"Physical Graffiti" Building 1975

When graphic artist Peter Corriston was designing the cover art for Led Zeppelin's 1975 album "Physical Graffiti," the symmetry, fire escapes, and many windows of 96 and 98 St. Marks Place were exactly what he was looking for. When the buildings were photographed, Corriston had to crop out one of the floors–making both the buildings four storeys instead of their actual five–in order to fit them on the cover. There have been various theories as to who the man sitting on the left stoop is, with some saying that it is a tenant who lived in the building, and others saying that it is actually John Bonham, the band's drummer.

Only a few years after the release of "Physical Graffiti." the building also appeared in the Rolling Stones' 1981 "Waiting On a Friend" music video. Corriston also designed the cover art for the Rolling Stones album "Tattoo You," the album on which "Waiting On a Friend" appears.

New York City in the 1970's and 1980's was known to attract English musicians like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin and offered the perfect atmosphere for parties and socializing. Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger became a central character in the New York socialite scene and would often be seen at Studio 54 with Andy Warhol and Roy Halston.

St. Mark's Place is steeped in rock 'n' roll history, with many of its buildings serving as sites of various nightclubs–such as Andy Warhol's Electric Circus where the Velvet Underground was the house band–and punk clothing shops visited by Debbie Harry and Joey Ramone.