Led Zeppelin coming to Mew York City for six dates at Madison Square Garden in June, 1977 was big news and the toughest ticket in town. My friends and I made the trip on the 7 Line from Flushing, Queens to see rock and rock royalty whose arrival was covered by every newspaper and media outlet in New York and beyond. Our seats were midway up facing the left side of the stage. The crowd was ecstatic and pumped to see true rock gods in the flesh. The music was legendary, the venue epic and the crowd was electric. The laser light show during Jimmy Page’s “Dazed snd Confused” solo was state of the art at the time and amazing. When the band broke in to “Rock and Roll” near the end of the show, the crowd was ecstatic with the masses dancing and singing in a communal rite of passage. It was only my second concert going experience and although I would see Page and Plant incarnations for many years to follow, it would be the only time I would attend an actual “Led Zeppelin” concert. When John Bonham died, the band announced that it was over, and they amazingly stuck to their guns and except for a Live Aid appearance with Phil Collins and a one off for Ahmet Ertegon with Bonzo’s son Jason Bonham on drums.

Led Zeppelin is on the Mount Rushmore of rock and roll acts, with The Rolling Stones, Beatles, and you pick the fourth act. Feel free to discuss.

Unfortunately, a Robert Plant/ Saving Grace gig that had been scheduled for the intimate Town Hall in mid town Manhattan has been postponed due to the pandemic.

Stairway to Heaven indeed

Stay well

Stay safe

Rock on!

GQ