This concert formed part of Led Zeppelin's 1971 Winter UK Tour which took place immediately after the release of the band's fourth album. All tickets sold out despite going on sale less than a week before the commencement of the tour. Second shows at Wembley and at Manchester needed to be added after fans queued for up to 18 hours in order to secure a ticket.

This was the first concert tour on which the band visually projected the "four symbols" which adorned their fourth album onto their stage equipment. Jimmy Page's "Zoso" symbol was put onto one of his Marshall amps, John Bonham's three interlinked circles adorned his bass drum, John Paul Jones had his symbol stenciled onto material which was draped across his Fender Rhodes keyboard, and Robert Plant's feather symbol was painted onto a side speaker PA cabinet. Only Page's and Bonham's symbols were retained for subsequent Led Zeppelin concert tours.