Stairway to Heaven

June 14, 1972
Uniondale, NY US
Nassau Coliseum

Immigrant Song,
Heartbreaker,
Black Dog,
Since I've Been Loving You,
Stairway to Heaven,
Going to California,
That's the Way,
Tangerine,
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp,
Dazed and Confused,
What Is and What Should Never Be,
Moby Dick,
Whole Lotta Love (medley incl. Let That Boy Boogie, Bottle Up and Go, Hello Mary Lou, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Going Down Slow),
Rock and Roll,
Communication Breakdown,
Weekend,
Bring It On Home.


OK, it was a long time ago, there's not a lot I remember, but some things do still remain vivid.... June 14, 1972, a day that LITERALLY changed my life. I cant imagine how things might be different for me today, had I not gone to that show. It was my first ever concert, I was fourteen and very naive. I had never seen or smelled pot, never seen or heard a show like this, and the fact is I didnt know anything about Led Zeppelin. No clue who the band members were. The only song I had ever heard was the Immigrant Song. I was very green... After seeing that show, I was so stunned, so blown away, that I immersed myself in all things Led Zeppelin. By the following year, I had every album, magazine and available bootleg I could fine. I started to learn how to play electric guitar which became a big and very important part of my life. Next week I am leaving for England to see the reunion show at the O2.... Had I not gone to that June 14th concert, my life could have been very different (maybe I would of worshipped Jethro Tull instead and ended up playing the freaking flute!).... So, here are my recollections..... My buddy and I got tickets for the Nassau Coliseum at the mall, $4.50 behind the stage. They actually were not behind the stage at all, they were in the 300s on the side, directly perpendicular to the stage on Jimmy's side. The night of the show we get dropped off by our parents (kinda surprises me now when I think about it that they let two 14 year olds go alone). We walk into a sea of older people all wearing jeans and flannel. We take our seats and I see some guys walking around on the stage during set-up wearing Led Zeppelin shirts. I ask my buddy if they were in the band (of course they werent) and he doesnt know anyway. The next thing that happens is the part I will never forget. Understand I knew NOTHING about rock shows. I had only recently started listening to FM (WPLJ), as opposed to AM radio. I assumed the lights in the arena would stay on and some guys would walk on and play. But the place goes black and a minute later explodes with The Immigrant Song. I see all of this colored light and the singer is looking down toward the floor with his long hair hanging down. The music is loud and ripping and suddenly he throws his head and hair back and lets out the opening scream. Im thinking, my God what the hell is this!?..... Also realise that you can listen to a million bootlegs, but the volume and echo and live ambience in the arena itself can never be duplicated. It sounded downright scary to me.... I was really taken back by the LOOK of the band on stage, what they were wearing, how they moved, the colored lights, the volume and the ridiculously high voice of the singer which I found mesmerizing. I remember telling kids on the bus that he had long white hair and he had a white shirt. I dont why I thought his hair was white, I guess the bright lights bouncing off them made me think so. I remember Jimmy wearing red. Years later a single photo has surfaced from this show. It shows Page wearing the red striped Zoso sweater, a true rarity for 1972! By the way, Im pretty convinced that the photo was taken during the opening Immigrant Song. Firstoff it was taken by a pro photographer from the photo pit, usually they were only there for two or three songs. And secondly, the position of Page and Jones hands on the necks as well as the body language of the band all point to that thundering riff!....

Type this &fmt=18 at the end of the URL for ace sound and pic quality

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[fenderDG6]

your so lucky for being born and being a teen in the 70's, like 4$ for a Led Zeppelin Ticket? The greateszt band on earth for 4$ is amazing

[Conneyfogle]

Not me, I was only 4....

oh for a time machine

[PaulHartXYZ]

1972 was a great year for touring.

Zep, Tull, ELP, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Floyd, etc.

Some GREAT music and bands.

Thanks for posting this.

I live about 3 miles from the Nassau Coliseum.

[Conneyfogle]

I'll put it all up for your later

[enterthafatass]

i wish i could have good music like this. im 14 and tired of all the crap out today. i just dont understand. HOW IS THERE NO GOOD MUSIC. by the way cool story.

[xKristinxxxLynnx]

I was at this show. Sound quality sucks but its good enough to bring back some good memories

[Pepper2Jason]

Could you send what you have from this show Conney? Please and thank you!!

[nooroloyia]

is this the first show where Robert is believed to have added the words "does anybody remember laughter" ??

little did they know that 5 years later, this date, June 14th 1977, (madison square garden) would be their last New York performance ... ever ...

[Ravenite1]

Yeah, Zeppelin probably sounded unbelievably creepy and haunting live, I would imagine you could never quite tell how it felt by the bootlegs. The feeling and the atmosphere, it would probably would make your hairs stand on the back of your neck

[sharrer2]

Do you have WLL from this performance?

or one that has Lawdy Miss Clawdy? I ve never heard one with it.