Robert Plant cover feature interview in the new issue of Record Collector…

Very much looking forward to getting my hands on this new issue of Record Collector – had to laugh at Robert’s front page quote “‘I’m not some old guy listening to stuff from the 70s” – Oh that’ll be me then!

More info here:

Recor Store Day Special and Robert Plant New EP and Collection

582 April In this issue: Record Store Day Special! Starring Robert Plant! Plus: A History Of RSD! 20 Weird & Wonderful RSD Discs!
Also! 1976 soul albums * Celtic Frost * Pink Fairies * Captain Sensible * Stockholm 45s * Beach Boys / Rainbow / Rush reviewed… and much more…

Order at:

https://recordcollectormag.com/issue/april-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawQoiuNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeznSHc4y5B9TXr7IfsiT4dgb1B0k4ZES8L7dyPR1G7wYEx2ij0prUKaKAzYI_aem_NcTD-T8ZRsaKSXnkXUaIug

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Robert Plant Saving Grace with Suzi Dian US tour – set list additions  

This one via James Cook at LZ News: 

A printed copy of the band’s setlist for the performance in Albuquerque, New Mexico posted online show they performed the Plant solo song “Calling to You” along with covers of the Ola Belle Reed song “Undone in Sorrow” and the traditional folk song “Ain’t No Grave” recorded by Brother Claude Ely.

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Jimmy Page 2002 Royal Albert Hall Zoso Symbol Gig Poster – Official Limited Edition Fine Art Screen Print Hand Signed by Jimmy Page

Here’s the info:

Jimmy Page is one of the most influential guitarists in rock history and the legendary founder of Led Zeppelin. Known for his innovative riffs, pioneering production techniques, and iconic performances, Page helped shape the sound of hard rock and heavy metal in the late 1960s and 1970s. His work on classics such as Stairway to Heaven cemented his reputation as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

A message from Jimmy – ”I was contacted by my daughter Scarlet Page relating to a project that was for the Teenage Cancer Trust. In February 2002, I played Dazed & Confused at one of the nights at the Royal Albert Hall, with Paul Weller topping the bill that evening.

This project involves signing some posters in aid of the Trust. My daughter came round to my house with the prints in order for me to sign them. When the package was unwrapped, I was totally dazzled by the artwork that had been created by illustrator Matt Glasby.

I enthusiastically completed the signing for such a worthy and well-respected cause.”

Order at:

https://shop.teenagecancertrust.org/products/jimmy-page-autographed-print

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Richard Houghton will be talking about his excellent book Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love – A People’s History at Manchester Central Library  on Thursday, April  30 from 6 pm to 7 pm

New Led Zeppelin T. shirts depict great Frank Melfi Led Zeppelin 1977 live shots:

Here’s the info:

New High Quality print of Frank Melfi’s transformative original Art T-Shirt Celebrating images from the Led Zeppelin Birmingham 1977 show.

If you’re looking for a super high quality, thick, structured tee that’s also super soft and breathable—look no further! The unisex garment-dyed heavyweight t-shirt ticks all the boxes and is made of 100% ring-spun cotton. The regular t-shirt style will complement most looks and fit you to a tee.

Full ordering details at:

https://www.blumusemedia.com/products/original-frank-melfi-led-zeppelin-art-t-shirt-celebrating-images-from-the-birmingham-1977-show-unisex-garment-dyed-heavyweight-t-shirt

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TBL ARCHIVE – IT WAS 55 YEARS AGO…

MEANWHILE BACK IN 1970…

Now here’s a story….Goldrush and Stamford Bridge – and a young Led Zep fan in the crowd – 56 years gone:

56 years ago on March 21,1970 , Led Zeppelin flew out for the first date of their fifth US tour.

I was well aware of all this because I’d purchased a copy of Record Mirror the previous day when it came out. Under the front page headline of ‘Goldrush’ and a wonderful colour photo of Led Zeppelin from the previous December’s awards bash, it revealed the bands current plans. Interestingly enough it reported that a film crew would be on hand to capture the tour.

The story read as follow:

‘’Off to America on Saturday go Led Zeppelin. And with the group will be a film production unit which is making a film of the month long tour. The team has been trailing the group since their appearance at the Albert Hall in January. So far in the can are shots of their European tour, Jimmy Page in the studio, and Robert Plant at home on his farm. Not to mention the presentation of gold discs for million mark sales of their albums. The film, which has already been sold in America , is to tie in with the release of their next LP at the end of the year. Which could easily sell another million. And which is why some people are nicknaming it ‘’Goldrush’’. 

Film of their European tour? Jimmy in the studio?, Robert on the farm?

A film crew with them in America? There’s no evidence to suggest much of that occurred…but if  it did where’s the footage now…?

I digress: On that Saturday March 21st 1970, at the same time Zep were about to wow the audience at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, I was in a capacity crowd of 61,479 (their highest of that season ) at Stamford Bridge watching Chelsea triumph 2-1 over Manchester United.

It would have been nice of course to be down White Heart Lane where Martin Peters was making his debut for Spurs against Coventry (he scored in a 2-1 defeat). Peters had transferred to Spurs as part of a swap deal that took Jimmy Greaves to West Ham (who also scored two on his debut for West Ham that day at Manchester City–I’ve just watched it on you tube!). As it was, my very good friend Dave Corp in Dents Road was where I lived was (and still is as we are still in touch) a big Chelsea fan and I was more than happy to tag along with his elder family friend to see some prime Division One action. It was incredibly exciting to see the 70s superstars of the day in action – Alan Hudson, Peter Osgood, Ian Hutchinson, George Best, Bobby Charlton,  Alex Stepney,  Denis Law,Willie Morgan etc.,

It was one of those occasions from an impressionable age that remains ingrained on my brain – not dissimilar to the way Zep memories of Empire Pool and Earls Court etc are lodged in there forever.

I can remember so much about that day in detail: the records played over the PA before the teams came on which included hits of the time Brotherhood Of Man’s United We Stand and Steam’s Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye, the atmosphere in the Chelsea paddock where we stood (a fantastic view right in the front side on to the goal) as Ian Hutchinson scored twice in the first half, the pie we had in a café after the game and the hitch hiker we picked up on the A1 going home. 50 years have done nothing to dull the memories of an awesome day for this then 13 year old.

I’ve just searched YouTube and amazingly the match is on the Chelsea TV channel – the original ITV Big Match coverage with the late great Brian Moore commenting and lo and behold imagine my delight and surprise when as the camera pans in for a Chelsea throw – I am in view second on the left with my arm across the barrier as Ian Hutchinson takes one of his then famous long throws. This is in the exact spot where we were – the pic here is a bit blurry off YouTube but that’s me – a young Led Zep fan viewing the action.

Little did I realize that aside from the match programme, three years later I’d have another remnant of that day. This was in the form of the bootleg LP Mudslide that captured highlights of Zep’s Vancouver show of March 21st. In fact whenever I hear the opening drum roll from Bonzo,Jimmy’s guitar warm up  and Robert’s ‘’Everybody feel alright!’’ intro, I always think back to that spring Saturday in March 1970 when I was in amongst the then soccer elite in Stamford Bridge.

I of course kept the copy of Record Mirror from that week, and have the trade mark of quality vinyl bootleg of Mudslide. I also have the Chelsea v Man Utd programme.

Looking at those remnants I can almost smell the atmosphere of that day back in 1970. I can honestly say that Saturday March 21, 1970 was one of the pivotal days of my life. A day where my eyes were truly opened to the adult world’

It will all be in the DL memoirs

Precious memories indeed…and now I can now add the YouTube clip to that list of memories – filmed proof that I was indeed right there…the crowd clip with me with my arm on the barrier is at 4mins.44 as Ian Hutchinson takes one of his long throws…

I always remind Dave of this epic day and the memories of 56 years ago t…one day we would both like to go back to Stamford Bridge and watch another match…..

Here’s the YouTube clip link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEx3B7Zvj34&fbclid=IwAR06sm-Hd1R6FeIOD0K1ANAO521HG_JwZLpKg61cXG_Tzo5jXg7V6GMagUY

Dave Lewis – March  18 2026 

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Staying in 1970…

I recently picked up this one…

Led Zeppelin – Lotta Love in Honolulu

Limited Edition 2 LP red vinyl booteg

No. 195 of 200

The latest in a long line of vinyl bootleg sets from the Casino label

The package: Gatefold sleeve with excellent relevant black and white photos from the gig plus adverts, press clippings, ticket stub and Summer 1970  US  tour itinerary.

Background: 

This is a really interesting night as they played two sets at this appearance on September 6, 1970 at the International Center – Honolulu, Hawaii. tHIS 2 LP package presents the first show which was an abridged set.

Track by track:

Side A:

Introduction

Immigrant Song

Dazed And Confused

Side B:

Heartbreaker

Since I’ve Been Loving You

Side C:

What Is And What Should Never Be

Moby Dick

Side D:

Whole Lotta Love

Communication Breakdown

Full review to follow

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David Clayton publishes the final Free Appreciation Society magazine after 182  issues…

I was pleased to find the latest issue of the long running Free Appreciation Society magazine drop through the door on Monday.

I was very much looking forward to editor David Clayton’s latest collation of Free facts, findings and features.

Then I saw the following words on the opening to his usual page two introduction

Issue 182 – March 2026 – THE FINAL ISSUE

I should not have been overly surprised as David has long revealed that he would be bringing the FAS magazine to an end. I just did not realise that this issue was lined up to be the last.

I have long since had a kindred spirit relationship with David. Like me, he has been a chronicler of his favourite band for many decades. His publishing of the FAS magazine was relentless. Constantly full of detailed content, always creatively laid out he stuck to this formula and knew it worked- adding colour to the lay out in 2003.

In retrospect, I wish I had gone down a similar route with TBL and kept it simple rather that strike out for loftier production values -I think I would have pumped out many more issues if I had stuck to an A4 format.

So the FAS magazine closes at 182 issues over some 46 years – that makes my paltry 45 issues of TBL look a bit feeble.

I can say the David once paid me a very high compliment when he informed me that he styled and took inspiration from the first A4 produced issues of the Tight But Loose magazine back in the late 70s.

With the FAS magazine David has been the last man standing. The truth is that printed fan magazines are now not really where it’s at. Fans of any group can access masses of info from the many forums that exist online. Twenty odd years back, Record Collector dedicated a whole page to fan magazines but those days are long gone.

I am completely understanding of his reasons for calling it a day. Age doth make a fan magazine editor a weary one. I knew my time was up with TBL as the sheer effort of providing content, managing subscriptions, printing and distribution was just too much. Like me, David having suffered some health issues needs a rest and to have some time for himself. I can well sympathise with that thinking as that is how I felt in late 2022 when I made the decision to stop producing the TBL magazine.. I could certainly could not muster up the zest I had to produce the magazine and book projects of even ten years back.

Like me, David will still be around via his online blog and he still has back issues of the FAS available. More details at the link below:

https://freeappreciationsociety.blogspot.com/

David’s dedication to the Free cause is second to none. There is no question he has kept the flag flying for Free( and the many spin offs of the group such as Kossoff, Kirke,Tetu,Rabbit, Back Street Crawler, Sharks, Andy Fraser Band ,Bad Company, The Law etc) and greatly influenced their standing as one of the greatest bands of all time. A handwritten note in this final issue thanking David from Simon Kirke himself is much deserved due recognition.

He has succeeded in not only chronicling their legacy but presenting informed critical comment – David is no mere chronicler, he is a great writer too offering honest opiniated views that have changed the perception of how Free functioned right from their early days through to the end.

I myself and all readers of the FAS have ben brought closer to the music of Free by his immense dedication and enthusiasm. I’ve been lucky enough to have been in contact with him for nigh on 45 years.  David has always been incredibly supportive of my Zep magazines and books – like I said we are kindred spirits and have experienced similar paths in our chronicling of our respective fave group and artists. Dave has always carefully navigated around the thoughts and demands of the key players themselves (as I did back in the TBL heyday) and earned their trust.

That trust allowed David the access to hours of Free recording data that produced the superb 5 CD  Songs Of Yesterday career spanning box set released in 2000.  He has worked closely with various studio associates and engineers such as Richard Digby Smith to seek out accurate details of exactly what Free recorded when and how – and this has led to many an unearthed recording being made available on the various Free remastered reissues. Add to that the writing and publishing of the truly magnificent Heavy Load book with Todd K Smith back in 2000.

Oh and he also did an amazing job on the Bad Company reissues – it was a joyous occasion when I attended the Bad Co playbacks in March 2015 featuring a Q and A with the late great Mick Ralphs at Gibson Brand Studios . David was in attendance and we had such a great time celebrating all this great music.

There’s more: David has also been an inspiration in pointing many a reader to various acts he has championed including Cry of Love who supported Robert Plant on some of his UK tour dates in 1993.

Another album that I benefitted from David’s recommendation was the late great Eddie Baird’s Also ….1998 solo album. Eddie was part of Amazing Blondel who toured with Free.

So to the final issue and it’s a brilliant one in bringing everything full circle. A big shout out here to Alessandro Borri who has assisted David with discovering Free facts and visuals over many years – and indeed he has done a similar job with Zep and TBL.

In terms of where the Free catalogue might develop ahead, David offers a perceptive viewpoint. Not only that he unlocks his thoughts, notes and intended track listing on compiling the sadly abandoned 19 disc  Free box set From The Shadows – The Complete Recorded Works . That project feels like unfinished business but as is often the case, for many reasons -some explained in this issue –  it did not meet with the artist approval and David is again very honest on his views.

This issue also reproduces brilliant Free retro career overviews by the likes of Billy Walker in Sounds, Steve Clark in the NME and true ‘I was there’ fan thoughts from Jim Wilson in Zig Zag.

To summarise: There is no question in my mind that David Clayton has created the most durable, accurate, informative and insightful fan magazine there has ever been.

He has brought countless fans into the world of Free and greatly enhanced our appreciation of their catalogue and the musicians who made the magic happen.

I will miss the FAS magazine dropping through my door greatly but we all owe David Clayton the time and space to realign and take things easier His work is done but thankfully remains in print and through the many reissue projects he has been involved in.

Right, I am off to play my copy of Freies Fire and Water accompanied by reading the FAS issues 151,152,153 and154 which dissects the album in brilliant forensic detail.

Mr David Clayton take a bow. You took us closer to the music of Free in a way that nobody else could..…

Sail on my friend and keep rockin – albeit gently…

Dave Lewis  March 19 2026

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This Saturday March 21,the VIP Record Fair is back in Bedford at the Harpur Suite, Harpur St, Bedford MK40 1LE

Full info –

https://vip-24.com/venues/bedford/

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DL Diary Blog Update:

Sunday March 15:

Saturday is platterday – on the player the Coverdale Page album released on this day all of 33 years ago on March 15 1993 – this is the Japanese reissue from a couple of years back – I have a great affinity with this album -it was a revelation at the time with Jimmy Page on great form – still sounds great..

Wednesday March 18:

My great four track single by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan including Diamonds which was one of Jimmy Page’s first sessions was on the player at the excellent Pete Burridge record club at The Castle last night – Jet passed away 15 years ago today…

Another weary week –  I just cannot seem to muster up the zest I once took for granted and in a disjointed year so far, it says everything that I have yet to visit the TBL office also known as The Spice of Life pub in London. Energy levels continue to be low. At least the sun has been shining a bit and I am looking forward to flicking through the racks at the Bedford VIP Record Fair this Saturday as I missed out on the January one.

Thanks for listening