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Two prolific Led Zeppelin researchers and archivists are searching for a piece of rock n’ roll history, and they believe it’s hiding in Albuquerque. They’re asking local concertgoers to help them find information or photos of the band’s May 23, 1973 performance at UNM’s University Stadium. The sold-out show was experienced by 14,000 fans, so it’s very possible someone in town shot a few pics while they were there.
A review of the show in The New Mexico Summer Lobo’s June 1, 1973 issue reads, “You were powdered into submission by the end of the event.”
UK-based journalist James Cook, who runs the website ledzepnews.com, and US-based researcher Eric Levy, who runs the popular LedZepFilm YouTube channel, are the classic rock treasure hunters looking for help. Cook’s website has over 6 million views and Levy’s YouTube channel has over 10 million, so they know Zeppelin. They say an audio recording of the show exists, but no photos or videos of the show have surfaced so far.
“All evidence points to Led Zeppelin’s May 23, 1973 show being a historic occasion and a standout show for the band,” Cook says. “We’re appealing to Albuquerque locals to ask whether they can help us solve a 51-year-old rock and roll mystery about the show. Any photographs or videos of the show can help solve the mystery and illustrate this historic performance.”
Together they have collected hundreds of photos and hours of films of the band and want to add the Albuquerque show to their archives. A similar public appeal last year uncovered two sets of photographs from a May 26, 1973 Led Zeppelin show in Salt Lake City:
According to Cook and Levy, the Salt Lake City show was the band’s most recent performance without any circulating photos. The rock n’ roll archivists believe they can change that.
“There was nothing intellectual or sophisticated about the music the group played,” The Albuquerque Journal’s May 24, 1973 review of the show reads. “It was just heavy, make–your–adrenalin–start–pumping rhythm mixed with familiar Zeppelin style vocal. And as the crowd’s reaction attested, there is nothing wrong with that.”
If you have any information about the show, the researchers are waiting to hear from you at ledzepnews@gmail.com