Not very many people know about these shows as well as the Japanese shows that Led Zeppelin did in '71 and '72. But, in my opinion, the Australian shows are actually some of the most important in their career as a band. Why? Well, first off, it gave them an introduction to stadiums, which they played during '73 and '77 in North America, including their famous Atlanta, Tampa and Detroit shows. Heck, they played to some 80,000 people in a 50,000 seat stadium in Perth on the first night. In Sydney, they played to between 30,000 and 40,000 people. Maybe even more!!! Secondly, it proved that the band can actually rock in places that aren't just in America and Europe. Sure they played Japan just a few months before, but they were, to what, 10,000 people. They were the biggest thing to come to Australia since The Beatles in '64. They also set a record attendance for the highest attended show in New Zealand, when they played in Auckland to about 25,000 people. And that is pretty big. I'm from N.Z., and they're not the biggest rockers in the world. And imagine in 1972!!! All in all, these were definently some very important concerts in the band's career. Hear is the complete inteniary with the rounded attendance.
16th February - Perth, Australia - Subiaco Oval - 80,000
19th February - Adelaide, Australia - Memorial Drive Park - 8,000
20th February - Melbourne, Australia - Kooyong Stadium - 14,000
25th February - Auckland, New Zealand - Western Springs Stadium - 25,000
27th February - Sydney, Australia - Sydney Showground - 38,000
29th February - Brisbane, Australia - Brisbane Festival Hall - 6,000
If anyone was here, please share your story.
I have to agree. They were. at their peak at this one.
"Was overcast, even drizzling rain. Arrived in an overpacked Kombi (very cliche but true) smoking all the way in. No tickets, we grinned and walked passed the ticket guy fast as he frantically grabbed for a ticket from whoever may have had one. I slipped a $5 bill into his pockets for his efforts. Five bucks to see Led Zeppelin seemed more than fair. Just after 2PM and I swear the sun broke through like a spotlight over the stage as they walked on. A mass of people jumped the racecourse fence from the power of the Immigrant Song kicking off as we looked on stunned. A few hours later they finished their umpteenth encore (contrary to set lists) and left the stage to enormous applause. What a show and of course we had never seen anything so dynamic and powerful back in ’72. Simply amazing and one of their best (acknowledged years later by Page and Plant) concerts ever."
Led Zeppelin's 1972 Australian Shows
in Led Zeppelin Live
Posted
I have to agree. They were. at their peak at this one.
"Was overcast, even drizzling rain. Arrived in an overpacked Kombi (very cliche but true) smoking all the way in. No tickets, we grinned and walked passed the ticket guy fast as he frantically grabbed for a ticket from whoever may have had one. I slipped a $5 bill into his pockets for his efforts. Five bucks to see Led Zeppelin seemed more than fair.
Just after 2PM and I swear the sun broke through like a spotlight over the stage as they walked on. A mass of people jumped the racecourse fence from the power of the Immigrant Song kicking off as we looked on stunned.
A few hours later they finished their umpteenth encore (contrary to set lists) and left the stage to enormous applause. What a show and of course we had never seen anything so dynamic and powerful back in ’72. Simply amazing and one of their best (acknowledged years later by Page and Plant) concerts ever."
My comment from JPJ Audio Forum https://jpjaudio.com.au/1972/02/27/led-zeppelin-australian-tour-1972/