THE VIPER ROOM & METAL 4 BREAKFAST PRESENT: THE MOBY DICKS- PERFORMING LED ZEP’S MAY 1973 TAMPA STADIUM SET IN ITS ENTIRETY

Led Zeppelin Setlist Tampa Stadium, Tampa, FL, USA, Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973

40 years ago this week (on May 5,1973), Led Zeppelin played an incredible set at Tampa Stadium. This show broke all previous attendance records for North America.

40 years and 6 days later, The Moby Dicks set out to recreate this concert in its entirety, as the Hammer of the Gods descended down on The Viper Room.

Mostly known for being the house band for the BONZO BASH (where, in each event, many drumming greats join the band to play their favorite Led Zeppelin songs), the band is comprised of guitarist Brent Woods, who has also played with Vince Neil , Sebastian Bach and a whole host of other bands and musicians, vocalist

Chas West, who has sung for Bonham, Foreigner and Lynch Mob, James LoMenzo on bass, who is best known for his work with White Lion, Pride & Glory, Slash’s Snakepit, Black Label Society,Ozzy Osbourne, David Lee Roth,Megadeth, ,Lynch Mob, Brian Tichy, who has been the drummer for bands such Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, Pride & Glory, Slash’s Snakepit, Steven Tyler/Joe Perry and Stephen LeBlanc rounds out the quintet as the keyboard player and is also a member of Jason Bonham’s band.

Prior to the show, James, Brian and Chas took part in an interview with Metal 4 Breakfast promoter, Toddie B. They spoke of an upcoming residency at The Viper Room where they will do more complete set lists from historic Led Zeppelin shows.

These guys were jamming. Chas nailed all the vocal parts and nuances of Robert Plant, Brent Woods covered all the intricacies of Jimmy Page’s playing, from the violin bow to the theremin, James LoMenzo did a phenomenal job holding down the low end with his excellent bass playing and Steven LeBlanc’s keyboard wizardry was not to be denied.

And Brian Tichy, channeling the spirit of Bonzo, played with an unmatched ferocity as he literally pummeled the drums all evening and did an incredible solo sans drum sticks during “Moby Dick”. He was truly on fire. While sharing guitar duties with Brent Woods, the duo were all smiles and you could tell how much they were enjoying playing at the show.

After an exhausting drum solo, Brian Tichy took a break from the kit and The Moby Dicks were joined by occasional Moby Dick member Frankie Banali for a few songs. In all likelihood, Frankie is probably the ONLY person that was in attendance at both this event and the very same 1973 show at Tampa Stadium the band was paying tribute to. How cool and special is that?

During the more mellow parts of the show, Brent Woods sat on a 1977 Led Zeppelin tour barstool.

With Brian doing the Bonzo Bash at the end of the month in New York and then immediately touring for the month of June with Queensryche and Sass Jordan, expect the Moby Dicks to bring their act back to The Viper Room this summer.

Videos from the event: