30 years ago this month, Led Zeppelin were about to embark on their most ambitious tour of America. 49 concerts spanning five months with a total projected audience of over one million. Three decades later, perhaps more than any other – that 1977 tour holds a deep fascination for fans old and new. Over the coming months I’ll be marking the 30th anniversary of what would be their final American jaunt with various Tight But Loose activity. Over the last week here there’s been regular trips to the loft to …

For Tight But Loose 18 I’m planning a major special 30th Anniversary feature on the 1977 Led Zeppelin USA tour.
I am keen to enlist the assistance of anyone out there who attended any of the gigs on that tour.
I am looking for fans to share their memories for publication in TBL 18. If you were lucky enough to see any of the ’77 gigs email your thoughts to the usual address davelewis.tbl@vigin.net

As part of the 30th Anniversary Led Zeppelin 1977 USA Tour Tight But Loose activity, I am conducting a survey surrounding the various aspects of that celebrated final American jaunt. If you would like to contribute click below – fill in your answers and return to  Davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com
The results will form part of the extensive 1977 retro coverage in the next Tight But Loose and will also be revealed at the April 28 Tight But Loose / Return Of The Destroyer London gathering
1977 USA Tour Survey
When assessing the set lists overall …

Plant & The Strange Sensations

April 28 London Gathering Celebrates 30 Years Of Destroyer And Launch Of The New Tight But Loose Magazine
It’s been some time since we staged a Tight But Loose fan gathering, so in conjunction with Julian Walker and Graeme Hutchinson, we have formulated plans for an event to be staged in central London on Saturday April 28.
The day will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s second show at the Richfield Coliseum later immortalised in the various Destroyer bootlegs. Coupled with that, the event will also act as the official launch …

Just back from a whirlwind stop over in Dudley to catch The Return Of The Honeydrippers charity show at JB’s Club. And quite a night it was. Mike Sanchez and The Big Town Playboys got the evening off to a suitably rocking start with an hour long set of pure roughshod rock’n’roll aided by Ricky Cool and Andy Silvester. Before the main event there was a real surprise. Jeff Beck strolled on the stage, white Telecaster in hand to perform three instrumental jams supported by a two man rhythm section …

The Return Of The Honeydrippers

Some 34 years ago this week, I took receipt of my third Led Zeppelin bootleg LP. I’d already been thrilled by the arrival the previous autumn of Live On Blueberry Hill and in January I’d obtained Going To California. On that early Feb day back in ’73 there was another LP size package awaiting for me and within it another gem – an album called Mudslide.
I was a big advocator of bootleg LP’s back then, all of which were sourced from a mail order set up I’d seen advertised …

It was good to hook up with Zep Express Convention co-organiser Graeme Hutchinson last Wednesday. We both agreed next year’s 40th anniversary of the formation of Led Zeppelin is worthy of a mass celebration. Initial ideas that we brain stormed was the staging of a two day weekend Zep Convention along the lines of the 1992/4 UK events. It would be great to find a central location probably in London that would accommodate such a gathering. The idea is to stage an event that would draw fans from all parts …

Clicking on a few choice cuts from my iPod playlist drawn from the catalogue of one James Patrick Page in acknowledgement of his birthday last Tuesday, prompted another of my wish lists. That is for a release of an official Jimmy Page career anthology CD set encompassing the many aspects of his work, from early 60’s sessions through his pioneering days with The Yardbirds and onto his massive 70’s achievements and post Zep highlights.
As a template for such an idea, I would direct you to Voyage the superb recently issued …