As we say goodbye to 2023 and welcome 2024, here’s some thoughts and a summary…  

It’s a year now since I announced the retirement of the TBL magazine. I do miss the Tight But Loose mag and everything that went with it. The planning, the editing, the production, working with designer Mick on the layout and design, over seeing the printing, the distribution and reaction. A process I have been involved in for many a year. It was hugely fulfilling and I am very proud of the TBL heritage and the …

So this is Christmas …so here’s some Led Zep related Christmas memories….
TBL Retro Christmas Reflection:
 Christmas always bringing with it that air of nostalgia, so here’s a seasonal TBL retro reflection from 1972:
ALLY PALLY 51 YEARS GONE:
51 years ago on Saturday December 23rd  1972, I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the closest gig Led Zeppelin ever played to Christmas in the UK. It 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, …

Led Zeppelin Reunion for Ahmet Ertegun at the 02 Arena – 16 years gone…TBL Anniversary Special…
Kicking off the TBL 16th anniversary celebrations with this piece from Mark Cunningham who was at the rehearsals and at that night of nights…
THE MIRACLE OF 2007
A random outpouring of recollection.
Wow, 15 years already? That was an incredible time to be alive, especially in my position as the founding editor of live production industry magazine TPi (Total Production International), whose responsibility it was to report on the design and execution of the best shows around.
I …

It was 43 years ago …they could not continue as they were…

43 years ago this week I vividly remember taking a call from the Musician’s Only paper and being asked for a quote regarding the announcement that Led Zepplin were to disband.
These were sad times indeed – and it was about to get worse. The whole ‘Zep to split’ story would get buried somewhat when just four days later John Lennon was shot dead in New York…
Looking back at my diary entry for 43 years ago for December 4, it …

Robert Plant & Saving Grace On The Spot Reports:

On the spot report: Robert Plant presents Saving Grace in Gateshead, November 20th, 2023, by Hiroshi

Saving Grace at The Glasshouse (former Sage) in Gateshead on Monday night were magnificent as they always had ever been. Even more so than before. They are another band of joy, shifting space and bringing strange sensations. This is my fifth time I saw them after 2021 and 2022, and it is amazing to recognize the way Team SG have continuously upgraded the show, not only the …

More on the spot reports…

Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace Featuring Suzi Dian:

Cambridge Corn Exchange – Friday November 17 2023

To Cambridge for a final sighting on this UK tour of the remarkable Saving Grace.

It was great to have the good lady Janet with me – this was her first Robert Plant gig since 2002 –the Storytellers filming for VH1 all of 21 years ago.

In that time since I’ve added another 45 gigs to my overall tally of 127 occasions of seeing Robert perform live – tonight was gig number 128 and …

Robert Plant presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian UK tour on the spot reports…

New Theatre Cardiff – November 15:
Just back from something of a whirlwind trip to Cardiff – and what another amazing night in the company of Robert Plant and Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian…

The Cardiff New Theatre was a suitably intimate venue for a night of sheer magic.

So many moments to savour…

The masterful vocal interplay between Robert and Suzi. The sheer perfection of the whole band’s musicianship. The subtle chorography and lighting that ends certain songs – I’ve …

Jimmy back on stage!
Jimmy Page made a surprise on stage appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in New York last Friday. He initially appeared on a video link to induct Link Wray and then took to the stage to perform Link’s Rumble ..
Jimmy Page commenting on his appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame… 

I was asked to induct Link Wray into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame @rockhall; a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that I’d admired from the very first taste of the …

 
Robert Plant presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian…UK tour opening night 
Review and pic via Stewart Gunn
Brighton Dome – November 1st 2023
Setlist:
Gospel Plow, The Cuckoo, Let The Four Winds Blow, Friends, Unknown gospely song, featuring the hall filling voice of Matt Worley to great effect Too far from you. Suzi on lead vocal Dimming of my light? A new original? After Robert sang the line “The dimming of my light” in the coda, several in the crowd shouted . “ Never”. Everybody’s Song, It’s A Beautiful Da, The Rain Song, As …

Robert Plant at the Cancer Awareness Trust with Andy Taylor October 21 2023…Stairway To Heaven first performance since 2007…

The former Duran Duran guitarist Andy has been having serious cancer health issues and staged this special concert to raise money for the Cancer Awareness Trust. it was staged at the Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds.

Robert Plant was a special guest and incredibly, he chose to perform Stairway To Heaven for the first time since the Led Zeppelin 02 reunion concert in 2007.

This is an incredibly emotional watch as are his words …