Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1968/1969

infobox concert tour
concert_tour_name = North America 1968/1969

Poster for Led Zeppelin's concerts at the Fillmore West , used to help promote its 1968/1969 tour of North America
artist = Led Zeppelin
type = Concert
locations = North America
start_date = December 26, 1968
end_date = February 15, 1969
number_of_legs = 1
number_of_shows = 34
last_tour = United Kingdom 1968
this_tour = North America 1968/1969
next_tour = United Kingdom & Scandinavia Spring 1969

Led Zeppelin's 1968/1969 tour of North America was the first concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour commenced on December 26, 1968 and concluded on February 15, 1969.

Overview

The genesis of this tour was the cancellation of a concert tour by the Jeff Beck Group, which happened to be managed out of the same office as that occupied by Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant. Grant contacted the promoters and convinced them to take on Led Zeppelin instead.Liner notes by Cameron Crowe for "The Complete Studio Recordings"]

To help publicise the band in America before the tour, Grant had sent white label advance copies of the band's debut album to key FM radio stations. The album itself was issued on January 17, mid-way though the tour.For this stint of concerts, Led Zeppelin played as the support act for bands such as Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly (both of which were also contracted to Atlantic Records) and Country Joe & the Fish. However, as the tour progressed, it became apparent that Led Zeppelin was easily outshining the headline acts.Lewis, Dave and Pallett, Simon (1997) "Led Zeppelin: The Concert File", London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-5307-4, p. 15.] As guitarist Jimmy Page explained:

In interviews, bass player John Paul Jones has expressed similar recollections:

It was during this tour that Led Zeppelin's drummer, John Bonham, developed a close friendship with the drummer of Vanilla Fudge, Carmine Appice.

The average fee charged by Led Zeppelin for a concert during this tour was around $1,500. It has been stated that for one show they performed for a mere $320. Figures like these would soon be dwarfed by the six figure sums routinely demanded, and received, by Led Zeppelin on subsequent tours as their popularity skyrocketed. Peter Grant recalled:

A common legend has it that on the January 26th show at the Boston Tea Party they played for more than four hours with only one album worth of material.

Tour set list

The fairly typical set list for the tour was:

#"Train Kept A-Rollin' " (Bradshaw, Kay, Mann)
#"I Can't Quit You Baby" (Dixon)
#"As Long As I Have You" (Mimms)
#"Dazed and Confused" (Page)
#"Communication Breakdown" (Bonham, John Paul Jones, Page)
#"You Shook Me" (Dixon, Lenoir)
#"White Summer"/"Black Mountain Side" (Page)
#"Pat's Delight" (Bonham)
#"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (Bredon, Page, Plant)
#"How Many More Times" (Bonham, Jones, Page)

There were some set list substitutions, variations, and order switches during the tour.

Tour dates

*26/12/1968 flagicon|United States Denver Auditorium Arena - Denver, CO
*27/12/1968 flagicon|United States Seattle Center Arena - Seattle, WA
*28/12/1968 flagicon|Canada Pacific Coliseum - Vancouver, BC
*29/12/1968 flagicon|United States Civic Auditorium - Portland, OR
*30/12/1968 flagicon|United States The Gymnasium - Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
*02/01/1969 flagicon|United States Whisky a Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
*03/01/1969 flagicon|United States Whisky a Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
*04/01/1969 flagicon|United States Whisky a Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
*05/01/1969 flagicon|United States Whisky a Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
*09/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore West - San Francisco, CA
*10/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore West - San Francisco, CA
*11/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore West - San Francisco, CA
*12/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore West - San Francisco, CA
*13/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fox Theater - San Diego, CA
*15/01/1969 flagicon|United States University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA
*17/01/1969 flagicon|United States Grande Ballroom - Detroit, MI
*18/01/1969 flagicon|United States Grande Ballroom - Detroit, MI
*19/01/1969 flagicon|United States Grande Ballroom - Detroit, MI
*20/01/1969 flagicon|United States Wheaton Youth Center - Wheaton, MD
*21/01/1969 flagicon|United States Hunt Armory - Pittsburgh, PA
*23/01/1969 flagicon|United States Boston Tea Party - Boston, MA
*24/01/1969 flagicon|United States Boston Tea Party - Boston, MA
*25/01/1969 flagicon|United States Boston Tea Party - Boston, MA
*26/01/1969 flagicon|United States Boston Tea Party - Boston, MA
*27/01/1969 flagicon|United States Symphony Hall - Springfield, MA
*29/01/1969 flagicon|United States Electric Factory - Philadelphia, PA
*31/01/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore East, New York, NY
*01/02/1969 flagicon|United States Fillmore East, New York, NY
*02/02/1969 flagicon|Canada Rockpile - Toronto, ON
*07/02/1969 flagicon|United States Kinetic Playground - Chicago, IL
*08/02/1969 flagicon|United States Kinetic Playground - Chicago, IL
*10/02/1969 flagicon|United States University of Memphis - Memphis, TN
*14/02/1969 flagicon|United States Thee Image Club, North Miami Beach, FL
*15/02/1969 flagicon|United States Thee Image Club, North Miami Beach, FL

External links

* [http://www.ledzeppelin.com/timelinebrowse Comprehensive archive of known concert appearances by Led Zeppelin (official website)]
* [http://www.bootledz.com/setlists.htm Led Zeppelin concert setlists]

References