As Led Zeppelin embarked on their injury-impacted 1975 North American tour starting January 18, they found themselves in a unique predicament. The band had reached the pinnacle of rock stardom, becoming the most acclaimed and simultaneously controversial rock group worldwide. Over the previous six years, these British giants had shattered concert attendance records and sold millions of copies of each of their first five albums. However, the media often portrayed Led Zeppelin in a disparaging light, labeling them as bombastic and unrefined blues imitators lacking musical nuance and personal grace. This animosity was mutual; Led Zeppelin had a well-documented disdain for the press and faced accusations of aggressive behavior towards journalists on more than one occasion.

Recognizing that their image needed a makeover, Led Zeppelin and their management decided to take bold steps during their extensive 1975 North American tour. They invited members of the media to cover their concerts and, in some instances, travel with them aboard their luxurious private jet, The Starship. This approach was a game-changer: ticket sales skyrocketed as fans eagerly purchased tickets for nearly 40 arena and stadium shows within minutes. Led Zeppelin appeared ready to solidify their dominance as the ultimate hard rock band of the era, with the hope of securing positive media coverage to validate their immense success.

Unfortunately, just as the tour was set to begin, physical challenges loomed large for band members Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, threatening to derail the tour right from the outset.

READ MORE: Led Zeppelin Live Albums Ranked

Jimmy Page’s Injury and Robert Plant’s Illness: A Challenging Start to the 1975 Tour

Back in England, guitarist Jimmy Page suffered a severe injury when he crushed his left ring finger in a train door. This unfortunate incident forced him to develop a three-finger playing technique to adapt to the demands of Led Zeppelin’s upcoming tour. Meanwhile, upon the band’s arrival in Chicago on January 16, just two days before their highly anticipated tour kickoff, Plant was struck down by a severe cold that significantly impaired his signature banshee wail. Despite these setbacks, Led Zeppelin kicked off their tour on January 18 at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, following two European warm-up shows just a week prior. This marked their first tour in 18 months, and Plant candidly acknowledged during the concert that the band felt “a bit rusty.”

Bootleg recordings from the show corroborate his admission, as Plant struggled with some of his iconic high notes, while a hindered Page grappled with his usually impeccable solos. Due to Page’s injury, the band was forced to omit “Dazed and Confused,” a lengthy and improvisational highlight of their performances, along with the soulful blues classic “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” Despite these challenges, the Bloomington tour opener was not without its bright spots. The band excelled on the heavy, atmospheric track “When the Levee Breaks,” which they had never performed live before 1975, showcasing their adaptability and resilience. They also confidently delivered the majestic yet unreleased epic “Kashmir,” hinting at their evolving musical direction. A critic from Minnesota’s Free Press remarked, “If Led Zeppelin was operating at only half-speed, I would be hard-pressed to imagine how sensational this band would be on a good night!” However, not all feedback was positive; journalist Stephen Davis noted in his book LZ-’75 that the crowd expressed their displeasure with loud boos when the band concluded their performance after two hours and 15 minutes, as many fans were expecting a longer, three-hour show.

Overcoming Adversity: Led Zeppelin Regains Their Momentum During the 1975 Tour

As the 1975 tour progressed, Led Zeppelin faced further physical challenges before improving their performance. While Page managed to numb his finger pain with generous amounts of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Plant’s cold escalated into a debilitating flu, compelling the band to cancel their scheduled show in St. Louis at the end of January. They later returned to the city on February 16 for the final date of the first leg of the North American tour. Although morale dipped during this difficult stretch, the band pressed on, determined to deliver for their fans.

“I have no doubt the tour is going to be good; it’s just, dammit, I’m disappointed that I can’t do all I can do,” Page expressed in a conversation with the young and enthusiastic Rolling Stone journalist Cameron Crowe. “I always want to do my very best, and it’s frustrating to have something hold me back. You can bet that ‘Dazed and Confused’ will be back in the set the very second I’m able to play it. We may not be brilliant for a few nights, but we’ll always be good.” As the tour advanced, Led Zeppelin gradually regained their footing, and their performances eventually returned to the epic scale that fans had come to expect from the legendary band.

The second leg of the tour coincided with the February 24 release of Physical Graffiti, an album that received widespread acclaim, topped charts on both sides of the Atlantic, and ultimately sold a remarkable 8 million copies in the United States alone. Page also fulfilled his promise to Crowe on February 3, 1975, when Led Zeppelin reintroduced “Dazed and Confused” into their set during their first of three performances at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “No question about it,” Plant declared that night, “the tour has begun.”

Led Zeppelin, Jan. 18, 1975,  Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington Set List
1. “Rock and Roll”
2. “Sick Again”
3. “Over the Hills and Far Away”
4. “When the Levee Breaks”
5. “The Song Remains the Same”
6. “The Rain Song”
7. “Kashmir”
8. “The Wanton Song”
9. “No Quarter”
10. “Trampled Underfoot”
11. “Moby Dick”
12. “In My Time of Dying”
13. “Stairway to Heaven”
14. “Whole Lotta Love”
15. “Black Dog”