SEASONS GREETINGS FROM US TO YOU
So this is Christmas…
Like everyone the last few day here have found us scurrying around trying to sort everything before tomorrow. In between Christmas shopping, ordering the turkey etc, there’s been work on the forthcoming TBL issue 34. In particular Mike Tremaglio’s superb tour log that covers the Japan, Monteux and 1972 /3 UK tour. Here’s a pic with designer Mick Lowe at Studio Mix in Bedford last week  – Mick has done another fantastic job in supporting all the design needs of the mag etc …

 
JIMMY PAGE CONVERATION WITH KIRSTY LANG ON BBC WORLD SERVICE ON CHRISTMAS DAY
THe BBC World Service will be airing the full version of Kirsty Lang’s interview with Jimmy Page on Christmas Day – a highlight of which was broadcast last month. See links at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-20337875
Here’s a highlight clip:

JOHN PAUL JONES ON BBC RADIO 3 ON NEW YEARS DAY
This via the BBC 3 website:
Fiona Talkington celebrates the New Year with special guest, multi-instrumentalist and Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, who plays live and chooses a selection of music on BBC Radio 3 …

Here’s the links and clips from Anthony Mason’s Sunday Morning CBS TV interview with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones aired on Sunday December 16th.
Preview Black Dog clip:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137102n
Preview Interview clip:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137175n
Full interview:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50137219n
…and the You Tube clip of the full interview…

 ROBERT JOINS PATTY GRIFFIN ON STAGE:
This report via Chad Swiatecki at Rolling Stone .com
December 16, 2012 12:10 PM ET After roughly a half-hour of soulful, confessional solo material on Saturday night, roots singer Patty Griffin paused to introduce her “driver” to the couple hundred fans packed into Austin’s tiny Continental Club.
“Three years ago …

It was sad to hear of the passing of Ravi Shanker age 92, the virtuoso sitar player who influenced so many Western musicians most notably George Harrison – Jimmy Page was also an early convert of Indian musical instruments .
As Jimmy revealed on his official website on the this day entry for 4 Feb 1967:
At the end of the Yardbirds tour of Australia, there were two options to return to England: one, which was chosen by the rest of the band, was to route through San Francisco; but I chose to …

Five years gone….
Yes five years ago today lucky fans from across the world converged on to the 02 Arena in London to witness the live return of Led Zeppelin for one night only in memory of Ahmet Ertegun.
Of course though the wonder of the Celebration Day film, in recent months millions of fans worldwide have been able to share in the magic of  that glorious night.
To mark the occasion, reproduced below are some thoughts from fans present on the night plus the press reaction at the time and the reflections …

CLASSIC ROCK AND GUITAR WORLD NEW ISSUES:
Two more cover story magazines hit the news stands this week. Classic Rock January 13 issue 179 has Led Zeppelin as the cover act on one of five cover choices (Black Country Communion, Rival Sons, Rush and The Rolling Stones are the others) as the magazine determines who has been band of the year.  It includes interviews with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones plus a piece by me on the impending reissue project.

Guitar World has a similar Ross Halfin New York photo session pic …

DAVID LETTERMAN LATE SHOW:
Last night’s taping of the David Letterman Late show featured an interview with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones –
This report of the Letterman taping via Steve Sauer:
http://www.ledzeppelinnews.com/
The elusive third chair was brought out to the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater for today’s “Late Show,” to accommodate the Led Zeppelin threesome of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The standard two-chair setup returned for the interview with actor John Krasinski of “The Office,” an unabashed Led Zeppelin fan who, as it turned …

President Obama’s opening tribute speech at the Kennedy Centre Honours Gala was streamed live last night. Many thanks to Barbara Cain who provided the link via Facebook. It was very exciting to hear these events unfolding in the UK and once again made us all so very proud to be Led Zeppelin fans…
President Obama talked affectionately about Led Zeppelin acknowledging their influence – and also tipping a hat to their rock’ n’ roll antics …
Here is the President’s opening tribute speech:
THE PRESIDENT: Everybody, please have a seat. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. Well, good evening, …

First reports and photos of  Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones a the State Department Dinner for the Kennedy Honours Gala.
Some great photos here…this makes me very proud to be a Led Zeppelin fan and it will you too…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2241738/Say-cheese-Hillary-Clinton-Meryl-Streep-pose-photo-Oscar-winners-iPhone-Kennedy-Center-Honors-gala.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Jimmy, Robert and John with Buddy Guy – photos via AP
How proud do I feel to be a Led Zeppelin fan today as they receive the Kennedy Honours award  -have to say I’ve been welling up looking at those photos…….as Mark Harrison commented – how proud must they and their familes …

STOP PRESS: NEWS UPDATE – LED ZEPPELIN TO BE INTERVIEWED ON THE DAVID LETTERMAN LATE SHOW:
News Update: Following their Kennedy Honours Gala, Jimmy Page,  Robert Plant and John Paul Jones will appear  on the David Letterman Late Show which is aired at 11.35pm on Monday on CBS.
See details at
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2012/11/led-zeppelin-gives-rare-interview-to-david-letterman.html
Thanks Terry Stephenson for link info.
LED ZEPPELIN TO RECEIVE KENNEDY CENTER HONOURS THIS WEEKEND
This weekend Led Zeppelin along with Bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova will be honoured by Washington’s John F. Kennedy Centre …