pigeonholes you've landed yourselves with. And the second - that it's all about access. I'd guess you're paying much more for the rights to use Led Zeppelin material. And getting Jimmy Page on camera ? That's going to be a tad more difficult than getting Ozzy in... But still - it's a travesty !Shaun Leeds
Led Zep, were far far too pretencious. Great Band-but took themselves far too seriously and man for man werent as good as musicians as The Who (JP being the only Zep member better than his equivelant)Hunter, Browney, Durham
By far the best rock and most influential band there has ever been! And dam right, why hasn't the BBC payed a bigger tribute to one of Britains greatest exports, please do a tribute with rare footage and interviews, perhaps then I will feel I am receiving value for money for my TV subscription! (p.s. the series so far's not bad, apart from punk, what a waste of talent!)Ali, Newcastle
I presume the BBC are making a separate programme devoted to the best and most influential band in rock history. To classify Led Zeppelin as a "stadium band" completely misses the point, the impact and the sheer genius of those four musicians is immeasurable. Innovative and ground breaking they consistently outshone all the imitators and wanabees. Nobody has ever come close to the consistent genius of Led Zeppelin and it is a gross omission that the BBC have failed to acknowledge their unparalled contribution to rock music.Steven Crayn, London
March 30th `74 Sao Paolo, Brazil. The Anhembi Exposition Hall and the start of the first South American rock tour ever with the largest indoor audience ever (120,000-148,000 depending on report). Guess who that was? the artist you have fialed to feature in this whole series, apart from a mention from John Lydon, yes the legendary Alice Cooper! Info courtesy of http://www.sickthingsuk.co.uk/ciaran,dublin
surely led zeppelin need a more serious critique in this series.to simply put them in the stadium episode is a bit of a light touch.consider pages session work not to mention jones' own session and arranging for acts as diverse as lulu and the stones.plants work with the band of joy and the cyril davies/alexis korner connection.thats even before you get to the yardbirds and zeppelin itself.really it is a strange decision to represent them this way.i still love the show,but come on give us a zeppelin documentary,please....Tony ,Cheltenham.
Sorry guys but the over hype!!! on Led Zep is just a bit silly.Yes they were a good band, yes they were influential, but come on there are bigger and better live bands, they did sell a lot of albums but thats because thats all they did! and most of there record sales came from the usa ( very big country )? there not even the biggest reord sales artist in the UK!!! I think the BBC deserve a pat on the back! for bringing a programme like this to our screens lets encorouge it not slag it off. The Stadium Rock programme should be the best one, some of the truly best artists performing to the biggest audiences!!!!,gaz slough
Led Zeppelin being overlooked in this series is a joke.All the other rock bands mentioned would tell you who were the daddiesTHE MIGHTY ZEPPELINAlison Rowland London
If your going have a series about rock music how can you do it and not give the time acknowledgement due to a band of Led Zeppelins stature? I am bemused.The eclectic mix of styles they incoporated as well as their musicianship was what has set the bench mark for the modern band. They are a fundemental part of the history of British music. Before they arrived on the scene most bands relied upon singles and airplay to sell an album. Aeroplanes and camp parties aside Led Zeppelin tapped into the subconscious of the British culture. This is why the music is still popular, fresh and vital today. I'm glad I'm nearly fifty because it means I was young enough to see them live. Yours truly dazed and confused.cidermaster north wales
Led Zeppelin quite simply the BEST rock band ever,unequalled live,and the BBC should do an our special on them very very soon.7 Ages Of Rock have not done Zep any justice.Robert Plant once said"Its not that we are the best band on the planet,it is that we are so much better than whoever is number two"circa75Alasdair, Southampton
I am assuming we'll see more Zeppelin coverage in the stadium rock episode - if not, woefully disproportional to their influence. And what about AC/DC? Australian and hugely influential. And at the time in the 90s, Anthrax were on a level footing with Metallica. Motley Crue? In that case, what about Van Halen and David Lee Roth. If you're going down that road, what about Bon Jovi, Heart - or even Wet Wet Wet - come on BBC!! Keep it real - these are not really 'rock' bands but more to do with hair, make up and sunset boulevard.AdeyAde, Coulsdon
Truley the greatest rock band in the history of everythng, ever.P.S ....where's Aerosmith?Rob, Littlehampton
Led Zeppelin are the most criminally underated band in modern day music history.. that there can even be a band as good as good as these guys is almost unbelievable.. rock fm recently did a poll to find the ultimate super group.. the people voted for john bonham on drums, jp jones on bass, jimi page on guitar and one percy plant on vocals.. please put some of that beeb doc power led zepp's way and help them rise to their thrown !! ;-)steve, hampshire
No real emphasis on prog rock. What of Yes, King Crimson, Hawkwind et al. I do agree that Led Zep's influence has been seriously downplayed. Come on BBC let's have a programme devoted to Messrs Bonham, JPJ, Page and Plant they deserve it!David Woodhouse Taiwan
"Led Zeplin" come on BBC - surely you can do better than that ! - You must be Dazed and Confused ! I was lucky enough to get to both Knebworth Concerts - absolutely awesome !bob
the bbc always get it wrong - god knows why people still watch the channel - i only bothered to see this series as i love the old rock - i feel let down by such little material of such great bands which were around then which have been missed out - yet another series with short clips of classic songs - people want to see zepplins stairway to heaven or rock n roll - where the hell was the beatles all you need is love live preformance which was broadcast around the world or the rooftop gig with dont let me down or let it be - what a waste - i wont be buying the dvd thats for sure - shoot the producer i sayjames, glasgow
zep should have a feature lengh programme devoted to them as already mentioned, as i cant even imagine a band from an alien planet being better than them, never mind the earthly bands that have got more coverage!Beppe
No amount of coverage of led zeppelin can ever be considered excessive, quite simply the best band ever to have walked the earthKeith West Yorkshire
This long awaited series is completely discredited. Deep purple never were or are heavy metal. Led zeppelin were the most prolific of bands and probably the greatest of all rock bands. Queen are just a pop act and carry no weight in rock. People have short memories but I am very disappointed that the BBC can produce this kind of pap. Talk to the real fans!!!!Malcolm, Warwickshire
The minimal references to Led Zeppelin, one of (if not) the best and biggest rock bands of all time, during this series is a major error of judgement. The programme editors /production team should be ashamed of this massive oversight.Colin, Bath
Yes played to over 100,000 in JFK Stadium Philadelphia in July 1976, don't they get a mention?David. Derbyshire
No surprise that Zepp do not appear as much in this series. Considering they actually broke more records on the US tour in 77 and played 5 sold out nights at Earls Court in 75 is just an irrelevance. They released no singles so really were just an uncommercial rock band who only toured the UK in the early days and only played 7 shows between 1973 until the death of John Bonham in 1980. If there was ever a band who deserved a full programme on their own then Zepp would be it. Come on programmers get going!!Nat, Wales
Firstly, you have spelt Led Zeppelin incorrectly on the music timeline.Secondly, I wholeheartedly agree with the comment posted by "Bev", and express my disappointment that there will not be greater coverage of Led Zeppelin in the series. To give Black Sabbath greater coverage is to skew the respective importance of these two bands, both globally and in the UK.I suspect the real reason for the lack of prominence of Led Zeppelin in this series is the inability or unwillingness of the BBC to pay for the rights to broadcast more footage of performances. Other bands are probably better represented in the BBC's archives by virtue of television appearances etc.. and hence feature heavily in the series.Simon , Coventry
I agree with Bev, Led Zeppelin were the most influential rock band of the era and there influence remains today. They have manged to transcend the seven ages , starting life in the 60's from the late Yardbirds to inflence today's generation. Their style has moved from traditional Blues/folk/prog/heavy metal/reggae/electronica and influenced so many artists. From Rolf Harris to Cypress Hill and Duran Duran to Tori Amos and everybody in between. So a very poor showing on the most influetial rock band of all time.dale
as bev has said, you (so far) have not given led zeppelin the coverage they deserve on seven ages. when you think of rock, led zeppelin SURELY were the best there was and will ever be.steve,hartlepool
led zeppelin should have a whole programme devoted just to them,they invented it didnt they?motley crue,youre having a laughNigel
Quite simply the best band ever.Bev
Led Zeppelin should have had greater coverage on the 7 ages of rock than you have given them, I am disappointed.Joewelsh and live Elgin
I think there a fantastic band
Peter Grant
Manager
Managed The Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin.
Peter Clifton and Joe Massot
Filmmakers
Directed The Song Remains the Same, filmed at Led Zeppelin's Madison Square Gardens performance.