A couple of high profile Zep related news stories are doing the rounds – here’s the first one via Rolling Stone.com
Bill Clinton Sought Led Zeppelin Reunion for Sandy Benefit:
Even a former president couldn’t bring Led Zeppelin back together: Bill Clinton approached the rockers about reuniting for the “12-12-12” Hurricane Sandy benefit last year, but group turned down the request. According to a 60 Minutes Overtime segment, David Saltzman of the Robin Hood Foundation – the recipients of the “12-12-12” benefit – and film executive Harvey Weinstein flew to Washington D.C. to …

 
TBL 35 – COMING SOON:
The forthcoming new issue of the TBL magazine –issue 35 is in progress now for publication next month. The cover is a classic shot from the June 2nd 1973 Kezar Stadium gig taken by Dan Cuny.
 This issue kick starts the TBL 2013 subscription offer.
There are some new subscribing initiatives underway with this issue .
Every subscriber will receive a free 10×8 individually numbered print of a unique Led Zeppelin image. 
A new feature of the TBL magazine – each issue will be individually signed and numbered creating a …

 The new single from Patty Griffin Ohio is out now with guest vocals from Robert Plant – this via Rolling Stone:
Patty Griffin’s dreamy, nostalgic video for “Ohio” artfully combines intriguing design with earnest folk music. Directed and designed by Roy Taylor, the video’s backdrop is made entirely from cut paper and pulled from the history books.
“I wanted to portray the overwhelming desire to reunite with family and loved ones and the spirit of those who helped,” Griffin tells Rolling Stone. “Visuals were inspired by historical images such as the false …

ROBERT PLANT PRESENTS THE SENSATIONAL SPACE SHIFTERS
 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES CONFIRMED
 Robert Plant Presents the Sensational Space Shifters has announced its first North American tour dates. This dynamic and powerful new incarnation of Plant’s musical vision has been touring the world, most recently in Australia and New Zealand. The Brisbane Times said “What’s going on is further proof that Plant is far more imaginative, playful and adventurous than any cliche, a man who’s absorbed all the music he’s loved and played and sought out the musicians to explore that,” while Adelaide …

All at TBL are very sad to hear the passing of Storm Thorgerson age 69.
As a part of the Hipgnosis design team working with Aubrey Powell aka Po, Storm was responsible for many iconic album sleeve designs notably of course for Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
Storm and Po were responsible for the sleeve designs of Houses Of The Holy, Presence, The Song Remains The Same Soundtrack, In Through The Out Door and Coda. They also designed Robert Plant’s Principal Of Moments album sleeve.
When I interviewed Aubrey Powell a few weeks …

Led Zeppelin: Sound And Fury: Photo by Neal Preston
Renowned rock photographer Neal Preston was granted unprecedented access to Led Zeppelin during the band’s touring heyday, grants similar access to fans in Led Zeppelin: Sound and Fury, a digital book released this week (iBookstore, $9.99). Here’s a preview you tube clip:
Neal Preston Led Zeppelin

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Jimmy on Joe Meek:
Here’s a clip of Jimmy talking about Joe Meek for a forthcoming documentary on the 1960s studio wizard…

 
Robert Plant down under…this review from Duncan Watson
Wellington TSB Bank Arena, April 9 2013
This was the first time …

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, …

Deborah Bonham Band at Milton Keynes Stables:
Following their hugely successful charity show with Paul Rodgers in Chichester, The Deborah Bonham band tour reaches The Stables in Milton Keynes on Thursday night. Support comes from the excellent Steve Rodgers. See http://www.steverodgersmusic.com/index.html
Deb’s new album Spirit is available on the tour as a pre release digi-pack  CD limited edition. The album features Band of Joy drummer Marco Giovano and Robert Plant makes a guest contribution on the track What it Feels.
In an interview featured in the last TBL issue Deborah told me how pleased she …

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 …