On this day (March 5) in 1971, Led Zeppelin embarked on a 13-stop tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Dubbed the Back to the Clubs Tour, it saw the band playing small venues to show their gratitude to fans who had supported them in their rise to international acclaim.
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Led Zeppelin was already one of the biggest bands in the world when they kicked off their 1971 spring tour. They had already released their first three self-titled albums. Additionally, they had played to countless fans in large arenas around the world. They decided to play smaller venues on the tour for a pair of reasons. First, they wanted to say “thank you” to the fans in the United Kingdom and Ireland who helped them reach the level of fame they enjoyed. They also wanted to prove to fans that they weren’t completely focused on making money.
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This plan became a double-edged sword for the band. On one hand, playing smaller venues allowed fans to have a more intimate connection with the band and their music. On the other hand, smaller venues meant fewer were available for each show. As a result, many fans were unable to attend the concerts, which led to widespread disappointment.
Led Zeppelin Debuted a New Song During Their Back to the Clubs Tour
When Led Zeppelin embarked on their tour of small venues, they were months away from releasing their untitled fourth studio album. Widely referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, the album contains classic tracks including “Black Dog,” “Rock and Roll,” “When the Levee Breaks,” and the iconic “Stairway to Heaven.”
On March 5, 1971, the band took the stage at Ulster Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. That night, they performed “Stairway to Heaven” live for the first time. It was one of only three songs they played from the unreleased album. They also performed “Going to California” during their set and added “Rock and Roll” to their encore.
The track and the album on which it later appeared would go down as the band’s best-known recordings.
Featured Image by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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