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The Unsolved Led Zeppelin Hotel Robbery That Cost The Legendary Rock Band $180,000

One of the biggest rock-n-roll bands of all time lost a fortune during a daring crime committed in New York City

Andrew Martin
3 min readSep 22, 2024

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Music is a social unfier that has the ability to bring people together across genders, ages and cultures. This is especially true of rock and roll, where some bands gain such legendary status that their songs transcend time. Led Zeppelin is certainly in that group, but they are also involved in one of the most bizarre unsolved mysteries in New York history, as more than 50 years ago they were robbed of $180,000 in their hotel where they were staying between shows.

Led Zeppelin was a cherished rock institution that performed between 1968–1980. Once described as the “Biggest band in the world,” they released such hits as Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love and Ramble On. On July 29, 1973, they were at the height of their fame and in New York City to play a three-concert set at Madison Square Garden. Unfortunately, before they could leave the city, they fell victim to a brazen crime that saw them stripped of a small fortune.

The theft occurred at the swanky Drake Hotel in New York City, where the band was staying during their brief stop in the Big Apple. Sometime between…

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Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin

Written by Andrew Martin

Dabbler in soccer, history, investing & writing. Master’s degree in baseball history. Passionate about history, diversity, culture, sports, film and investing .

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