LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-JULY 24, 2019…JULY 24, 1977 SAW LED ZEPPELIN PERFORM THEIR LAST CONCERT IN AMERICA AT OAKLAND’S “DAY ON THE GREEN.” BUT IT WAS A SHOW THAT ALMOST DIDN’T HAPPEN. THE NIGHT BEFORE LED ZEPPELIN PLAYED AT THE COLISEUM AND AN INCIDENT OCCURED WHEN JOHN BONHAM AND THREE MEMBERS OF THE BAND’S MANAGEMENT TEAM BEAT THE LIVING SNOT OUT OF A MEMBER OF THE BAND’S SECURITY TEAM.
ONLY BILL GRAHAM’S LEGAL WRANGLING ALLOWED THE EVENT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE BAND’S MANAGEMENT WANTED GRAHAM TO SIGN A LETTER OF INDEMNIFICATION ABSOLVING LED ZEPPELIN FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE EVENT OR THE BAND WOULDN’T TAKE THE STAGE. BILL SIGNED THE LETTER. HOWEVER, GRAHAM REFUSED TO HONOR THE LETTER AND ASSAULT CHARGES WERE LAID AGAINST BONHAM AND THE THREE MEMBERS OF ZEP’S MANAGEMENT TEAM WHEN THEY ARRIVED BACK AT THEIR HOTEL AFTER THE SHOW. THE FOUR RECEIVED BAIL, AND A SUIT WAS FILED AGAINST THEM FOR 2 MILLION DOLLARS. ALL FOUR BARGAINED DOWN TO MISDEMEANORS, PLEAD GUILTY, AND EVENTUALLY PAID A COMBINED 2 MILLION DOLLARS.
THEN AFTER THE SHOW, LED ZEPPELIN CANCELLED THE LAST 7 SEVEN SHOWS OF THEIR AMERICAN TOUR AFTER ROBERT PLANT LEARNED THAT HIS 6 YEAR OLD SON DIED OF A RESPIRATORY VIRUS.THE SHOW IN OAKLAND PROVED TO BE THEIR FINAL SHOW IN AMERICA.
HERE’S GREAT FOOTAGE OF LED ZEPPELIN IN SEATTLE A WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL SHOW IN OAKLAND
youtube.com/watch?v=enILR5KUgd0
HERE’S FOOTAGE OF THE DAY ON THE GREEN IN OAKLAND( VERY GRAINY)
