Led Zeppelin - January 2, 1973 - Sheffield

Led Zeppelin

January 2, 1973

City Hall

Sheffield

Sheffield 1973 / 2CDR / Non Label

01. Rock And Roll
02. Over The Hills And Far Away
03. Black Dog
04. Misty Mountain Hop
05. Since I've Been Loving You
06. Dancing Days
07. The Song Remains The Same
08. The Rain Song
09. Dazed And Confused
10. Stairway To Heaven
11. Whole Lotta Love

Sheffield is unique in terms of visits by Led Zeppelin in that no other city outside London hosted as many shows over such a time period.
Led Zeppelin became the biggest band on the planet, honing their live act in front of huge audiences in America and then coming back to England to play what were relatively small shows by their standards.
The gigs they played in Sheffield - in 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1973 - gave concert-goers in Sheffield the chance to see that evolution and, in the process, the birth of heavy metal.'
The first show in 1968 was in front of an audience of no more than 200 people and took place before the band's first album had been released.
The stage began to fall apart at one point as it was constructed from tables that had been pushed together.
Some of the audience, being blues purists, didn't like what they heard at all. By contrast, the show in January 1973 was a complete sell-out. The Star's reviewer of that night's show predicted that a week of gigs at City Hall would not have sated the demand for tickets.
The 1973 show almost didn't happen. Singer Robert Plant was suffering from flu and his car broke down on the way to the gig. But he made it and the audience were treated to a set which included Rock and Roll, Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop, The Song Remains the Same, Dazed and Confused, Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love and Heartbreaker. He added: 'Robert's voice wasn't in the best of shape that night but audience feedback - and bootleg recordings of the show - suggests that the rest of the band were on fire that night.
Led Zeppelin did not return to Sheffield after 1973, only playing a handful of gigs in the UK after that second City Hall visit before splitting up in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham.

Press Review: ZEPPELIN DESCENDS ON THE CITY HALL

What makes Led Zeppelin a bigger draw than the boy King Tut? It’s true that people queued all night for a last glimpse of the treasures from the Nile at the British Museum, but Zeppelin freaks seem prepared to do that for any concert by the rock group.

In Sheffield the City Hall show was a sell-out before the box office opened. On the current tour of one-nighters Zeppelin could have played a week at each city hall and there would still have been fans who failed to get tickets.

Why? It’s hard to say on the word of followers – ranging from teens to twenties – who were at the Sheffield concert last night. Comments varying between “they’re just great” and “the best rock band in the country” don’t shed much light on a phenomenon. But all were agreed that guitarist Jimmy Page was the best thing that ever happened to the group.

The ex-Yardbird (but don’t keep reminding him of that) is the jewel encrusted throne of this particular treasure. His playing is majestic and tireless, the guitar slung low at the hip. Sometimes it’s a double-neck at other times he revives old memories by dragging a bow across the strings to create sounds that are a mixture of a Wurlitzer being tortured and a huge monster in extreme pain.

Last night, Zeppelin had their own death mask – singer Robert Plant pale-faced with flu. And his car broke down on the motorway en route to the concert, he croaked. But maybe the flu was on their side because it cut out the screeching that often distinguishes a Plant vocal. Was it just sympathy that prompted a young girl fan to discard her bra in his direction however?

The lineup is completed by drummer John Bonham, whose influence is meaty and the more subtle contribution of bassist John Paul Jones, but without Jimmy Page…

They have been together since 1968 and they allowed themselves a little nostalgia. Driving hard through Whole Lotta Love and Heartbreaker, slowing down for the impressive Stairway to Heaven.

Presley had his place too, alongside new material from their album due out later this month. It will be revolutionary – a title is planned.

Some people unkindly say Zeppelin spend most of their time in the U.S. That’s unfair, retorts their publicist B.P. Fallon who formerly nursed the fortunes of T. Rex. In 1972 they were only in America for three weeks.

But they are economical with their talents, appearing live spasmodically and never rushing albums out. Perhaps that’s the best way to create a demand and have hordes queuing for concert tickets. It certainly helps to make you a millionaire. That’s what they are. – K. Strong, (Sheffield Star, Jan. 1973)