Above: The Who and guests – March 30th 2010   photo Gary Foy.
On Saturday November 3rd 1973, I went into Harlequin Records in Bedford and purchased the just released double album by The Who titled Quadrophenia.
Getting it home and glancing through the bleak sleeve booklet with it’s stark black and white images depicting the life of Jimmy the Mod, I knew this was no ordinary record. The music throughout the four sides captured The Who with power, compassion and intensity. Back then the Quadrophenia themes of adolescent isolation, despair and redemption resonated …

Boot Led Zeppelin successfully revived the spirit of Led Zeppelin’s Earls Court 1975 shows with a marathon performance at the Shepherds Bush Empire last Saturday. 
Radio One DJ Fearne Cotton introduced the band on stage to a very enthusiastic crowd. For the next three hours, Boot Led Zep looked the part, sounded the part and even spoke the part –singer Luke Ward adapting Robert Plant’s between song intros and patter from the original Earls Court shows. This added yet more authenticity to a performance that celebrated the 35th anniversary of those …

Robert Plant has announced via his official web site a 12 city tour of North America to commence on July 13th. The tour will include material from his forthcoming new album tentatively titled ‘It’s Rude To Say No” – more dates will follow in the fall.
The press release reads as follows  
July shows to include material from new Rounder album
Burlington, MA – Robert Plant has confirmed a 12 city North American tour. Beginning in July, this 1st leg of shows which will be followed by further dates in the fall will …

Them Crooked Vultures appearance on the Zane Lowe Radio 1 show live from the Maida Vale Studios on Wednesday night included live performances of New Fang, Dead End Friends, Mind Eraser, No Chaser and the hugely popular Spinning In Daffodils. The set was interspersed with interviews with Zane sitting at John Paul’s keyboards. John remembered the sessions with Led Zeppelin at the same studios, commenting with typical dry wit that  “There’s still no where to park”. After touring the album for nearly eight months now the band  looked to be having …

John Paul Jones made a triumphant return to the scene of one of Led Zeppelin’s greatest performances as Them Crooked Vultures stormed the Royal Albert Hall in London last night.
Patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust Roger Daltrey set the tone for this tenth series of admirable shows with an impassioned speech regarding the charity’s achievements over the past decade. Acknowledging the musical feast ahead he commented ‘’I know Them Crooked Vultures are going to be great with somebody who was once in Nirvana and John Paul Jones who everyone knows …

Latest news on the Boot Led Zeppelin Earls Court 35th anniversary gig taking place this Saturday March 27th at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire is that Radio One DJ and big Zep fan Fearne  Cotton will be in attendance to introduce the band on stage.
On the night Boot Led Zeppelin will be recreating the magic of Zep in ’75 with a special Earls Court set list and the TBL crew will be in attendance with various Zep at Earls Court memorabilia on display. All in all this is a great way of …

The previously announced Show Of Peace Concert  due to be staged in Beijing next month has been postponed until October 10th 2010. A statement has been issued by the promoters that states that; “With the agreement of Ministry of Culture, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the organizers of the International Show of Peace Concert have discussed and decided to change the date of the concert to October 10, 2010 – 10/10/10.
“The concert, originally planned for April 17, will be held at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium. The …

At a special book signing event in London to launch his new book Apathy For The Devil, legendary 70s rock journalist Nick Kent reminisced about his days on the road with Led Zeppelin. ‘’When they got into their groove on things like Trampled Underfoot they were as good as it gets’’ he told Dave Lewis. ‘’I had some amazing times with them.’’
The book is a memoir of his life in the 70s as the most controversial journalist of the era – becoming as notorious as the stars he wrote about. …

Last night’s Sound & Vision Event at Abbey Road raised nearly a quarter of a million pounds for Cancer Research UK. 
 Throughout the evening the ongoing Silent Auction saw heavy bidding on the vast array of rare framed exhibition photos lining Studio 3 featuring The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Blur, Oasis and many others. The Zeppelin attractions included a framed Neal Preston photo of Page & Plant at the Minneapolis rehearsal in 1975 and a collage of photos taken by Led Zeppelin 3 sleeve …

Three videos of Robert Plant’s appearance at the Sound And Vision charity show in Abbey Road Studios in aid of Cancer Research on Thursday have turned up on You Tube this weekend. They feature the haunting Scott Walker cover Farmer In The City, the inspiring I Bid You Goodnight and the George Harrison tribute  My Sweet Lord. For details of donating to the charity go to Cancer Research UK.

 Farmer In The City

I Bid You Goodnight

My Sweet Lord