From boredom to Led Zeppelin
Sometimes, a lasting memory begins when you least expect it. On Saturday evening, 4 October 1969, Gerard Scheppink and a friend are strolling past de Doelen. They have no plans for the evening. Out of boredom, they decide to buy tickets to see a band they barely know: Led Zeppelin.
With no great expectations
For Gerard, it is his very first concert. He is interested in music, but he has never experienced what happens when a band performs live right in front of him. That changes the moment Robert Plant starts to sing. The energy, the sound and the immediacy of live music make an instant impression. Gerard knows straight away:
“This is it. From then on, I spent half my money on it.”
What began as a spontaneous choice on an otherwise empty Saturday evening becomes the start of something much bigger.
From one night to a lifetime of concerts
From 1969 onwards, Gerard attends a concert at de Doelen almost every month. From then on, a considerable part of his money goes towards tickets. At first, he goes with a friend; later, he goes with his girlfriend Linda, who shares his love of rock and live music.
Together, they’ve experienced countless performances at De Doelen over the years. No concert evening is the same: one artist might connect with the audience right away, while another evening might surprise them in an unexpected way.
Not everything makes the same impression, but for them, that’s precisely part of the charm of live music.
“What I love most is when there’s chemistry between the band members—when they make music with their whole being and get along well with each other. That’s what I enjoy.” - Linda
“You can feel it, and you can see it in the way they interact: how they laugh and joke around. But it has to be genuine. I’d rather have a true professional like Van Morrison who’s angry on stage than a Diana Ross who isn’t being sincere.” - Gerard
That Led Zeppelin concert remains special. Not only because of the band that took the stage on that impromptu evening, but mainly because that’s where Gerard’s love for concerts began.
From a concert to a love of life
The history of de Doelen is not only written through grand openings, famous artists and extraordinary performances. It also lives on in unexpected moments, like that Saturday evening when Gerard and his friend decided, on a whim, to step inside.
Often, it is only later that you realise which evening turned out to be a turning point. A spontaneous decision can grow into a new passion, a lasting tradition or a memory that is still being shared decades later. It is precisely these personal stories that keep the memories of de Doelen alive.
This story is based on a memory or archival item from the Doelengeheugen.
Which concert night sparked your love of live music?
Help us write the next chapter of de Doelen and share your memory, wish or idea with us here.
