Jump to content

NEW: Hampton Coliseum 1970 - DATE CORRECTION!


sam_webmaster

Recommended Posts

  • Administrators

The 1970 Hampton Roads Coliseum date was always thought to have occurred on August 17th, mainly attributed to the (mislabeled) bootleg tape for decades. However, while examining some press and additional ads in the Timeline, the "original" date of the 10th appears to be the correct date after all.  We also have an original handbill in the Timeline which lists Aug. 10th.

Early news reports mentioned the tour starting in Cincinnati on August 5th (others said August 6th), but some of these dates were rescheduled due to JPJ's father being ill.

Some ads in local newspapers, right up to the day before the show are all listed as Aug. 10th. This newspaper review, dated August 16 says: "The Led Zeppelin, a British rock group, 'turned on' for a crowd of 10,000 plus at the Hampton Roads Coliseum last week."

Also, in the photo caption of the review:  "The Led Zeppelin, a British rock group recently appeared at the Hampton Roads Coliseum, replete with long hair, expensive equipment and eager fans. The concert was the first of a US tour."

So with this new information, the summer North American tour actually began here on August 10th in Virginia.  (JPJ may have flown back to the UK, then returned for the show in New Haven on August 15th).

--

1970-hamptonad-1.jpg
(Ad: published August 5, 1970)

 

1970-08-hampton-roads-ad-8-9-70-a.jpg

(AD: published August 9, 1970)

 

"Led Zeppelin To Appear At Coliseum" (published August 9, 1970)

1970-08-09-hamptonroads-to-play-1.jpg

 

Concert Review: published August 16, 1970:

1970-08-hampton-roads-review.jpg

 

 

Review Transcription:

Led Zeppelin 'Turns On' For Crowd At Coliseum

'The Led Zeppelin, a British rock group, 'turned on' for a crowd of 10,000 plus at the Hampton Roads Coliseum last week.

The group, on the first leg of its tour in the United States, and the first time it has appeared in this country in over seven months, is composed of four musicians, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant.

Jimmy Page is 23 years old and plays lead guitar. It was he who more or less got the group together.

He conceived the idea for a group and the name, while still a member of the Yardbirds. Asked why the name he replied, "There's really no reason for our name. It's better, really, than cabbage or carrots." A formidable guitarist, he embarked on his career at the age of 15.

John Bonham is the 21 year old drum player for the group. Bonham received a standing ovation at the Coliseum for his drum solo which lasted over 20 minutes.

John Paul Jones was doing some of the arrangements for a Donovan album when he met Page. Realizing they could best express themselves by working  together, they decided to do just 1hat. As Page says, "John is an incredible musician. He didn't need me for a job, but he felt the need to express himself and figured we could do that together."

Today Jones is a sought after arranger all over England. At 22 he has the distinction of being one of the few young men to make it in both the production line of recording and the recording itself.

Lead singer for the group is 21 year old Robert Plant. A versatile and accomplished musician he also plays the harmonica and bass. It is said his voice is so powerful, that when the speakers broke down on one engagement in Sweden the audience in the back of the auditorium could hear him.

Although Jimmy Page's description of the volatile and enthusiastic Coliseum crowd was a bit understated with "warm", it is this type of ability - the ability to generate a vibrant feeling - that has made Led Zeppelin a supergroup.

Having only begun in late 1968, the group has hit the top of the charts with such LPs as Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin II.

They are soon to release a new album.

Speaking for the group, Page described it as "totally different from what we have done before. We are always changing, hopefully for the better. We have to change with the times." Some of this change was witnessed at the concert when the group put aside their electric equipment and treated the audience to a country-western arrangement using a non-electric sound.

After the concert and a brief rest, the group took time out to sign a few autographs and answer questions.  [By A. SIEFRING  | Dally Press Writer, 8/16/70]

-----------------------

http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/august-10-1970

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bravo Sam! So the evidence was hiding in plain sight, so-to-speak? ;)

The Summer 1970 North American tour was one of the most significant tours of Led Zeppelin's history and key to securing the band's live reputation. So it is vital that as much accurate information be made available about this tour as possible.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Important question: how 'bout other dates that have been cancelled due to JPJ' father's illness?

The 11th of August is reported to be cancelled (Charlotte), 12th of August (Jacksonville), 13th of August (Tallahassee), 14th of August (Boston). The first date we have a confirmation that the band performed is New Haven show from 15th of August. So, what's the clue of that weird break / cancellation between August 10th (now confirmed) and all these cancelled dates between 'til the 15th of August?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrators
8 hours ago, zepster1979 said:

Important question: how 'bout other dates that have been cancelled due to JPJ' father's illness?

The 11th of August is reported to be cancelled (Charlotte), 12th of August (Jacksonville), 13th of August (Tallahassee), 14th of August (Boston). The first date we have a confirmation that the band performed is New Haven show from 15th of August. So, what's the clue of that weird break / cancellation between August 10th (now confirmed) and all these cancelled dates between 'til the 15th of August?

I've never seen evidence that Charlotte, Jacksonville or Tallahassee were ever confirmed/booked dates.  The Aug. 14th date in Boston was scheduled for the Eagle Rock Festival, which was moved to Boston Garden on Sept. 9th. (The Eagle Rock festival itself was cancelled). There were other tentative festival dates around this time as well - i.e. Strawberry Fields Festival, Toronto Peace '70, Spoon River Festival - which did not occur either, for various reasons.

Here's a few press articles talking about the tentative & changing tour plans. The NME (8-15-70 edition) does mention Hampton as the first show, which we now know is correct:

1970-summer-tour-press1.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, sam_webmaster said:

I've never seen evidence that Charlotte, Jacksonville or Tallahassee were ever confirmed/booked dates. 

I'll do some digging tonight through newspaper archives just to see if anything can be found (ads, news items, cancellations, etc. Doubtful but it doesn't hurt to check.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, sam_webmaster said:

I've never seen evidence that Charlotte, Jacksonville or Tallahassee were ever confirmed/booked dates.  The Aug. 14th date in Boston was scheduled for the Eagle Rock Festival, which was moved to Boston Garden on Sept. 9th. (The Eagle Rock festival itself was cancelled). There were other tentative festival dates around this time as well - i.e. Strawberry Fields Festival, Toronto Peace '70, Spoon River Festival - which did not occur either, for various reasons.

Here's a few press articles talking about the tentative & changing tour plans. The NME (8-15-70 edition) does mention Hampton as the first show, which we now know is correct:

1970-summer-tour-press1.jpg

 

 

I found these up here:

http://www.ledzepconcerts.com/concertdates/index.php?m=cdlz-1970

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome! Great work on this new discovery. Thanks for sharing. This is one hot gig!! Might hear it differently now that I know it's the first gig of the tour.....if that makes any sense?? Lol

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, Robert plays bass too, I wonder if that's him playing the recorded version of IMTOD? 

I guess research was not a big thing for rock journalism back then but at least they got the names right. Ladies and gentlemen, the lead singer of Len Zeflin Mr. Robert Fern...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, badgeholder said:

"Seventeen" tracks have been recorded for Led Zeppelin III it says. ? Can somebody name all 17 tracks? I sure can't

1. Immigrant Song

2. Friends

3. Celebration Day

4. Since I've Been Loving You

5. Out on the Tiles

6. Gallows Pole

7. Tangerine

8. That's the Way

9. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

10. Hats Off to (Roy) Harper

11. Hey, Hey, What Can I Do

12. Poor Tom

13. Bron-Yr-Aur

14. Keys to the Highway/Trouble in Mind

15. Fixin-to-Die/That's All Right

16. Jennings Farm Blues

17. St. Tristan's Sword

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yesterday I picked up a Zeppelin book at a used book store, "Led Zeppelin Heaven and Hell" by Charles R. Cross and Erik Flannigan, published in 1991. The book has a listing of concert dates, including this one:

 

20170408_104931.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/8/2017 at 8:53 AM, Balthazor said:

Yesterday I picked up a Zeppelin book at a used book store, "Led Zeppelin Heaven and Hell" by Charles R. Cross and Erik Flannigan, published in 1991. The book has a listing of concert dates, including this one:

 

20170408_104931.jpg

That Charles R. Cross book just might be my favourite Zeppelin book. I always recommend it to people looking for a good overall balanced read with plenty of cool photos, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...