There have been rumours on various web sites that Robert Plant is set to perform two shows at the HMV London Forum on July 5th and 6th. We have it on good authority that this will not be the case – however there are plans for at least one UK date to be scheduled following the US tour to tie in with the Band Of Joy album release.

The HMV chain has an exclusive pre sale offer on tickets for an upcoming UK date open to anyone who pre orders the …

On June 21, 1977,  Led Zeppelin played the first show of their historic 6 night run at the Los Angeles Forum, playing shows on the 21, 22, 23, 25,26 & 27.  To those familiar with Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings, these shows are widely considered to be among the best of the whole 1977 tour.  For this tour, the band decided on a set list that combined old favorites with a couple of new songs from their latest album, “Presence,” which was released the previous year.  They also chose to bring out some …

The TBL Limited Edition Earls Court 35th anniversary T. shirt is now available.
Be sure to be seen in the coolest T. shirt of the summer
Positive feedback so far for this essential TBL accessory:
”It looks fantastic and quality is superb.  Will definitely wear with pride!  I have a unique t shirt that I wear to gigs and have done since ’93.  This will be retired in favour of the Earls Court t shirt” -Carl Jacobs/UK
The T shirt is a Fruit of the Loom Super Premium quality white shirt with the Jimmy …

 
Above – On stage  Cologne June 18th 1980 – Photos copyright Tom Locke/TBL
To mark the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the final Led Zeppelin tour, this special TBL archive extract takes us back to the hot and steamy summer night of June 18th 1980. A night of rejuvenation that I was lucky enough to witness at very close quarters.
Being in close proximity during five of the gigs, there was a real sense of rejuvenation among the band and entourage. Even if the performances were an uneven blend of the …

Above: Cologne June 18th 1980:  A pensive DL after realising that nothing was going to shift those posters and thoughts of  an ebay nest egg  30 years on fading fast…
World Cup Update June 18th:  Oh dear…Bonzo was right after all…football is a load of bollocks – when it’s played like that.  An uterly dismal performance tonight that leaves us hanging on for a win on Wednesday or it will be all over. Yes we have been here before -1986  and 1990, but we really are running out of time and …

Them Crooked Vultures have announced a one off benefit London date. They will play the Brixton 02 Academy on Monday July 5th. This show has been organized to provide aid for TCV friend and Homme collaborator Brian O’Connor. The bass player for the Eagles Of Death Metal  has been diagnosed with cancer and is without medical insurance. The net Proceeds from the Brixton O2 Academy show will be contributed to a fund which has been established to assist with Brian’s medical aid. Tickets for the July 5th gig are available …

Jimmy Page was inducted into the Mojo “Hall Of Fame” on Thursday evening at a ceremony at the Brewery venue in London Thursday night (June 10). Phil Alexandra said of the guitarist, “Jimmy Page is the musician by whom all other musicians are measured. Every guitar player wants to sound like him, every producer wants to capture the sounds he captured (check out the many samplings and emulations of that When The Levee Breaks drum sound). He is a genuine music legend, and a recent BBC poll, placed Led Zeppelin …

Set List
Elephants, Gunman, Scumbag Blues, Dead End Friends, No One Loves Me And Neither Do I, New Fang, Bandoliers, Spinning In Daffodils, Mind Eraser No Chaser, Warsaw Or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
When Josh Homme dryly announces that he loves AC/DC to the 100,000 strong crowd on the opening night of this year’s Download festival, it’s hard to tell whether or not he’s being sarcastic. For in the process of making history by headlining the hallowed rock turf for a fourth time, the Aussie rockers have …

Above: DL points to where the England goals need to go -World Cup 2002 Totnes Close Arena
The morning after the night before…and that Sunday morning feeling.  Not the start we were looking for. It all  looked so positive after four minutes.. but that optimism soon fell away –  Robert Green’s goalkeeping error was almost beyond belief.  But it happpaned  and we needed to recover. There were chances in the second half but they were not taken. Full marks to the USA who made it very difficult.
Yes, we’ve seen it all …

With the World Cup very much upon us, this TBL archive special takes us back to the heady days of June 2002. As the World Cup got underway in Japan, Robert Plant was back in the forefront again promoting the just released Dreamland album. Here in the UK we had a Storytellers TV recording and a one off London date in the space of a few days – all occurring at the time Sven’s England were attempting to triumph in the World Cup in Japan.
It actually seems longer than eight …