DL, the visiting Larry Bergmann Jnr and the good lady Janet- Knebworth book launch weekend in the TBL HQ kitchen, Totnes Close Bedford August 9th 2009

On the late morning of January 1st 2000, ten years back, my good friend Terry Boud and I mulled over the previous night’s festivities with a new year’s day pint (or two). We were both nursing massive hangovers and hair of the dog was required.

iPods, podcasts, Blu-ray, Wi –Fi, digital downloads, e commerce, HD, iPhones You tube and Facebook were not on the agenda that first day of the new century. We probably did mention what we had recorded on VHS the previous week, I know I had a fax machine and Terry probably had a pager. I had also just taken receipt of an ugly white Alcatel mobile phone that I had trouble switching on and was scared to use for about six months. Technology, oh yes the times they were about to change fast. 

We had watched the London Millennium celebrations the previous night that had centered on a grand live event at the newly built Millennium Dome in Greenwich.

Little did I realise as we watched the celebrations of a new decade and century unfold, that it would be this London location that would provide the highest Zep related high of the Noughties.

Seven years later it was of course Led Zeppelin’s re union appearance at the 02 at that same venue that would define the decade. Nothing comes near it for sheer power glory and emotion… and may never again.

Being a Led Zep fan has been a pretty good place to be during the last ten years. Alongside the 02 and all that surrounded that event, the other major Zep highlight was the release in 2003 of the five hour DVD and How The West Was Won album. A massive outpouring of archive material that at last provided a permanent visual and audio reminder of just why they were, are and always will be the best.

Other memorable gigs of the decade for me:  Priory of Brion Reading Hexagon 2000, that remarkable night at the Albert Hall in 2002 when Jimmy briefly turned back the clock, Robert & Strange Sensation at the Hammersmith Odeon in October 2002, Cornbury Festival in 2006 and, Bristol Fiddlers Club 2007, The Honeydrippers in Dudley 2007 and The Who at the Forum London 2004.            

As for albums, Robert’s Dreamland album, the Nine Lives Box set, Miles Davis Kind Of Blue box set, the David Crosby and Graham Nash retrospectives, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass reissue, Paul Weller Hit Parade, Sandy Denny at the BBC and The Song Remains The Same and The Who Live At Leeds revamps spring immediately to mind.

The iPod has of course revolutionised the way we listen to music and having self created playlists at the touch of the dial is a wonderful luxury. The trend of extended versions of classic albums in deluxe packaging is one that has been most welcomed here as can be seen by the choices above –I’m a sucker for those and look forward to more of the same (Exile On Main Street is high on that wish list)   

So Zep wise what can we expect in the 2010’s? Well next year looks to be shaping up very well already, with Jimmy’ intentions to get back out there and his major book project about to come to fruition (see January’s Mojo for full story), JPJ’s continued Vultures activity and Robert sure to be busy with the second Alison Krauss collaboration and more troubadour projects . Other developments? Well any wish list would include an official DVD release of the 02 show and I’m sure at some point in the next few years there will be a Beatles style remaster of the Zep catalogue and perhaps an archive DVD Vol 2 to go with it. Yes the future looks bright ahead.

For an extensive round up of Zep activity in the last decade have a look at Steve Sauer’s excellent summary at Led Zeppelin News

One more from the kitchen: Larry B ,Janet and Sam Lewis – Knebworth book launch  – August 9th 2009

As for 2009. Well for me, it’s been the best of times and the worst of times. The enforced curtailment of my long standing retail employment was a huge shock that brought dark times and increasing uncertainty. Through all that though, there have been some real highs. Most notably the Then As It Was book launch that took us back to Knebworth, a memorable weekend and more recently the  premiere of It Might Get Loud and Them Crooked Vultures at Hammersmith, both five star occasions.

What has been most encouraging this year has been the truly amazing support for myself and the Lewis family shown by so many friends far and wide. (To mark this end of year there’s some Lewis family pics here from 2009). There was also a fantastic response to the Knebworth book and thanks again to all who contributed.  

Tomorrow night when the clock strikes 12 midnight there will be a number of people in my thoughts, not least my much missed colleagues at Zavvi – But in particular I will raise a glass and take a cup of kindness for auld lang syne

to the following, who one way or another, have been an inspiration to me in 2009:

Gary, Carol and Jimmy Foy, Graeme Hutchinson, Pam Matthews, Gary Davies ,Steve Sauer, Larry Bergmann Jnr, JR, Brian Knapp, Jose Manuel Parada, Jez and Michaela Firth, Andrew Ricci, Lorraine and Michael Robertson, Cliff Hilliard, Martyn Lewis, Jerry Bloom, Nick Anderson, Mike Tremaglio, Terry Stephenson, Bill McCue, AA, Rick Barrett, Stephen Humphries, Ross Halfin, Mick Wall, Dave Ling, Richard Cole, Nicky Horne, Neil Daniels, Alan Lewis, Frank & Lou Anne Reddon, Mark Harrison, Howard Mylett, Rikky Rooksby, Luis Rey, Allesandro Borri, Alan Perry, Keith Creek, Eddie Edwards, Phil Tattershall, Raff Achour, Billy and Alison Fletcher, Dave Linwood, Simon Cadman, Pete Gozzard, Steve Jones, Geoff Adamson, Ian Avey, Julian Walker, Gerard Sparaco, Steve Way, Robin Wealleans, Krys Jantzen, Andreas Stocker, Ian Dixon, Geoff Hunt, Ollie Tooley, Mick Bulow, Phil Bushe, Nigel Glazier, Billy Kulke, Rob Ayling, Chris Welch, Chris Charlesworth, John Parkin, Mick Lowe, Micky at the post office, Alan Stutz, Max Harris, Phil Harris, Dec Hickey, Tom Locke, Dave Collins, Terry and Marian Boud, and of course the good lady Janet, Sam and Adam.

Christmas has come and gone as it does. By and large we got through it all ok, though poor Adam succumbed to a possible overload of brussel sprouts or the banality of the Royle Family on TV as he promptly threw up during the latter programme on Christmas night and was quite poorly on Boxing Day. The sound of the commentary on FIFA 10 next door from his Playstation 3 tells me he’s recovering.  Sam goes back to Norwich tomorrow for the new year and term at UEA. It’s been fantastic having her around over the past two weeks and we will be sad to see her go yet again, but it’s time to ramble on…

From Christmas Eve onwards it has been good catching up with various friends and I even managed to watch Spurs fine 2-0 victory over West ham yesterday in the Fox. Terry and I also had a splendid couple of pints listening to the DJ playing vintage vinyl in the White Horse. A theme we carried on in the evening here as the Totnes deck resounded to a multitude of LP platters including Terry’s signed Steve Marriot live album, his rare Immediate label Blues Anytime compilation featuring J.Page, a few of those awful Top Of The Pops cover version albums (the version of Queen’s Seven Seas Of Rye was a hoot!) and we all ended up watching the hilarious British 1970s bawdy comedy film Confessions Of A Pop Perfomer. It’s back to theirs tomorrow night for New Years Eve festivities where I’m informed a game of Mr and Mr’s is on the cards…got the feeling I wont be too hot on that one.

The boy Adam confirms his Dad’s age with custom built TBL inspired birthday card September 5th 2009

Then it really is down to work with a lot of ideas to bring to fruition. The next TBL magazine, a non Zep freelance project to get started and the writing of the Over Europe book.

There are big challenges ahead as I undertake the entire TBL operation again– note all future communication for all Tight But Loose matters should be directed to davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com . I’d like to take this opportunity to thank XYZ Promos for all their help over the past three years.

In 2010 there is an exciting schedule of magazines ahead, TBL 25 has been very well received and watch this space for further TBL developments. So please be sure to invest in the current issue and subscribe to the 2010 TBL magazines. Your support is crucial in moving ahead.

So as much as I look back and chronicle the heritage of this great, great band, as the singer once put it, the present and future are of paramount importance.

It’s still today’s work and tomorrow’s plans that give all of us a reason for being…rather than a reason for having been.

Thanks for your continued support of all things TBL and may I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year.