Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters TSB Bank Arena, Tuesday, April 9 – Reviewed by Simon Sweetman
Above photo Phil Reid Fairfax NZ
In the 30 years since Led Zeppelin called it a day nobody has worked harder at honouring the legacy whilst creating distance from it – and attempting new runs on the board – than the voice of the band, Mr Robert Plant. 
And if it is hard for some audience members to fathom that Plant had a career pre- and post-Zep then it seems the erstwhile Golden God, …

Robert Plant at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne – this report for TBL from Michael Rae who attended with his son
As this photo of my 13 year old, Adam, shows, we weren’t in a great spot for photos tonight!
Never mind, we were there!
Robert was in fine voice and in a very cheerful mood. The band was spectacular.
LZ songs included Friends, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Black Dog, Going to California, Ramble On, Four Sticks, Whole Lotta Love and encores of What Is And What Should Never Be and Rock and Roll. Spoonful, Fixin’ to …

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters Down Under:
This round up by Bill McGlynn:

Just returned from my third Robert Plant & SSS concert, in Newcastle. It’s been three wonderful nights, to say the least! All three setlists have been the same and the orders have varied. In Newcastle, it started with a very powerful version of Friends.
The venues and audiences have been quite different over the three nights.
Robert and band really fed off the crowd excitement at the festival in Byron Bay. Robert was breaking out many of the old …

TBL Celebrates Houses Of The Holy at 40:
A lot of work went into collating and writing the Houses Of The Holy feature earlier in the year – I was as usual spinning a few other plates, so it’s most gratifying to receive the kind of feedback below that makes it all worthwhile…inspiring a return to the music with a fresh perspective is always my mission on everything that comes out of here…judging by these comments it’s job done with Houses…
This one from Paul Humbley:
This is the least played Zeppelin vinyl in …

Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy  TBL 40th Anniverary Special:
40 years ago today Led Zeppelin released their long awaited fifth album, Houses Of The Holy.
We have been counting down to this milestone anniversary and the TBL website and Facebook page will be celebrating the album’s release over the next few days.
I myself have been getting intensely re acquainted with the Houses Of The Holy album since January, as over the past three months I’ve been collating a major feature  for the new issue of Record Collector – that issue is now …

JIMMY PAGE AND JOHN PAUL JONES ACCEPT ECHO INTERNATIONAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD IN BERLIN: 
Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were in attendance to accept Led Zeppelin’s International Lifetime Achievement Award at the Palais am Funkturm in Berlin last night.
Here is a link to watch the acceptance of the award: It’s wonderful to see Jimmy and JPJ together to receive yet another much deserved accolade…
http://www.ardmediathek.de/das-erste/echo-2013/lebenswerk-international-led-zeppelin?documentId=13822376
Many thanks to Wolfgang Siedel
Photo Luca Teuchmann/Getty
Here’s a brief interview clip with Jimmy and summary of last night’s ECHO awards which saw Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones in …

Robert Plant Presents Sensational Space Shifters set for JamBase Live at the Gorge WA  July 5/6
Robert Plant, Michael Franti, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Slightly Stoopid,  Robert Randolph & The Family Band, G. Love & Special Sauce and STS9 are among the acts slated to appear at the JamBase Live festival. As previously reported, the first-ever JamBase festival will take place at George, WA’s  Gorge Amphitheatre on July 5 and 6.
Other confirmed acts include: Galactic, Railroad Earth, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Lettuce, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and ALO. The event …

Deborah Bonham has a charity gig with Paul Rodgers plus a full scale tour lined up  to coincide with the relase of her excellent new album Spirit.
Here are all the details:
Paul Rodgers & Deborah Bonham 30th March 2013 @ The Venue, Spur Rd, Chichester W. Sussex PO19 9PR UK
Paul Rodgers has announced that he will be returning to The Venue in Chichester to raise funds for Animal Welfare on Sat 30 March. Joining Paul Rodgers on the bill will be Deborah Bonham and her Band. All the proceeds will go to …

Jimmy Page in Vogue Italia:
This report via Vogue Italia website:
Music and fashion have always merged seamlessly with no shortage of pop-starry collaborations. Pop’s greatest chameleons from David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust–era glam to the Sex Pistols’ edgy no-frills anti-fashion continue to rule the catwalks and styling generations. British music legend Jimmy Page follows Iggy Pop, Slash, Paul Weller and Jane’s Addiction Perry Farrell as the latest rock god to front American menswear designer John Varvatos’ spring campaign.
White-haired and elegant, the Led Zeppelin guitarist is pictured posing moodily alongside the 28-year-old …

Gerard Sparaco 1967-2013
I was deeply shocked yesterday to hear of the passing of Gerard Sparaco – a long time contributor and supporter of all things TBL. I know Gerard has had heart problems in the past but this indeed was a shock. He had posted reviews on the Music Collectors site earlier this week. 
Gerard’s understanding and expertise in the live and underground Led Zeppelin catalogue and many other bands and artists, was second to none. Through the Music Collectors web site, he came on board to contribute a regular review column …