This shows that fans can also create disappointments for their favorite groups.
No doubts, Led Zeppelin is a legendary group. With their fiery riffs and their extraordinary performances, they left their mark on rock history. But beyond the music, they have also built a reputation for setbacks andexcess. Who could forget the tragedy of their iconic drummer, John Bonhamchoked on his own vomit after drinking 40 glasses of vodka?
When you have such a reputation, no wonder the fans seek to imitate their idols. And it led to one of the most notorious incidents of their career: being banned from playing in Boston for 5 ans.
Heading to 1975: the peak of Led Zeppelin
In 1975, Led Zeppelin was at the height of its glory. Each album ranks in the Top 10 sales“Stairway to Heaven“became a world-famous anthem, and their world tour is sold out on each date. On January 6, 1975, they announced a concert in Boston at Gardenan emblematic room. The enthusiasm is immediate. Tickets must go on sale the following morning, and from 5 p.m., close to 3000 fans are already lining up outside the venue, braving the biting cold of the Boston winter.
To relieve the crowd in the face of temperatures below 10 °Cthe Garden doors are open. Fans can wait inside until the ticket office opens, provided they stay calm. But very quickly, the situation gets out of hand.
A night of chaos
According to reports, fans are starting to do without Boons Farm wine bottles and of Ripplewhile smoking joints. The atmosphere becomes noisy and uncontrollable. During a shift change securitythings take a dramatic turn.
“The young people burst into the beer stands and started helping themselves,” says a witness.
The security forces react by opening the fire hoses on the troublemakers. But the crowd fought back: fans set fire hoses against the Boston Garden equipment and set fire to the seats.
You will have to wait 5:30 a.m. for the Boston Police Riot Squad to intervene and put an end to this chaos. The Boston Garden is devastated, with damage estimated at 30 000 dollars.
An exemplary sanction
The day after this chaotic night, the mayor of Boston, Kevin Whitemakes a final decision: “Led Zeppelin will never play Boston again.”. As a result, the group was refused permission to perform in the city in 1975. During their colossal American tour in 1977, they skipped Boston.
Unfortunately, fate would decide otherwise: in 1980, while Led Zeppelin was preparing a new tour, John Bonham died tragically. The band ended their career, leaving this Boston ban as a dark but fascinating page in their legend.
