Stockholm’s Oak Island Gallery has revealed a collection of previously unseen photographs capturing Led Zeppelin’s electrifying performances at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 31 and June 3, 1973, taken by photographer Craig Wright. The images, set to debut in an online exhibition in August 2025, offer a vivid glimpse into the band’s record-breaking North American tour, which saw them perform to massive crowds, including 56,800 fans at Tampa Stadium, surpassing The Beatles’ 1965 Shea Stadium record. The photos showcase Robert Plant’s commanding stage presence, Jimmy Page’s iconic guitar work, John Paul Jones’s understated intensity, and John Bonham’s powerhouse drumming, preserving a pivotal moment in rock history during the *Houses of the Holy* tour.
The Inglewood shows were part of Led Zeppelin’s monumental 1973 tour, which grossed $4 million, though the final night at Madison Square Garden was marred by a $180,000 theft from a Drake Hotel safe. Wright’s photographs, taken with a keen eye for detail, capture the band’s unique stage outfits, including Page and Jones in casual T-shirts and Plant’s distinctive open blouse, reflecting the era’s raw, unpolished energy. These performances, later immortalized in the 1976 film *The Song Remains the Same*, highlight Zeppelin’s improvisational prowess, with extended renditions of “Dazed and Confused” and “Moby Dick” thrilling audiences. The gallery’s decision to share select images ahead of the exhibition has stirred anticipation among fans, eager to see the band at the height of their live dominance.
The significance of these photos lies in their rarity, offering fresh perspectives on a tour that redefined stadium rock. Wright’s work, previously unseen until acquired by Oak Island Gallery, complements other recent discoveries, such as images from Led Zeppelin’s Dallas and Salt Lake City shows in 1973. The Inglewood concerts, held at a venue synonymous with rock’s golden age, featured a setlist blending *Led Zeppelin IV* classics like “Stairway to Heaven” with new tracks from *Houses of the Holy*, such as “The Ocean.” The band’s ability to transform studio tracks into dynamic live experiences is evident in the photos, which capture Page’s violin-bow solos and Plant’s charismatic interplay with the crowd, moments that cemented their reputation as a live act without peer.
The upcoming online exhibition, set to include Wright’s images alongside those of The Rolling Stones and Bob Marley, will allow fans to purchase prints starting at 3,600 SEK for a 40 x 50 cm unframed version. This release follows a wave of archival Zeppelin material, including photos from Boston and Fort Worth, reflecting a renewed interest in the band’s 1970s legacy. As Led Zeppelin prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of *Physical Graffiti* with a new *Live EP* in September 2025, these Inglewood photographs serve as a powerful reminder of their unparalleled stage presence, capturing a fleeting moment when rock’s titans ruled the California stage.[](https://ledzepnews.com/2025/07/12/here-are-previously-unseen-photos-of-led-zeppelin-performing-in-california-in-1973/)
