The Great Led Zeppelin Heist of 1973

In the lively summer of 1973, rock giants Led Zeppelin toured North America, breaking attendance records and performing to adoring fans. The tour, which was their ninth in the continent, included a staggering 34 dates over two legs, with a historic three-night finale at New York's Madison Square Garden. These final shows, scheduled for July 27^th, 28^th, and 29^th, not only marked the end of their epic journey but were also filmed for what would become the legendary concert film The Song Remains the Same.

An Unprecedented Robbery

On the night of their last performance, the band faced an unexpected and harrowing challenge. Following a triumphant show, it was discovered that nearly $200,000 had vanished from their hotel's safety deposit box. The cash, earnings from the band's revolutionary live acts, was managed exclusively by the band's intimidating manager, Peter Grant, and road manager, Richard Cole. Paid in cash on their insistence, the money was thought to be secure until it wasn't. This theft marked the largest hotel cash robbery in New York City at the time and left everyone asking: Who could have pulled off such a heist?

The Legacy Continues

While the mystery of the heist endures, the legend of Led Zeppelin's monumental 1973 tour remains untarnished. Fans can delve into this and other tales from the music industry in the podcast Uncharted: Crime and Mayhem in the Music Industry, alongside companion pieces like The Ongoing History of New Music available on various Corus news stations.

LedZeppelin, heist, mystery