How did Jeff Lynne accidentally give Led Zeppelin their most famous shows?
The name Knebworth might mean little to non-music fans, but for those in the know, it represents the iconic Hertfordshire estate, Knebworth House, home to some of the most legendary musical moments in history. While it famously marked the cultural peak of Oasis in 1996, nearly two decades earlier, another monumental act, Led Zeppelin, delivered what many regard as their most iconic performances there. Interestingly, these legendary gigs might never have happened without the influence and success of Jeff Lynne and ELO paving the way.
Although some might argue that Led Zeppelin’s five shows at Earls Court in 1975 are their most iconic, there was something about Knebworth 1979 that makes it extra special: it was the classic lineup’s swansong on British soil.
While many large British estates have long hosted performances by world-famous bands, Led Zeppelin was not the first act to grace Knebworth House. The estate had already been established as a major open-air venue since 1974. By 1979, after several years of successful events, experienced promoter Freddy Bannister, instrumental in shaping the British music scene of the 1960s, booked Led Zeppelin for two monumental shows on August 4th and 11th.
However, it would not have happened if ELO leader Jeff Lynne had not turned Bannister down. While it has never been revealed precisely why he did, fans have postulated that his marriage to his second wife in August of that year played a part, as did the fact that Lynne had become tired of touring by that point. That’s not to mention they were also working on the Xanadu soundtrack.
One person’s loss is another’s gain, as they say, and Led Zeppelin sensed an opportunity. Rather, their manager, Peter Grant, did. The band had not performed for two years following the death of frontman Robert Plant’s son, Karac, during their 1977 North American tour. However, following such a time away, Grant thought this was the perfect time for them to return most gloriously.
As you might imagine, the demand for tickets was incredible, and a second date was added. Given the significance of the performances, the quartet’s fee was the largest ever paid to an act at the time. Joining Led Zeppelin for the duo of shows were The New Barbarians – featuring Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards – Todd Rundgren and Utopia, Fairport Convention, Chas & Dave, and others.
The stage at Knebworth was also the largest ever constructed in its time. There were also 570 toilets, 750 feet of urinals, and a rubbish team that struggled to cope with removing the refuse between shows. According to the police, 200,000 attendees were on hand for both nights; naturally, this affected the locale. Noise complaints flew in from seven miles away, the local Sainsbury’s lost 150 trolleys, and its Tesco counterpart 75% of its stock. Even the owner of Knebworth House, Lord Cobbold, ended up in court.
As for the Led Zeppelin performances themselves, they were a resounding success. Despite being away for a while, experiencing immense personal toil, and battling with the emergence of punk, which was turning tastes away from their rock era, the band showed they still had it.
Unfortunately, though, these would be the last British shows with drummer John Bonham, who died in September of the following year. Knebworth might have been their grand return, as Grant had predicted, but the end of Led Zeppelin was nigh. This duo of shows marked the start of a splendid final lap, however short it may have been.
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