Ten years ago on the afternoon October 31st 1999, I found myself travelling in a taxi across the Leicestershire countryside seemingly lost. This was not a good situation as the prospect of seeing Robert Plant, who was performing in a tent in the vicinity in the next half hour was fast disappearing.
Earlier I had met the enigmatic and fine Leicester based musician Kevin Hewick who was leading me with all good intentions on this wild goose chase.(Hi Kevin hope you’re well). He had heard that Robert and The Priory …

Them Crooked Vultures have released their new single “New Fang” on to their own YouTube page. The track from the bands forthcoming debut album, opens up with a few blissful seconds of Grohl’s monster drumming and launches into a groove propelled by Jones’ wandering bassline and a crunchy guitar riff that’s wouldn’t feel out of place on Zeppelin’s Physical Graffiti . The stream of “New Fang” is currently linking to an Amazon MP3 store page where fans can download the track for 99 cents, however Amazon says the song won’t …

J.J. Jackson Remembers Led Zeppelin: The Music and The Guys Who Made It is a brand-new e-book to be released this week by Enzepplopedia Publishing. It’s comprised of six interviews that Frank Reddon, author of Sonic Boom: The Impact of Led Zeppelin. Volume 1 – Break & Enter, conducted with the late DJ and pioneering VJ who was instrumental to Zeppelin’s early success and a trusted friend of the band members. Five of these interviews have never been published in their entirety anywhere before.
J.J. Jackson attended all four Zeppelin gigs …

The much anticipated Them Crooked Vultures album is set for release on November 17th via DGC/Interscope Records. The eponymous debut album will include 13 self-produced tracks all of which have been featured on the bands much talked about mini tour, which began on August 9th at Chicago’s Cabaret Metro before moving on for a series of shows in the UK, Europe and US. Their recent dates around the East coast of America wound up on October 15th with an appearance at New York’s Roseland Ballroom.
The complete track listing of ‘’Them …

The Led Zeppelin fourth album cover will be one of ten iconic British album sleeves that will appear on a set of Royal Mail stamps to be launched on January 7th 2010.
In selecting the covers to be used, Royal Mail began with very extensive research of existing lists and polls of ‘Greatest Album Covers’ in books, music press and the web. This trawl of literally thousands of albums uncovered many that were common to most lists.
The editors of three of the UK’s most influential music publications together with a …

Very nice to see the Led Zeppelin 4 album artwork will be a part of the ten British classic album cover designs to be featured on a set of Royal Mail stamps launched on January 7th next year. Used to be a bit of a stamp collector way back in my youth, and I did indulge in The Beatles commemorative album art work stamps that were issued a couple of years back. The latter came in a superb presentation set and I’m sure the Classic Album Designs will be similarly …

Amazon’s on-line shopping channel are advertising It Might Get Loud, the film featuring Jimmy Page, Jack White and The Edge for pre-order and state that DVD and Blue-Ray copies will be available from December 22nd. As yet no official announcement has emerged from distributors Sony Pictures Classics. It Might Get Loud has had limited theatre showing in the USA though there is no news of a cinema release in the UK.

…On JPJ, Bonzo and Led Zep 2 40 Years On…

In an exclusive interview conducted by Dave Lewis, Eddie Kramer the director of engineering and mixing on Led Zeppelin 2, reflected on the making of the album 40 years on.
Eddie was quick to give due recognition to John Paul Jones and John Bonham
for their contributions to the album:
‘’Something like Thank You with the long fade was down to John Paul Jones. He was something of an unsung hero of the band.
Foe me Heartbreaker is a stand out. The solo was …

Jason Bonham has launched an excellent new web site at www.jasonbonham.net. The site features latest news, biography, picture gallery, discography and multi media sections with links to Jason’s Facebook page and you tube clips.

October 17 is a date I remember well because I have an old T-shirt tucked away emblazoned with that date and nothing else. It’s a remnant from the old record company promotional era when all manner of goods were distributed to generate publicity. In this case, these T. shirts were handed out for us to wear at the Our Price shop the day boy band East 17’s Steam album was released on October 17 1994.
With respect to E17, I had a more pressing evening engagement that Monday of 15 …