Led Zeppelin landed at the Montreux Casino March 7th, 1970 two years after the band was formed. This was their first appearance here.
This rock bulldozer with ingenious and master musicians, considered to be "The heaviest rock band of all time", were invited the next year, August 7th, 1971, by Claude Nobs.
An additional concert had to be organized the next day, August 8th, in order not to create any riot and disorder.
Led Zeppelin came a third time to Montreux. October 28th and 29th, 1972 at the Pavillon (since the Casino was destroyed by fire December 4th, 1971)
Hint : While you are watching these '71 Montreux gig footages, play "Communication Breakdown" or "Dazed and Confused" on your CD player ! Loud please to get the juice out of it !
Montreux Newspaper March 8th, 1970 About the 1970 concert of Led Zeppelin in Montreux:
• Sold out show. 2000 tickets sold. Very large crowd outside the Casino.
• False identification badges and forged invitations abound by the hundreds.
• People were found (without tickets) in the most unusual places like the kitchen, on the roof and even inside air conducts.
• Disappointed that the Casino could only fit 2000 people, The local Tourist Office encouraged all the folks who came to fill cards with their names and address, thus creating the first database to be used to warn its members about future rock concerts in Montreux. This incredible mailing list, a first at the time in Europe, would reach thousands who would become legions over the years.
• No incidents were reported except for the odd pushing and shoving here and there. Local authorities, including MM Pouly, municipal, Rochat, municipal, Anet, syndic from Veytaux, Gaudard, chief of police, were pleased to comment favourably on the well behaved crowd but someone remarked that paying 35 francs for the right to sit on the floor for two hours was his comprehension.
• The Aga Khan himself, then thirty two and recently married to an English model, was spotted in the crowd accompanied by a few friends.
• The band stayed at the Montreux Palace Hotel and took advantage of the week’s vacation offered by the Tourist Office through its promoter Claude Nobs.
• Most important for Montreux were the ripple effects of such concerts: these outrageous musicians, this long-hair clientele that intimidate certain locals and repulse others are beginning to be very appreciated, not for its intrinsic qualities but for the revenue it brings. For instance some bars did not empty from Saturday morning until the early hours of Sunday. Waiters triple their intake while some customers tipped at one hundred and ten per cent. Hard to complain!
Robert Plant in Montreux, 1972
Led Zeppelin 1971 :
There is a rarely known fact that for the 1971 Led Zeppelin concert in Montreux, Robert Plant, not one to be dictated what to do or what to wear, sported a Montreux T-shirt on stage and in the process fully endorsed Claude Nobs and the town of Montreux. The logo resembled a Japanese looking poster that misled experts to think the concerts took place in Japan. Not so! This logo was a strike of genius at the time with its intended Hippie target. It would put in place a solid tradition of featuring outstanding original art for each poster to be designed each year for the Jazz Festival. More details about Led Zeppelin or their Montreux gigs please visit their official website :
Led Zeppelin 
