Led Zeppelin

I was sick as a dog from the previous week seeing Fleetwood Mac at the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando. Couldn't miss a chance to see Led Zeppelin though. We saw them for three songs, the rain stopped and they had left the stadium. The cops made sure we all went home. Lot's of billy clubs and bottles flying.

We were on the field and had a great spot staked out with about two "rows" of folks between us and the stage. I've looked really hard at PK Hoff's uploaded pic to see if we were in the pic, but no luck. We got off the field just and under the stands like so many others, but luckily missed most of the riot. NOT a happy ride back to Orlando that night.

We were on the field, about the 40 years line or so. The violence didn’t really start happening until the cops lined up in riot gear and started smashing people with their clubs. Thats why it was a riot, the cops initiated it.

When the monsoon rqain started, we ran under the stands. Then they announced that the show was postponed until the next day, and to hold onto your tickets. We simply left and went home, and had no idea there was a riot until we heard news reports on the radio on the way home.

I was stationed in Jacksonville, FL in the Navy at the time. Our ship was leaving for the Mediterranean the day after this show and even with perfect travel, it would have been close. Obviously the show was over sooner than expected and I still didn't get back in time. I had to be flown out to the ship, and was confined to the ship for our first couple of stops in Europe. But I can always say I saw Led Zeppelin in concert.

Station at NTC Orlando, Had to see LZ. Three of us snuck off from NucSchool. Started in the stands as the storm rolled in. What an awesome compliment to the show. LZ left the stage, we hit the field, wound up under a tarp in front of the control booth. Awesome party under that tarp! Storm quite, storm troopers lined the stage, when the clubs started swing close to us, we split, too high to deal with violence.

I was selling drinks at this show and remember running for cover when the bottles started flying. I lived in the area and made a few bucks during concerts. It was fun and I got to see a few great shows.

The one band I wish I had been able to see! Instead we watched the movie The Song Remains the Same over and over again at the Saturday night midnight showings at Suniland Movie Theatre in Miami. Also worked there.

I was at this Led Zeppelin “Riot” Concert. In the photo that’s me up towards the front with brown corduroy pants (yes, ridiculous) and no shirt. Before the epic storm hit it had been beautiful all day. Zeppelin mesmerized me for the 3 songs they actually finished and I’d go on to be the crazy Led Zeppelin fan that I still am. Tickets said Rain or Shine but Zeppelin simply left the stadium with everyone expecting them to come back on stage. A bunch of incredible memories from that day, and night.