29 January

 

1975 Jimmy Page / Led Zeppelin at Greensboro (Neal Preston photo)

• 1975 Led Zeppelin - Greensboro, NC at Greensboro Coliseum 
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1975:
Chris Charlesworth (Melody Maker interview) describes near-combat conditions on his Just Backdated blog.

"The evening’s concert is at the Greensboro Coliseum where Robert, now partially recovered and having taken a commercial flight direct from Chicago, awaits us. The usual convoy of black Cadillac limousines greets the Starship on the runway, five in all, a slightly enlarged party now alighting to occupy them. Everybody is tired, the group aren’t really up for the show and, to make matters worse,  

"... outside the venue a shortage of tickets has caused violence to erupt. About five hundred fans have attempted to storm the rear of the building, throwing broken bottles, stones and pieces of scaffolding. Three of the five limousines, those parked outside, become severely damaged.

"...the drivers of the three limos parked outside, fearing further damage to them, have removed their cars and the other two drivers, whose cars are parked inside, want to take theirs away too. This, of course, would leave the Led Zeppelin entourage stranded when the concert is over..."

Peter Grant attempts to buy the limos. In the end, he simply commandeers two.

"The huge stadium doors open and the angry mob of fans who didn’t make it into the show surge forward into our path. Grant blasts a way through, his horn blaring, we follow, and the crowd parts like the Red Sea. Our truncated convoy reaches speeds of up to 70 mph in a heavily built-up area with Grant leading the way, driving his car through red lights and on the wrong side of the road through the town of Greensboro. Our car, crammed, follows in hot pursuit. Good grief, I think, this is far more exciting than any rock concert.

"Then, when we reach the point at the airport where the Starship is waiting, a funny thing happens. Instead of stopping as we have done, Grant drives round and round the huge aircraft, tyres screeching, faster and faster, burning rubber. When he finally skids to a stop the four members of Led Zeppelin tumble out, hysterical with laughter..."
~ Chris Charlesworth, Just Backdated

♪

♪  Led Zeppelin (Greensboro NC at Greensboro Coliseum, 29 January 1975)