What year did the rock group Led Zeppelin first tour the United States?

Led Zeppelin's 1968/1969 tour of North America was the first concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour commenced on 26 December 1968 and concluded on 15 February 1969.

The genesis of this tour was the cancellation of a concert tour by the Jeff Beck Group, which happened to be managed out of the same office occupied by Led Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant. Grant contacted the promoters and convinced them to take on Led Zeppelin instead.

To help publicize the band in America before the tour, Grant sent white label advance copies of the band's debut album to key FM radio stations. The album itself was issued on 17 January, mid-way though the tour. According to tour manager Richard Cole, the tour was underwritten by Grant, guitarist Jimmy Page, and bass player John Paul Jones, while singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham were paid a salary.

For this stint of concerts, Led Zeppelin initially played as the support act for bands such as Vanilla Fudge and Iron Butterfly (both of which were also contracted to Atlantic Records) and Country Joe & the Fish. However, as the tour progressed, it became apparent that Led Zeppelin was easily outshining the headline acts. As guitarist Jimmy Page explained:

By the time we reached San Francisco, the other groups on the bill just weren't turning up. Country Joe & the Fish backed out of playing with us on the West Coast and Iron Butterfly didn't turn up on the East.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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30 Comments

billyboy915

spg cool dude, "Should OF" is horrendous grammar. While it sounds much like "should've", it is wrong, especially since you did not use the contraction which is short for "should HAVE"! I ordinarily wouldn't go to the pains of correcting grammar, but you have consistently used this expression, much to my consternation.

RexTSiciliano

[3][4] where are the footnotes or citations for these???

Cheryl Love

dejayel, that’s incorrect. Keith Moon of The Who said they’d go over like a lead balloon; he was joking.

james parrillo

fdeisner, The question is about the first year they toured the United States. I mentioned to Mr. Roberts above that the first year someone born December 26, 1968 was alive was 1968. They first toured in 1968. Thank you, Christine, James' wife

james parrillo

jonbroberts, The first year someone born December 26, 1968 was alive was 1968. Was the year your reason for rejecting the question? Thank you, Christine, James' wife

dmarkc

My first concert was '71, Led Zeppelin at Fulton County stadium where the Braves played. My first beer, too.

Howard Groopman

I have their first 4 albums on vinyl. Knew the first one came out in early '69, but had a sense that they may have first toured in 1968. I've seen many, many rock acts, including the Beatles, Stones, Doors and Blind Faith, but never Cream or Led Zep.

Lawanta

jonbroberts, that also happened to me in the past, several times, so I stopped reviewing ✋️

Al Breyette

Remember that tour well

fdeisner

The first line of the explanation states "Led Zeppelin's 1968/1969 tour of North America". The choices should have followed the format of the question or the question should have been worded differently, such as when did the tour begin or when did the tour end. With the choices given there were two correct answers. Once again how did this question pass review? Honest sailor note here we go with another clown.