With all the excitement over Coastline Chronicles – we neglected to mention the 38th anniversary of an important piece of Mobile history: Led Zeppelin plays Mobile, Alabama.

Before The Song Remains the Same, Plant comments “it seems so early really to do a concert, y’know… we only got outta bed about two-thirty… I just finished me bacon and egg and here we are!”  After Stairway to Heaven Plant announces “we’ve been together now over five years and we’ve come to America a total of ten times… and the English tax people are quite pleased about this, cause they’re rippin’ us off terrible… we decided to live somewhere between America and England… and it’s pretty wet, but we’re gonna have to do it.”  Before Moby Dick, Bonham is introduced as “one of our favorite members of the group, a rather fat, chubby, happy fellow… full of shit and speed… I’m not talkin’ about the drag queen from New Orleans, I’m talkin’ about John Henry Bonham!”

For a recount of Led Zeppelin’s stay in New Orleans the following night see Offbeat Magazine’s account.

Another bit of Mobile-Led Zeppelin trivia from led-zeppelin.org:

There also was that aforementioned 1988 encounter with former Zeppelin frontman Plant, who happened to be staying at the same Milwaukee hotel as AAEC conventioneers. Several cartoonists (including Rob Rogers) were having drinks with the singer when J.D. Crowe – then of The San Diego Tribune – decided to play a joke on the rock legend. Crowe made believe he thought Plant was singer David Coverdale of Whitesnake, a band considered somewhat derivative of Led Zeppelin. An enraged Plant proceeded to head-butt Crowe.

Plant didn’t have a “Whole Lotta Love” for Crowe at that point, but the two ended up burying the hatchet and posing with Rob Rogers for a photo. “Just as the picture was being snapped, Plant, who’s a good two or three inches shorter than Rob and I, hoisted himself up to appear taller,” recalled Crowe, who’s now with the Press-Register in Mobile, AL.

Listen to the full concert here:

Setlist Mobile 5.13.73:
1.Rock and Roll 
2.Celebration Day 
3.Black Dog 
4.Over the Hills and Far Away 
5.Misty Mountain Hop 
6.Since I’ve Been Loving You 
7.No Quarter 
8.The Song Remains the Same 
9.The Rain Song 
10.Dazed and Confused 
11.Stairway to Heaven 
12.Moby Dick

Sir Robert Plant was spotted at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club – a “little corner bar” in Oakleigh –  recently.

As a well-known area raconteur stated…”Paul Giamatti at Bienville Books last week…Robert Plant (and Patti Griffin) at Callaghans last night. My little neighborhood is hella-hip.”

Photo courtesy of Callaghan’s.

Old and young Mod Mobilians alike will be at the Saenger tonight to hear Robert Plant – man of many bands including one called “Led Zeppelin.”

There were tickets on Craigslist – current availability unknown.

According to Mod Mobilian sources, Mr. Plant was spotted at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club last night.

For those unfamiliar with Mr. Plant – from the interweb:

Robert Plant has confirmed a 13 city North American tour. Beginning in July, this 1st leg of shows which will be followed by further dates in the Fall will preview material from a new album. Featuring a diverse group of musicians – Patty Griffin, vocals, Darrell Scott, multi instrumentalist/vocals, Byron House, Bass/Vocals, Marco Giovino, drums and percussion/vocals, including co-producer Buddy Miller, guitar/vocals. The album is set for release on Rounder in September. 

Says Plant: “It’s been a blast working on these new songs…and I’m enjoying such creativity and vitality. It’s been a remarkable change of direction for all of us and as a group we all seem to have developed a new groove ”.

In recent weeks Plant has been in the studio working on the planned release, which will be his first since ‘Raising Sand’, the multi-platinum, 6 -time Grammy winning collaboration with fellow Rounder artist Alison Krauss.

Note – “Band of Joy” was the first band formed by Plant with John Bonham in the 1960s.

Anyone yelling “Play Stairway”  will be taken outside and beaten in accordance with Saenger policy.

Robert Plant & Band of Joy in Memphis (note they did play some Zeppelin classics like “Misty Mountain Hop”)

Just one to get y’all in the mood:

OK – Just one more: