TBL 30 is out on the streets. UK subscribers should receive their copies over this weekend with Europe and USA/rest of world to follow. I mailed all pre orders out yesterday afternoon so they are in transit. Let me know what you think when you receive it.
As mentioned last week it’s another action packed issue from the very pleasing Ross Halfin cover shot of Jimmy back on stage with The Black Crowes through to Mike Tremaglio’s ever enlightening logs on Led Zeppelin on the road 40 years ago.
TBL 30 single …

20 years ago this week, I was on a whirlwind tour of UK radio stations promoting mye then just published Led Zeppelin A Celebration book. Publishers Omnibus Press arranged for me to be driven by their PR company rep to visit a host of UK radio stations in a four day span. It included stop-offs in Sheffield, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Bristol, Coventry, Northampton and
finally Nottingham. I also conducted a couple of interviews on something that was called a mobile phone. Oh yes from the comfort of the passenger seat I could …

Tune in on Saturday September 10th at midnight to Sky Arts HD channel for an exclusive Seasick Steve performance featuring John Paul Jones from this year’s Cropredy Festival. John appears on Seasick Steve’s new album, ‘You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks’ which has been released through Jack White’s record imprint, Third Man Records in the US & through Play It Again Sam in the UK.

Last weekend the pair along with drummer Dan Magnusson performed at the  the Reading and Leeds Festival and the whole of the Reading set can be …

Stage diving not advised for those in their mid 50’s…
Fifty flippin’ five….
I was 15 years old when I first saw Led Zeppelin live…18 when I saw them play five nights at Earls Court… 23 when I was over Europe …28 when I wrote my first Zep book The Final Acclaim (it wasn’t of course!)…39 when Page & Plant did the Unledded tour…51 when they reunited at the 02…
Is there a pattern developing here? Yes key Zep landmarks have marked much of these nigh on 55 years alongside of course my …

With September upon us, it’s an appropriate moment to reflect back to a September of 41 years back when a recording of a Led Zeppelin concert captured by some enterprising fans resulted in one of the iconic bootlegs. This TBL Archive feature first written in 2003, focuses on the story and impact of the recording of September 4th 1970 that captured Led Zeppelin on stage in full flight at the Los Angeles Forum.
Led Zeppelin’s impact on their initial American tours made them a prime targets for the then emerging …

The new issue of the Tight But Loose magazine is due for publication in September and as you can see by the cover –it’s another packed affair. Mike Tremaglio’s extensive tour logs capture Led Zeppelin on tour in 1971 from Montreux to Honolulu with more illuminating text and rare visuals. Part two of Rikky Rooksby’s intensive study of Stairway To Heaven looks at the performance and lyrical and musicology of the much maligned classic – all guaranteed to take you back to the song with fresh perspective. The return to the …

Photo Richard Grubb
Robert Plant is 63 today.
From his vital contribution to Led Zeppelin and on through an eclectic solo career, Robert Plant has occupied a unique position at the forefront of rock culture for over 43 years.
That unmistakeable voice and that charismatic presence, together with an quenching thirst for musical invention and energy have placed Robert Plant in a category of his own.
In the past 12 months working within The Band Of Joy, he has provided some of the most remarkable nights of his career –notably for us his life affirming …

It was an indictment of the recent unsavoury state of affairs in the UK that when I appeared on the Californian based rock station Used Bin Pure Rock Radio last Wednesday at the unearthly hour of 5am,the first topic was not Led Zeppelin, but the situation with the riots that had spread over the UK –images of which had shocked the world. We did soon settle in for a lengthy early morning ramble on the Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind Over Europe 1980 book, the state of play with …

All John Paul Jones Photo at Cropredy by John Parkin for TBL
John Paul Jones was a welcome guest for Seasick Steve’s bill topping appearance at the Cropredy Festival last Friday- August 12th. This report and photos for TBL from John Parkin:
Seasick Steve commenced his set with a couple of solo numbers. Halfway through the second song he announced “Please welcome a special friend of mine from the greatest rock’n’roll band ever Led Zeppelin – John Paul Jones”. The crowd went crazy.

He played with him for the rest of …

32 years ago today Led Zeppelin performed what would be their final UK show at Knebworth Park
To mark the 32nd anniversary here is another round up of recollections from out in the field – As taken from the book Led Zeppelin – Then As It Was At Knebworth 1979.
The second run hardback limited edition updated version available for pre-order now here:
Led Zeppelin Then As It Was….New Edition
MY KNEBWORTH
Tim Davies,
Germany
I remember queing all night with my good friend Chris outside Harlequin Records ( I think it was) in Northampton.
The vibe was …