Belfast man recalls finding piece of rock history as a teenager
One of the nights that Belfast will never forget took place in March 1971, when rock legends, Led Zeppelin, played at The Ulster Hall for the first time. It was on this legendary night that the band debuted the famous song, Stairway to Heaven.
During the concert, lead singer Robert Plant tossed his harmonica into the crowd, and it miraculously ended up in the hands of a Belfast teenager, Colin Doonan. Colin vividly remembers holding this prized possession for a brief moment before deciding to sell it the following day for a mere fiver. Now, at 71 years old, Colin often reflects on how much the harmonica might be worth today.
Nostalgia kicked in for Colin recently as local band The Answer announced that they would be reenacting that historic night of rock ‘n’ roll at The Ulster Hall. Although Colin had the opportunity to attend, he declined, as his days in the crowded concert setting are behind him. However, he is thrilled that the concert organizers are attempting to locate the very harmonica that had once been tucked down the front of his trousers back on March 5, 1971.
Colin nostalgically recounted the lead up to the concert, mentioning that he almost didn’t make it due to losing his ticket, which had cost a mere 12 shillings. But his passion for rock music and his admiration for bands that seldom visited Belfast prompted him to seize any opportunity to witness them live.
Sharing memories of past concerts, Colin recalled attending a Fleetwood Mac performance in Belfast a few years earlier and couldn’t resist the allure of witnessing Led Zeppelin live in action. He was a devoted rock music fan who embraced every chance to catch his favorite bands, even when they skipped over Belfast on their tour circuits.
The iconic moment when Robert Plant tossed his harmonica into the air remains etched in Colin’s memory, despite the passage of time. The legacy of that night continues to live on in the hearts of fans, and Colin’s firsthand experience of holding a piece of rock history for a fleeting moment still resonates with him. The magic of that concert at The Ulster Hall remains a memory worth cherishing for a lifetime.