On This Day 25 October

Good old Surrey U

1968 25 October On This Day Led Zeppelin at Surrey University

• 1966 The Yardbirds - Los Angeles, CA at ABC TV Center, taping for The Milton Berle Show
• 1968 Led Zeppelin - London, England at University of Surrey, Great Hall
• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Boston, MA at Boston Garden
• 1988 Jimmy Page Outrider Tour - Rochester, NY at Rochester Community War Memorial 

1968:

Although the poster used as the background for today's On This Day post is for The New Yardbirds, in fact Led Zeppelin performed as Led Zeppelin for the first time. The poster, authenticated and auctioned off in 2003, apparently was printed in advance of the gig and prior to when Peter Grant and Jimmy Page decided to switch the name of the band to Led Zeppelin, sometime in mid-October.

Dave Lewis quotes Jimmy Page telling Chris Welch (Melody Maker), "It's refreshing to know that today you can go out and form a group to play the music you like and people will listen. It's what musicians have wanted for twenty years."

~ Dave Lewis, Led Zeppelin: The Concert File

Surrey University is also where, on 20 June 2008, Jimmy Page was awarded the honorary degree of Doctorate of the University of Surrey, in recognition of his services to the music industry. 

By the way, if you don't have a copy of  Dave Lewis' book, you really should get one. It's an incredible resource. I keep mine on my desk where I can reach for it whenever I need it.

1988 Jimmy Page Outrider Tour, Rochester NY (Jason Bonham drums) (photo by smagin)

1988 Jimmy Page Outrider Tour, Rochester NY (photo by smagin)

2013 Jimmy Page visits Arctic Monkeys backstage at Earls Court (Ross Halfin photo)

♪

♪  Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (Yardbirds - lipsynched - for Milton Berle Show 1966) YouTube
♪  Outrider / album (Jimmy Page 1988) YouTube