Led Zeppelin performing Achilles Last Stand -Mannheim, July 3rd 1980. Photo by Tom Locke. Taken from the forthcoming book Feather In The Wind – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980.
Another couple of intensive weeks spent in the year 1980 and on tour with Led Zeppelin.
No bad place to be of course but that’s how it’s been here recently as I wade on with the Over Europe book. Progress is good and there has been a lot to cram in. Recent highlights have been an interview with an important player in the …

Many thanks for the great response to the TBL Stairway To Heaven 40th Anniversary Poll. Ahead of the March 5th anniversary, there is still time to cast your vote for the all time greatest live versions of the song.
All you need to do is list in order of preference  up to five  favourite LIVE versions of Stairway To Heaven.
The criteria is as follows: Any live version by Led Zeppelin is eligible plus post Zep versions ie Arms or Outrider tour, Live Aid, Page & Plant Japan TV, O2 reunion.
From these …

Robert Plant was the co host on the Chris Evans Radio 2 Breakfast Show this morning between 8 and 9am.
In a hugely enjoyable rapport with Chris Evans, he talked about the legacy of Zeppelin, the Band Of Joy album, Wolverhampton Wanderers and more –as well as reading out various news items. The playlist for the hour included Zep’s Rock And Roll and D’yer Mak’er plus the Band Of Joy’s Cental Two-O-Nine, Angel Dance and the new single Harm’s Swift Way.
A couple of effective loop pieces of Over The Hills And …

The new opera Anna Nicole with John Paul Jones’ on stage involvement, begins it’s run of six performances at the Royal Opera House London tonight. Written by Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thoms (whose previous credits include Jerry Springer: The Opera, and Shoes), it charts the eventful life of Anna Nicole Smith, the Playboy model who married an elderly billionaire and died of  an overdose of sleeping pills.
John Paul Jones will be performing as part of the onstage trio along with guitarist John Parricelli and drummer Pete Erskine.
John Parricelli was …

Them Crooked Vultures, Band Of Joy’s Patty Griffin and Jeff Beck triumphed in the 53rd Grammy Awards staged last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
New Fang from the Them Crooked Vultures album featuring John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme, won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
In their nominated categories, Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy lost out to Paul McCartney’s Helter Skelter in the Best Solo Rock Performance category and to Mavis Staples album You Are Not Alone in the Best Americana Album category. …

It is with immense sadness that we have learned of the death of Joan Bonham.
Joan had been unwell in the past few weeks and died in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Joan was the wife of the late John Henry Snr and mother of Deborah and the late John and Michael.  Her zest for life and in particular her family, was admired and loved by so many.
Myself and Gary will personally never forget the enthusiasm and empathy the whole Bonham family brought to the 1992 Led Zeppelin Convention we co …

Vote for the greatest live version of their greatest song
Nearly 40 years ago on the evening of March 5th 1971 at the Ulster Hall Belfast, Led Zeppelin  performed for the first time in public, a new lengthy 12 minute composition due to be released on their next album. It began in tranquil mood and then developed into a soaring climax. It told the tale of a lady who was sure, about a bustle in a hedgerow and advised that if you listened very hard the tune would come to you …

Photo by Dave Smith
This excellent review from New York City’s very own Maria Gorshin from her wonderful blog citygirlwrites.blogspot.com/
The moment Robert Plant and Band of Joy appeared on stage at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday Night the air went electric with a charge that ran both ways. They hit the boards beaming and visibly jazzed for a night of playing great music while the audience rose to greet them in a spontaneous, all-at-once movement that seemed set off by a shockwave of ardor. In America’s favorite rock room, American roots …

MGM Grand Theatre at MGM Grand at Foxwoods
Setlist
Angel Dance
Down to the Sea
Cindy, I’ll Marry you Someday
You Can’t Buy My Love
Houses of the Holy
Twelve Gates to the City
Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go
Nobody’s Fault But Mine
Monkey
Satisfied Mind
Tangerine
Move Up
Ramble On
Tall Cool One
Gallows Pole
Encore
In the Mood
Rock And Roll
We Bid You Goodnight
REVIEW: Plant mixes old, new songs
 One has to admire Robert Plant for not standing still in the music world, always evolving as do Sting and a select few others.
The former frontman for Led Zeppelin and his latest band, The Band …

Robert Plant at Tower Theatre, Philadelphia
My wife and I were fortunate to attend Robert’s show on 1/26/11 at the Tower Theatre in the Philadelphia area with a couple of dear friends.  It was near blizzard like conditions, with the area receiving 12-16 inches of snow within 24 hours, about 4 inches just during the show.  But the show was fully attended, as most braved the elements to see Robert and The Band of Joy.  In the bathroom, I overheard one fan saying he traveled over 130 miles one way for …