We had a nice breakfast down on Elizabeth Street this morning with friends, and then all decided to walk over and see a NYC Rock History landmark. Two different pieces of rock history happened here at 96 and 98 St. Marks Place.

FIRST, in 1975 these two buildings became the album cover for Led Zepplin’s Physical Graffiti album. Here is how they look today to my camera:

The “Led Zeppelin buildings” on St. Marks Place as they look in 2013. © jim cutler

Here is the album cover from 1975. To make the photo square for an album cover the artist removed an entire floor.

The album cover from Led Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti, designed by Peter Corriston.

My picture from today shows that the building actually has 5 floors:

The actual building has 5 floors. © jim cutler

The SECOND event from Rock History that took place here: The Rolling Stones used the steps of 96 St. Marks for their “Waiting On a Friend” video. That’s Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh (front left) on the steps.

96 St. Marks Place with Mick Jagger and Peter Tosh from the Rolling Stones video for “Waiting on a Friend”

Here are those same steps today:

The same steps as they look today. © jim cutler

The song has been a favorite since I saw the video debut on Saturday Night Live. Again, the same location at St. Marks Place. Here’s the video (directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg who also made the Beatles “Let It Be” movie):

By the way, breakfast with friends this morning was at “Lovely Day” on Elizabeth Street in Nolita. Great strawberry & banana pancakes. Mimosas and Stumptown coffee. Good service, too. I haven’t blogged in a week because the Boston Bombings really effected us. Dawn and I worked the Finish Line at the Marathon for our Boston radio station for a lot of years. Today was a nice step back into the light.

UPDATE- More reading: Candid photos taken during the making of “Waiting on a Friend” at this link: http://www.iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,598709,598709