Rock History Unveiled: The Legendary 1969 Concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion
In May 1969, a historic rock event took place at the Merriweather Post Pavilion amphitheatre in Maryland. Led Zeppelin, mistakenly listed as 'Lead' Zeppelin on the concert ticket, was supporting The Who. The evening saw an early version of Whole Lotta Love being played by Led Zeppelin, who showed no signs of leaving the stage, prompting Jeff Wolff to intervene and end their performance.
The night began with a comedian named Uncle Dirty, whose humor centered around controversial topics. The Washington DC newspaper The Evening Star's review of the event mentioned Uncle Dirty's performance and criticized Led Zeppelin for their bluesy music style, which was deemed redundant and boring by the reviewer.
The Who, the headliners of the event, played songs from their rock opera Tommy, receiving mixed reviews from the Evening Star writer. While praised for their innovative music style, the writer expressed a desire for shorter performances. Despite the critiques, the 20,000 fans in attendance enjoyed the encore featuring covers and The Who's own songs, leaving the amphitheatre on a high note.
In conclusion, the concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in 1969 was a memorable event in rock history, with Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Uncle Dirty providing entertainment for the audience. Despite some critical reviews, the fans had a great time, making it a night to remember.