DL with the Classic Rock’s Oustanding Contributor – Photo by Lisa Bardsley
Well it’s been an eventful three weeks.  Crikey ..where to start?
Apologies in advance for all the name dropping here which must look like I’m on some huge liggers ego trip but it’s just the way things have been these past few days.
Well firstly the Classic Rock Awards on Wednesday night. Going back to the Roundhouse was another memorable night out. Not surprising with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones both in the house . My good friend Jerry was …

Photo by Rick Willis
As we move into what will be a couple of very high profile weeks for Robert Plant, It’s a timely moment for me to reflect on the 100 + nights I have spent in the company of Robert Plant on vocals.
It was about a year back when I was researching something for the magazine that I realised I must be approaching 100 occasions of staring up at a Shure SM57 or 58 microphone held by Robert Plant. I’d collated a list about ten years back which I …

A lot going on here as we shape up for a big week ahead with The Band Of Joy gigs in Birmingham and London.
I’ve been pretty ensconced in getting the Over Europe book into some sort of planning shape. There’s a lot of material to draw from and a lot of work ahead but it’s going to be an exciting challenge getting this one down. I conducted a phone interview to New York for the book this week – spoke with a key Zep associate from the time and our …

This is a special entry of my regular DL Diary posting. It’s been something of a strange week here. It was a privilege to see Jason perform on Monday and talking to him about his Dad in this week of all weeks was pretty emotional. Thinking about the events of thirty years ago has weighed heavy on my mind. It does to use the old Earls Court adage ‘’seem like a lifetime but a second’’. Aside for the events of 30 years ago, my mind has been drifting back to …

I can remember exactly where I was when the news of Jimi Hendrix death came through 40 years ago tomorrow. I was listening to the Tommy Vance Friday What’s New programme as I did most Fridays back then eager to hear the latest single releases. Around 5pm the announcement was made on the BBC Radio One news and Tommy went on to provide a fitting tribute to the guitar legend noting the inconsistencies of his performances over the past year.
Across the water the next day Led Zeppelin were performing two …

Adrian Chiles and DL – London HMV Forum September 2nd- Both with a lot to do on Monday…
Well after a whirlwind week, I’ve managed to make it to 54.
It was certainly some week with back to back Robert Plant shows and then the day in London on Friday. I personally thought Robert & the Band Of Joy live experience was pretty amazing as you will have read – though I respect that it won’t be for everybody.
Friday was spent in the company of my lifelong friends Dec, Tom, Phil and …

The above photo was taken by Tom Locke outside the Mannheim hotel Led Zeppelin were staying at during their two night stint at the Mannheim Eisstadion on July 2nd and 3rd 1980.  To the far left is John Paul Jones and you can see Robert in the centre. The man to the right of  JPJ is Michael Kirschner then the tour co-ordinator for WEA Records in Germany. It was his job to make sure everything went smoothly on the road and he acted as interpreter for the band and in …

Above:  The Knebworth 31st Anniversary Revellers  – TBL Totnes HQ Wednesday August 4th 2010 – DL, Cliff Hilliard, Tom Locke, Terry Boud and Mark Harrison.  Photo by Adam Lewis
The last few days have been dominated by a wave of nostalgia for the 31st anniversary Knebworth. I’d intended to mark the occasion on the site and with a few Facebook postings but it all became a bit more than that.  The response to the postings has been quite amazing – maybe I should not be too surprised about this reaction, as …

I can remember a fair few Robert Plant new single premieres down the years.
Hearing an advance tape of Big Log in June 83 and knowing it would catch the summer mood. Being totally mystified by Pink And Black when it was first aired on the Whistle Test. Heaven Knows played on Radio One’s review show Roundtable and being given a thumbs up by Bee Gee Barry Gibb. 29 Palms heralding the Fate Of Nations era on a bright April morning.
This week Angel Dance was added to the list. Being out …

”One publishes a splendid Led Zeppelin magazine doesn’t one” – The TBL 2 meet HRH, July 21st 1982.
Seeing the announcement of the Princes Trust concert due to be staged later this year with Eric Clapton headlining, reminded me of my experiences at the 1982 Princes Trust Rock Gala staged at the London Dominion Theatre.
This was the night Robert Plant performed on a London stage for the first time since the demise of Zep. My good friend Tom and I were there on the evening of July 21st 1982 to witness …