It is regarded by many as the most popular rock song ever but when it was sung live for the first time at the Ulster Hall some 50 years ago, most inside the iconic building were left rather underwhelmed.
That’s according to the bass guitarist John Paul Jones who said at the time: “They were all bored to tears waiting to hear something they knew.”
Unbelievable as it may sound, the song in question was Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, that along with Black Dog, Going to California and Rock and Roll was making its debut that Friday night, March 5, 1971 for the band’s upcoming Fourth Album.
Composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, and since covered by countless artists such as Elkie Brooks, Frank Zappa and Dolly Parton, Zeppelin’s rendition of their now classic hit and the rest of the setlist did however make a big impression on two young men who were lucky enough to get tickets for that night – an experience which they recalled on ledzepplin.com some years later.
Local lad Paul Kennedy, who was 16 at the time, posted the following message on the site: “In 1971 I was 16 and fond of Simon and Garfunkel and West Coast bands such as Crosby Stills.
"I had never been to a rock concert, the previous highlight having been The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem with my aunt two years previously!
“There wasn’t a lot happening in Belfast around that time as the Troubles were kicking in big time. I’d just bought Zeppelin 2 a month prior to the concert.
"I didn’t get a ticket but went down to the Ulster Hall with a friend and outside I managed to get one at face value (25 shillings or £1.25 in today’s money!) from a guy whose girlfriend didn’t turn up.
“The band walked on stage with no warm-up act and went straight into the Immigrant Song followed by Heartbreaker. I simply don’t have words to adequately describe the impact that the first 15 minutes had on me and on those that were there.
“It changed things for me. I, as did everybody, stood in disbelief in the face of the pure wall of energy, raw talent and passion. The images and sound are etched in my memory and still are as vibrant 36 years later.
“I discovered what rock was all about that night (and a lot else besides). I remember looking down from the balcony and seeing friends and the excitement on their faces. That was just the start, it got better!
"It was the first time they played Stairway live, I remember Plant saying ‘this is a thing off the fourth album, I hope you like it’. We did.
“As I left the Ulster Hall around midnight I remember clearly looking up fully expecting to see cracks in the ceiling, such was the energy we all expended that night.
“From time to time I meet people who were there, old friends and some new ones, we nod approvingly, smile with an understanding that knows we were lucky enough to have experienced something magical and life altering.
"We rarely try to describe it to the others, those that didn’t make it, because we know we can’t do it justice.”
Kent, who was a US Navy serviceman stationed here, was also among the crowd that evening and he too was suitably impressed by the whole experience.
He said: “I was just a young serviceman in the US Navy stationed in Derry when my young wife and I rode the train to Belfast for the Led Zeppelin concert at Ulster Hall.
“After 40 years I still get excited when I talk about the concert. I was allowed to stand up front and also go backstage for some photos.
"The music blew me away and I can still remember how I felt when the first screams of the Immigrant Song came from Plant and how loud the music was when it first came from their amps.
"I have seen many artists in the last 40 years but none can match the concert that night. Great memories!”
Known as the Back To The Clubs tour, Led Zeppelin headed to Dublin for a gig at the National Boxing Stadium the next evening and followed that up with 11 nights at venues across England.
However, history had been made in Belfast with the lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold having announced her intention to buy a Stairway to Heaven.
