And so we come to the end of 2011. Another eventful 12 months of TBL activity laced with a measure ups and downs. Here are some overall reflections on the year about to go by.
As for the three ex members of Led Zeppelin, it’s been a fairly productive period albeit in differing ways.
Robert Plant consolidated on the success of 2010 with further touring periods in the US and then in Europe during the summer. The accolades received at the American Music awards were due acknowledgement for the effort that has gone …

As you get over the turkey and mince pie overload – here’s a little piece of fun TBL fiction on how things might have been back in the day…
It was Christmas 1979 and Jimmy Page was feeling pretty pleased with himself.
The last of the presents were wrapped and under the tree. The turkey was all ready to cook. In the kitchen he switched on the Amstrad 7070 radio/tape deck and pressed it to radio medium wave mode.
‘’All in all it’s just another brick in the wall…’’
The familiar school kid’s chorus of …

39 years ago today I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the closest gig Led Zeppelin ever played to Christmas in the UK. Saturday December 23rd 1972 was a cold dank day and the walk up Muswell Hill to the Alexandra Palace was a bit of a trek. All worth it of course as this very impressionable 16 year old was again in the company of musical giants.
The venue itself had not been used for a gig for years and was a little cold and impersonal – the …

In the wake of the recent 02 fourth anniversary, five days later on December 15th my thoughts turned to the events of 30 years ago – for it was on that night in 1981 that the three ex members of Led Zeppelin were seen together in public for the first time since they announced they could not continue as they were a year earlier.
Back in the early months of that year, Lynn Sizemore who was PR to the Golden Lion Roadies Charity For Children Association, the charity formed from the …

John Paul Jones has received an honorary fellowship from Deptford’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in South London.
John, a former Blackheath schoolboy, received the accolade at the prestigious performing arts college in Creekside last Thursday.
He joins the ranks of other acclaimed artists who have received the honour, including Academy nominated composer John Powell, musician Ravi Shanker and Classical FM Managing Director Darren Henley.
Them Crooked Vultures have released two previously unheard live tracks via their facebook site recorded on their world tour last year (possibly from Sydney).
The two tracks – ‘Nobody Loves Me …

Photo by Donato Farace
Four years ago this weekend thousands of lucky fans converged on to the 02 Arena in London to witness the live return of Led Zeppelin for one night only in memory of Ahmet Ertegun. Millions more across the world tracked the unfolding events via texts and online reports.
It remains perhaps the most significant night in their history as fans young and old were able to see and understand either by being lucky enough to be there, or via the many you tube clips that surfaced immediately after …

The Christmas issue of Record Collector is out now – it features Led Zeppelin as the cover subject and inside there is a ten page feature celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Led Zeppelin IV album written and compiled by Dave Lewis.
This chronicles the story of the making of the album, the origin of the sleeve design and four symbols, an analysis of the rare Led Zeppelin IV UK pressings plus an extensive Led Zeppelin IV Global Rarities guide compiled by renowned Zep vinyl collector Nick Anderson. There’s also a spotlight …

Fed up with receiving the same old tired gifts for Christmas each year? Why not give your loved ones a nudge in the direction of the TBL ordering page and get them to invest on your behalf –let them really know what you want for Christmas or you may well end up with novelty socks and boxers yet again. Alternatively just treat yourself!
Here is a round up of TBL Product on offer this Christmas –all orders will be processed and dispatched as received.
TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 1:
THE TBL 2012 MAGAZINE …

Going To California by Gary Houston
Last Thursday evening, the Floods Gallery in Greenwich unveiled the eight art prints commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin IV at a special launch event.
The exhibition features eight unique original art prints with designs inspired by and representing the eight individual tracks on the album lining up as follow:
Black Dog by Justin Hampton
Rock And Roll by Kii Arens
The Battle Of Evermore by John Vogl
Stairway To Heaven by Jermaine Rogers
Misty Mountain Hop by Nate Duval
Four Sticks by Dan Grzeca
Going To …