John Bonham – on the occasion of his birthday…
Tuesday May 31 marked the 68th birthday of John Bonham…
Over the past  couple of year the Led Zeppelin Reissue programme has only gone to heighten John’s s percussive contribution and lasting legacy – as Jimmy remarked ”Listening to John Bonham, well that always makes me simile…”
The listing below are prime selections from throughout the Zep catalogue that unanimously reflect the remarkable standards he set. I’m sure I won’t be the only ones searching out these performances to play this weekend in celebration of the …

TBL 41 LATEST:
TBL 41 is in the house …
Over the next few days, I will be commencing the distribution of this issue to over 35 countries.  I am hoping to get to this task as soon as possible – obviously we have a lot going on here in the light of Betty’s sad passing – and I will be working around what we need to do here regarding funeral arrangements etc..
Suffice to say it will be coming your way soon…and looking over it, there’s a host of fresh TBL news, views and features. …

TBL 41 Latest:
TBL 41 is very nearly a design wrap and will be ready for printing very soon.
The last part of the TBL 41 jig-saw has been the interview with BP Fallon..
BP Fallon holds a unique status in the world of rock’n’roll. The affectionately know Beep initially made his mark on Irish TV. He moved to London in the late 60s and over the next few years he worked with a host of artists in a PR capacity –notably King Crimson, T Rex and Led Zeppelin. He would later link up with …

ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE FORTHCOMING TBL ISSUE 41:
Here’s the line up for the forthcoming issue of the Tight But Loose magazine – issue 41…
TBL World Exclusive – new interview with John Paul Jones:
JPJ  talks opera, Led Zep reissues, 60s sessions, plans ahead and more in this exclusive new interview with Dave Lewis
A TBL catch up with Mr John Paul Jones has been long overdue so it was delight to hear his dulcet tones down the phone line on a recent spring Thursday morning. This interview can only be found in TBL …

TBL 41 UPDATE: 
Full details of the forthcoming TBL issue 41 will be announced this afternoon May 6 at 3pm GMT… 
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Prince 1958 – 2016:

Just as last week’s TBL website update was being posted, the shocking and sad news that Prince had passed away aged 57 came through.
Another musical legend’s light has gone out…
The music of Prince defined the 1980s -brash, uncompromising, flashy, full of colour and excess.
His music first came to my notice in 1983. This was when I was ensconced in music retail. The Warner Brothers rep who called on the record store …

This via John Paul Jones’ official website:
Auction To Benefit The “Beca Angel” Program Of The Palapa Society Of Todos Santos, A.C.

During the Todos Santos Music Festival of 2016 in January, many of the musicians that played in the festival participated in the “Paint a Saint” project to raise funds for the Palapa Society “Beca” scholarship program. Each musician was given a carved wooden saint statue to paint/decorate. This special auction of the painted saint by John Paul Jones will be available through an online auction. All proceeds to benefit the …

Presence at 40:
40 years ago this week, Presence, the seventh Led Zeppelin album was released worldwide. To mark the occasion, here is a Then and Now perspective I collated for last year’s reissue – 40 years on it’s still the true heart and soul of the Led Zep catalogue…
Presence…Then:
For me personally, the Presence album is and always be tangibly associated with my own circumstances of the time. Playing out my own soap opera, as an impressionable 19 year old caught up in my first love affair played out to the soundtrack of the new Led …

Classic Rock – 100 Greatest Albums Of The 70s:
A few weeks ago, I was asked to select and write about a Led Zeppelin album to sit amongst the  100 greatest Albums Of The 70s listing Classic Rock magazine were compiling. The guidelines were as follows -don’t choose the most famous record, look for an unsung classic or hidden gem -and then justify it – in effect they were aiming for an alternative listing and not the usual choices – ie Led Zep IV, Dark Side Of The Moon etc.
I gave …

Jimmy Page & The Yardbirds 1966 – 1968 feature in new issue of Record Collector:
This from the new issue of Record Collector out March 24:
50 years ago this summer, Jimmy Page joined The Yardbirds for what would be a turbulent final two year spell. During that period the seeds of Led Zeppelin’s future success was already being sown as Dave Lewis reveals…
On the evening of Saturday, 30 July 30, 1966, all over the country celebrations were underway to mark England’s famous World Cup victory – that afternoon Bobby Moore and co …

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters – Blues…Roots And Hollers US Tour Latest:
Robert Plant and the SSS in Shreveport LA – photos and report by Suzanne McElyea.
I know many of you say Shreveport?  Why did he stop there on his Southern Journey tour?  The Shreveport Municipal Auditorium gave birth to Elvis (and the wonderful sounds from his ace guitarist James Burton).  Both of them have life size statues outside the venue and Elvis’ dressing room inside still remains the same.  This was the launching spot for Hank Williams, Johnny …