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SAVING GRACE HACKNEY EMPIRE REVIEW/LZ NEWS/ ROBERT ON BBC 6 MUSIC/BUXTON 94/ MEADOWLANDS 95/ DL 53 YEARS OF MUSICAL PASSION/ DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

15 April 2022 1,822 views 3 Comments
My thoughts on Saving Grace featuring Robert Plant & Suzi Dian
Hackney Empire – Monday April 11, 2022
This one has been a long time coming. Last July I had planned to meet with the late much missed Andy Adams for the Bexhill gig but was unable to make it. The good lady Janet and I then booked front row tickets for the August 2 Birmingham Symphony Hall gig. However that one was postponed due to Covid issues -by the time the gig was rescheduled for December 16 Janet was struggling badly with her leg so that one was not feasible either.
So finally to Hackney and with Adam keeping an eye on Janet back here, I was able to zip away for a night of Saving Grace.
This was the 123rd occasion I’ve seen Robert perform live over the past 51 years and the first time in over three years – the last being the Saving Grace support set to Fairport Convention at the St Albans Arena in February 2019.
So it was a combination of much relief and joy when Saving Grace took to the stage in the confines of the rather splendid Hackney Empire last night.
From the moment Robert Plant and Suzi Dian sauntered up to the mics and oozed into a compelling Win My Train Fare Home (from his Dreamland album) this unit of wonderful musicians (Robert Plant and Suzi Dian – vocals, Oli Jefferson – percussion, Tony Kelsey – mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, vocals and Matt Worley – banjo, cuatro, acoustic and baritone guitars, vocals) had the London audience in the palm of their hands.
Suzi Dian is every bit an effective and inspiring vocal foil for Robert as Alison Krauss – for me personally even more so as the purity of her vocal style brings a delightful Englishness to the proceedings – one of the best examples being a beautifully understated romp through Donovan’s Season of The Witch.
Other highlights and there were many, included the hybrid version of Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down/In My Time Of Dying – Robert echoing out that ‘’Meet me Jesus meet me” refrain with all the mastery that he bought to the Led Zeppelin studio version back in their glorious day.
It was also great to hear the cover of Low’s Monkey from the Band Of Joy album performed with raw intensity. Plant’s love of the west coast sound was fulfilled by a lilting take on Moby Grape’s It’s A Beautiful Day.
Best of all for me was a shimmering delivery of Down To The Sea from the Fate Of Nations album – Suzi taking to the accordion to add the required quirkiness to the arrangement.
They signed off with a jaunty encore stroll through the Los Lobos cover Angel Dance and then an all around the mic harmony led And We Bid You Goodnight
London duly bid Saving Grace goodnight with a much deserved standing ovation.
Summary – a wonderful evening in the company of a seasoned collective of musicians able to drift with effortless ease across English folk and Americana.
As for Robert Plant – he really is singing as good if not better than ever – all the nuances and vocal control that lit up the first of my 123 occasions that I’ve been lucky enough to see him perform live, way back at the Empire Pool Wembley on a freezing November night in 1971, were present and correct.
Some 51 years later on this warm spring April evening, it was again a privilege and pleasure to be sharing a room with him, Suzi and Saving Grace.
If you are doing the same on the remaining UK dates over the coming days – you really are in for an absolute treat…
Dave Lewis. April 12,2022
Pics by Krys Jantzen
Many thanks to Steve Livesley and Krys Jantzen for their great company – and it was also great to see Paul Stevenson and his lady, John Gunne, Andreas Stocker, Dave Fox and Rudi O’ Keefe.

 


LZ News:

Here’s the latest round up from LZ News:

Led Zeppelin

  • Previously unseen photos of Led Zeppelin performing in Seattle on July 17, 1977 were published online.

Jimmy Page

  • Jimmy Page has said that he is “working on various paths and routes of projects”. Speaking to Classic Rock Magazine for its 300th issue, Page hinted at plans to release a new solo album.  “There’s various things I’m working towards,” he said. “It’s not just one thing, it’s multiple things, and I don’t want to even give a hint.” Veteran subscribers of these emails will know that Page has repeatedly claimed to be working on solo projects in recent years but none have materialised.
  • Jimmy Page reportedly declined to appear on Ozzy Osbourne’s new album. That’s according to Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith who does appear on the new album. He told the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast that “we tried to get Jimmy Page, we tried to get the holy trinity, but I don’t think Page plays anymore too much, unfortunately.” You can listen to that podcast episode here.

Robert Plant

Upcoming events:

2022 – “Robert Plant: A Life In Vision,” a photo book edited by Dave Lewis, will be published.
April 11 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in London, England.
April 14 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Hull, England.
April 15 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Scunthorpe, England.
April 16 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in York, England.
April 17 – Robert Plant will present his second episode of Iggy Pop’s BBC Radio 6 Music show.
April 18 – The first episode of the fifth season of Robert Plant’s podcast “Digging Deep” will be released.
April 19 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Bewdley, England.
April 20 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Rhyl, Wales.
April 22 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Liverpool, England.
April 24 – Robert Plant will present his third episode of Iggy Pop’s BBC Radio 6 Music show.
April 25 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Middlesbrough, England.
April 26 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Halifax, England.
April 27 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Stockport, England.
April 29 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Aberystwyth, Wales.
May 1 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival in Cheltenham, England.
May 7 – The Black Country Beats exhibition at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which is set to include Robert Plant’s career, will open.
May 13 – The Tunespeak competition to win tickets for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ US tour will close.
June 1 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Canandaigua, New York and Jimmy Page and Scarlett Sabet will be interviewed on stage at Hay Festival in Wales.
June 2 – Jimmy Page will be interviewed on stage at Hay Festival in Wales.
June 3 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Saratoga Springs, New York.
June 4 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Forest Hills, New York.
June 6 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Clarkston, Michigan.
June 7 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Chicago, Illinois.
June 9 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Indianapolis, Indiana.
June 11 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Columbia, Maryland.
June 12 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
June 14 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Cary, North Carolina.
June 16 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 17 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee.
June 22-26 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, England.
June 26 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at BST Hyde Park in London, England.
June 29 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at Roskilde Festival in Roskilde, Denmark.
July 1 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Hamar, Norway.
July 2 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Bergen, Norway.
July 5 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Rättvik, Sweden.
July 8 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at Cactusfestival in Bruges, Belgium.
July 10 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Royal Park Live festival in Baarn, Netherlands.
July 14 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Lucca Summer Festival in Lucca, Italy.
July 16 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at JazzOpen Stuttgart 2022 in Stuttgart, Germany.
July 18 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Sopot, Poland.
July 20 – Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform in Berlin, Germany.
September 4 – The Black Country Beats exhibition at the Wolverhampton Art Gallery, which is set to include Robert Plant’s career, will close.
October 19 – The French translation of “Led Zeppelin By Led Zeppelin” will be published.
Early 2023 – “A Whole Lotta Music: Life To My Ears,” the memoirs of Tight But Loose editor Dave Lewis, will be published.
2023 – A remastered and expanded 30th anniversary edition of “Coverdale–Page” will be released.

Many thanks to James Cook 

The complete Led Zeppelin News email goes out periodically. To receive it sign up here:http://tinyletter.com/LedZepNews

Led Zeppelin News Website: Check out the Led Zeppelin news website at

http://ledzepnews.com/


Robert Plant on BBC Radio 6 Music:
Here’s the line up of Robert Plant’s truly excellent first BBC 6 Music show standing in for Iggy Pop – here’s to next week’s show…
The ’n Betweens
You Better Run
2
Listen
You Better Run
3
Lulu
I’ll Come Running Over
4
The Pretty Things
Don’t Bring Me Down
5
Danny Rivers & The Rivermen
Movin’ In
6
Faron’s Flamingos
See If She Cares
7
Billy Fury
Baby How I Cried
8
The Poets
I Love Her Still
9
Dusty Springfield
Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone
10
Donovan
Barabajagal (Love Is Hot)
11
Small Faces
Come On Children
12
Bob Dylan
Down the Highway
13
This Mortal Coil
Song To The Siren
14
Cowboy Junkies
Powderfinger
15
Lucinda Williams
Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
16
Calexico
Not Even Stevie Nicks
17
Skip Spence
Diana
18
Patty Griffin
Trapeze
19
Townes Van Zandt
Dollar Bill Blues
20
Terry Reid
Superlungs My Supergirl
21
Mississippi Fred McDowell
You Gotta Move
22
Terry Reid
Tinker Taylor

SEARCHING FOR JIMMY PAGE: A NOVEL BY CHRISTY ALEXANDER HALLBERG

FREE ZOOM EVENT

APRIL 20, 2022, 4-5 PM EST

 Join Christy Alexander Hallberg, author of the award-winning novel Searching for Jimmy Page (published by Livingston Press, October 2021), and co-host Nathan D. Duvall, host of Lucid on 103.3 Asheville FM, for a special Zoom event at 4 PM EST April 20, 2022 to celebrate the six-month birthday and second printing of the novel super groupie Pamela Des Barres calls an “engrossing rockin’ tale” that “captures the mysterious compelling enigma that is Jimmy Page.”

Take a visual trip to various Led Zeppelin-related landmarks that are instrumental in the novel, hear the backstory and genesis of the book, and listen to a short reading from Searching for Jimmy Page by the author.

As an added bonus we’ll be joined by two very special guests who will share some of their personal stories about working with Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin: Chris Charlesworth is a former Melody Maker journalist (interviewed Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Iggy Pop, and countless others), author of the blog Just Backdated and over a dozen books on various Rock legends. Chris is also a former executive producer for The Who and David Bowie’s former publicist at RCA Records (from 1979-1981). Stuart Epps is a record producer and audio engineer who has worked with such legends as Led Zeppelin (Coda), The Firm (first album), Elton John, Bad Company, and George Harrison, just to name a few.

This Zoom event is free but you must register to attend. Registration automatically enters you to win an autographed copy of Searching for Jimmy Page. Don’t miss out on this event!

 Register here: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/contact


TBL Archive Special Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Alexis Korner benefit show in Buxton – 28 years gone… 

28 years ago on Sunday April 17th 1994, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed together for the first time in four years at a special memorial concert for Alexis Korner. This was the first sighting of the newly reunited Page & Plant on stage -they were already rehearsing  for their MTV Unledded project which would eventually see them perform two special shows at the London TV Studios on August 25th and 26th. Robert Plant had initially been billed to appear but the rumour mill was soon in overdrive that he would be joined by Jimmy.

alexis 1

I had already cleared the way to attend when it was announced in early March Robert would be performing. Even up to the day it was uncertain to what was actually going to happen but when the TBL crew of Gary, Kam and I we arrived at the venue in the late afternoon there was no doubt that Jimmy Page was going to be in the house.

So it was in the unlikely setting of the Buxton Opera House we watched in some wonderment as Bob Harris introduced the pair and the long awaited reunion of the pair was on. They kicked off with a cover of Them’s Baby Please Don’t Go and then on to a very authentic I Can’t Quite You Baby ably assisted by Charlie Jones on bass and the late great Michael Lee on drums – my review of the time noting that he ‘’crashed and clattered in all the right places’’ –something he would do throughout the P & P re-alliance between now and 1998.

Ah the review…Alongside feeding back for TBL, I was reporting in it for Kerrang !then the main rock music paper and  given the low key nature of the event I was billed as an ‘’undercover Big K! reporter’ – ooerr!

My review went on to reveal they then played an up-tempo blues jam built around Don’t Stop Me Talkin’ and then a loose instrumental work out with definite Crunge like leanings.

Here’s some extracts from my review:

alexsis 3

And finally ’’At least two people haven’t played this song before’’joked Plant as Jimmy stepped on the wah wah pedal and teased out the intro to the classic Train Kept A Rollin’, a track Jimmy used to play with The Yardbirds before he formed Zeppelin and the same number that Zep used to open their set on their last tour in Europe 1980. Inevitably this one was met with a huge roar of appreciation and was performed with an irrepressible swagger that recalled so many past glories. And with that Page and Plant were gone..

This comeback proved conclusively that Page and Plant are more than happy to be back in each other’s company rekindling a partnership that was responsible for so much great music in the past. And judging from a delightful telling moment when Jimmy skipped around the stage chugging out a fierce blues riff against Robert’s incessant scat singing – the potential for this new alliance is awesome. Buxton might just have signalled a whole new beginning for the post –Zep era’.

Pleasingly that latter statement proved to be somewhat prophetic. By the end of August the pair had recorded in various locations and performed the memorable Unledded concerts which formed the contents of the No Quarter Unledded film aired on MTV in October and accompanied by the release of the soundtrack album.  The next year they hooked up with the Egyptian Ensemble and orchestra for an ambitious world tour that delighted audiences across the globe.

The initial spark of all this reunion activity occurred on this remarkable Sunday evening in the Derbyshire countryside all of 28 years ago.

Dave Lewis – April 15 2022

TBL Archive 2:

TBL Archive – it was 34 years ago this week…
SUNDAY APRIL 17 1988
LONDON, ENGLAND
HAMMERSMITH ODEON

34 years ago this week I was very lucky to attend this Robert Plant gig during his Now And Zen UK tour
Jimmy Page joined Robert and his band for an extended cameo appearance – it was an unexpected delight for all those lucky enough to be in attendance. Originally scheduled to play on three encore numbers, Jimmy stayed on stage for half an hour, performing a stunning ‘Tramped Underfoot’, ‘Gamblers Blues’ (including snippets of ‘I Can’t Quit You’ and ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’) and ‘Rock And Roll’. It was absolutely sensational. ..an unforgettable night when the Page & Plant on stage chemistry was right before my eyes all over again …something I did not expect to see…

DL – April 15 2022


TBL Archive 3:

Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – Back in the USA – 27 years gone

 

27  years ago this spring , Jimmy Page & Robert Plant were on the first leg of their Unledded No Quarter tour. The tour opened in Pensacola and ran through until Vancouver on May 26 before moving into Europe, going back to America and eventually ending in Australia and Japan in early 1996

Given all that has happened since, not least the 02 reunion, the Celebration Day film and the Zep reissues, it’s easy to forget the impact this reunion had at the time. 15 years on from their last tour together, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant recaptured the imagination of Zep fans around the world. On stage they extended the creative edge of the MTV Unledded shows and combined it with the dynamic rock foundation that Led Zeppelin built their reputation on. The deployment of the Egyptian ensemble and orchestra added a unique exotic edge. I was lucky enough to see two shows at the Brendan Byrne Arena Meadowlands on April 5th and 6th. Along with thousands of other fans, it was massively exciting to be given the opportunity to see and hear the Zeppelin catalogue re interpreted with such  panache and viguor by the principal songwriters of much of the original material.

To mark the 27th anniversary here’s my on the spot report from Meadowlands Arena that first appeared in a TBL Newsletter in May 1995..and some posts from my Facebook page:

It was 27 years ago today…

27 years ago today on April 6 ,1995, I was lucky enough to be in New York to attend the April 6 and 7 1995 performances by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. Gary Foy and I travelled on a group trip from a company in Rotherham – it was all very well organised.

We also hooked up with a fair few fans including Dardo Simone and photographer Larry Ratner who published the Led Zeppelin Live Dreams photo book.

This was my only trip to the US and it was absolutely mind blowing. The crowd reaction on both nights was truly remarkable.

……………………..

 

Here’s my review that appeared in Mojo…

It was 27  years ago today…

26 years ago today I was lucky enough to be in New York for the second performance by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey.

During the day Gary Foy and I were taken around the Greenwich Village area by our very gracious hosts Larry Ratner and Kim.

We visited Electric Lady Studios and the offices of Atlantic Records. Here’s a pic taken inside Electric Lady Studios in front of the studio console and by the Jimi Hendrix backdrop mural. It was incredible to be inside the very studio Hendrix had created his magic…and where Led Zeppelin visited in June 1972…such great memories from this New York visit all of 26 years ago today..

From my Facebook page April 7…

27  years ago today I was lucky enough to be in New York for the second performance by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. The very kind folks at Atlantic Records secured us second row centre seats.

In this photo taken I think by Christophe Le Pabic behind the stage – I can be seen in the second row looking up at Jimmy,Robert and the late great Michael Lee just above Jimmy’s guitar neck.

Unsurprisingly, this occasion is right up there in my all-time fave gigs…they were simply astonishing that night all of 27  years ago…what a memory…

And more Page & Plant…

TBL Archive :Jimmy Page & Robert Plant: US Tour 1995.

Here is a piece that originally ran in TBL 11:

With the MTV film in the can, the next logical move was to take the show out on the road.,

The pair decided to extend the formula used for the MTV shows, employing the Egyptian string and percussion ensemble led by Hossam Ramzy and dubbed The Egyptian Pharaohs. Under the direction of Ed Shearmur they enlisted the assistance of local orchestras in each area they performed, thus enabling them to repeat the successful formula used for the Unledded filming which allowed fresh interpretations of the Zeppelin catalogue.

Just prior to the tour opening in February, Page and Plant reunited with John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham for an appearance at New York’s Waldorf hotel to accept Led Zeppelin’s induction into the Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Fame. Jonesy’s comment – “Thanks for my friends for remembering my phone number” – during his speech was a curt acknowledgement of his displeasure at being ignored.

Rehearsals for the Page Plant tour took place in London, and a preview of what was in store occurred when the pair did a live link up for the American TV Awards, performing ‘Black Dog’.

In early April I was lucky enough to catch their two day stint at the Meadowlands Arena in America (see my review for Mojo below). The second night where they strolled on to the stage and moved into ‘Thank You’ remains a defining memory. Further shows in Paris, Glasgow, Sheffield, St Austell, Poole, Birmingham and London proved conclusively that despite their advancing years the duo’s ability to recreate the power and grace of Zeppelin was without question.

It was a glorious period as long time fans and those too young to have seen Zep in their prime revelled in what was all in name the Zeppelin reunion we had all hoped for. By the tour’s end it was evident that Jimmy Page was playing better than at any time during the previous fifteen years. Indeed for a project that began as a request to strum a few Zep tunes unledded style for MTV’s acoustic showcase, when played live night after night this reappraisal of the Zeppelin catalogue developed into a fully ledded experience. A trend that would continue when they returned to the live action in 1998.

With so many tapes at our disposal, there is ample scope to take a retrospective view of the tour. Having listened to hours of material drawn from the many tapes of the tour, I have compiled an imaginary four-CD compilation that takes in all the major developments along the way. It includes the one-off gems slotted in, the stand-out performances, the offbeat sequences and all the historic moments building into a true overview of the entire tour. It features 53 extracts drawn from 26 different locations spread over 28 shows; nearly five hours of musical Page and Plant highlights that capture the often barely believable events that thousands of fans were privileged to enjoy during those 370 days.

So this is Page and Plant on tour together at last in 1995 and 1996. Proving conclusively that the evolution of Led Zeppelin continues…

Part One

CD1: US Tour First Leg:

Intro: Tales of Bron – Robin Williamson poem

‘Immigrant Song’ intro/’The Wanton Song’

(Thompson Bowling Arena, Knoxville, Tenessee, March 3 1995)

The previous date in Atlanta had seen the amalgamation of ‘Immigrant Song’into ‘Wanton Song’ as the set opener. On that occasion they had some trouble sorting out the ending (it was after all the first live airing of ‘Wanton Song’ in 20 years!). In Knoxville it all came together with Page leading the way with some dexterous runs. The atmospheric opening introduction poem that proceeded became a familiar opening ritual to a majority of the US first leg and some European dates. The choice of the little known Incredible String Band album extract recalled Plant’s fondness for this Sixties outfit, and by the time Robin Williamson had got to the line “There is the flavoured haunt of pleasure, no haunt or threat or malediction, but sweet of music strikes the air” the fans knew what was coming next as the silhouettes on stage burst into life.

‘Wanton Song’ went on to become the favoured set opener, clocking over 80 performances during the tour.

Achilles Last Stand’

(The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia, February 28 1995)

‘Achilles’ was always a prime contender for reworking on this tour so it was no real surprise when it turned up in the set lists of the two opening dates in Pensacola and Atlanta. More baffling was the fact it was never played again. On the evidence of the passion they brought to this performance there appears no logical reason why. It was a more than competent display that kicked along with all the verve of the best Zep deliveries circa 1977.  Robert introduced it as “One of the first songs Jimmy and I wrote relating to travel” – a similar spiel would be given over to introducing The Song Remains The Same which effectively took over the Achilles slot the next night.

Watching the video shot from the show, it’s clear they were enjoying reliving this crucial Zep track – the pair could be seen clustered together in a classic pose during the “Aha… Aha” refrain.

At times the February 28 delivery of ‘Achilles Last Stand’ recreated the spirit of Led  Zeppelin better than any other single performance on the tour. Maybe that’s why they decided to drop it. Perhaps they both felt it was just a little too close to what went before…

‘House Of The Rising Son’/‘Good times Bad Times’

( UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisanna, March 11 1995)

From the moment Plant casually walked up to the mic and oozed into the traditional local blues standard ‘House Of The Rising Sun’, this second night in New Orleans was destined to be special.

They then switched straight into ‘Good Times Bad Times’, the only performance of the rarely played Led Zep I opener. And it was a joy to hear them rumble through the familiar stops and starts of the track with Michael Lee on drums proving his worth.

‘Lullaby’

(UNO Lakefront Arena New Orleans Louisanna March 11 1995)

When the first set lists were posted on the Internet many presumed this was a new song and listed it as ‘Spiderman’. In actual fact  it was a revivial from Porl Thompson’s Cure days. It worked as an offbeat interlude amongst the Zep numbers with Plant immersed in the lyric and Page cutting fine precise lines against Porl’s rhythm work. ‘Lullaby’ survived in the set until the early part of the Europran dates before being deleted.

‘The Song Remains The Same’

(UNO Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Lousinna, March 11 1995)

“There’s a ….”

At the beginning of this mid-period Zep classic, Plant twice taunted the crowd with the opening line from the well known Rolf Harris cover. Instead Page led them into a powerful rendition of the Houses Of The Holy opener. This was a definite highlight of the US leg with Page and Porl Thompson trading licks most effectively, with the latter’s speed on the Gibson jumbo guitar really pushing the song along. Plant reached the high notes with ease as it led it into a glorious finale. “Can you feel it?” asked the singer afterwards. Absolutely.

Tangerine’/’Hey Hey What Can I Do’

(US Air Arena, Landover, Washington, March 23 1995)

Two superb performances lined up back to back during this show. ‘Tangerine’ made its only appearance on this leg performed in a full band arrangement. The crowd reaction as Page hit the familiar notes was nothing less than euphoric. Porl played some suitably laid back electric parts against Page’s Ovation acoustic strumming. A nostalgic first outing for the Zep III standard that was last performed live twenty years back at Earls Court.

The underrated Zep III leftover (and subsequent US B side to ‘Immigrant Song’) ‘Hey Hey What Can I Do’ was another revelation with the crowd egarly joining in the chorus. Videos from the tour of this track show Page beaming with pride and duck walking along the stage.

Boogie Chillun’ sequence

(Skydome Arena, Toronto, March 27 1995)

“One night I was laying down”… The John Lee Hooker standard was an integral part of the ‘Whole Lotta Love’ medley in the Zeppelin era. This was its only appearance on the tour, emerging during the ‘Calling To You’ medley. The way it developed out of a lengthy Page solo was invigorating and for those in attendance a rare revival for another part of the Zep live canon.

059

‘Calling To You’ including ‘Break On Through’/’As Long As I Have You’/

Dazed And Confused’ inserts

(Brendan Byrne Arena, Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey, April 6 1995)

‘Calling To You’ had previously been a highlight of Plant’s Fate Of Nations tour. With Jimmy on board it quickly developed into an extended piece that included a compelling guitar battle with Porl, a seminal riff exercise and then into an anything-could-happen medley sequence in the grand Zep tradition. This night in Meadowlands was exceptional for the inclusion of Garnett Mimms ‘As Long As I Have You’, a staple of the first two Zeppelin American tours but not performed by Page or Plant since. It followed the now customary delivery of The Doors’ ‘Break On Through’ and then merged with a few lines from ‘Dazed And Confused’. Another  memorable sequence.

‘Shake My Tree’

(Great Western Forum, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, May 17 1995)

On the face of it this was a rather bizarre choice for inclusion on the tour. A highlight of the 1993 Coverdale Page album, it says much of Plant’s compatibility with Page at the time that he agreed to sing the Coverdale lyrics, albeit in a slightly amended form. ‘Shake’ was actually a great riff exercise which allegedly was first conceived during the Zep In Through The Out Door sessions. On stage it gave Plant the chance to pull out the old “Suck it!” refrain at appropriate moments and for Page to weave those weird sounds from the theremin.

‘Kashmir’

(Great Western Forum, Inglewood Los Angeles, California, May 17 1995)

When Page and Plant breezed back into the Forum some 17 years after the night of Listen To This Eddie, a tradition of spontaneity was upheld. During ‘Kashmir’ they were joined by guest violinist Lili Hayden who brought a impulsive virtuoso feel to the end section as she pitted her talents against the Egyptian Pharaohs. “Ladies and gentlemen Lili Hayden appears at the Viper Room in Holly wood every Sunday night,” Plant informed the audience at the close.

Dave Lewis

Part 2 to follow


It was 53 years ago….53 years of DL musical passion:

It was 53 years ago around the April Easter period, The Beatles released their first single of 1969. Get Back coupled with Don’t Let Me Down – these tracks had been recorded in January during the infamous Get Back sessions.

This is a significant release for me as this is the record that attracted me back to music – an attraction that has grown manifold over the past 53 years.

I say ‘back to’ as aged 7 I did have a brief flirtation with music mainly focused on The Dave Clark Five. I was pretty obsessed with Dave Clark’s drumming skills and replicated his drum kit in our garden using old paint tin cans. Glad All Over remains one of my all time fave singles. The first live concert I ever saw was a package night at the Granada Cinema featuring The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Hollies and more on April 10,1964.

However this passion was eroded somewhat by other distractions such as Thunderbirds, The Man From Uncle, James Bond and from 1966 Tottenham Hotspur and football in general. My love of music took a back seat and remained somewhat dormant until that Easter of 1969.

Back then in the local café there was a juke box – sixpence for two goes. My gang were often in there and one of the records that was played constantly from the moment it was released was Get Back. Now this I liked – really liked. I liked its driving rhythm, bustling drumming ,cool vocal with talk of ‘’Sweet Loretta martin thought she was a woman’’ and Billy Preston’s rolling keyboards.

I also loved the B side Don’t Let Me Down which was also often played on the juke box. The pleading vocal of John Lennon hit the mark every time.

I was well aware who The Beatles were of course. I had been to see both the Hard Days Night and Help films at the cinema. Anyone growing up in the 60s could not really avoid them – they were everywhere. My interest in them though had been from afar.

That all changed when I heard Get Back. A little over a month after this release The Beatles had another single in the charts titled The Ballad of John And Yoko. I loved this one too.

One of the distinctive aspects of these Beatles records was that the label depicted a green apple, while the B side was the core of an Apple. I quickly learned that the Beatles now released records on their own Apple label. I thought this design was a deft touch – it ignited something in me that would lead to a deep fasciation for actual record labels, designs and sleeves. It all went hand in hand with the affinity I developed for the long playing record and 45 RPM single.

I could not get enough of all this. As the song goes music was now my first love – big time. I wanted to hear it, read about it, and talk about it. Remarkably, in a matter of five years I would be selling it.

From that moment of hearing and admiring Get Back grew an intense passion. I avidly read the NME and other music papers, I listened to Alan Freeman’s Pick of the Pops chart show every weekon Radio One. I kept right up to date with all the weekly chart happenings and my appreciation of so much music grew and grew – The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Who, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Free, Family, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young, Jethro Tull to name but a few, all appeared on my musical radar during the next few months – and stayed there.

Of course there was one other act  of much importance as all this would lead me to the biggest passion of all – Led Zeppelin. And anyone reading this will realise the immense consequence of all that. For me, this was not just a band…it was a way of life.

When I could afford it I began buying singles and albums – The Who’s Pinball Wizard and the Island Records sampler LP You Can All Join In being amongst my first purchases in this new era. Many more would follow.

The Beatles Get Back single was announced via a very clever press advert. It described this new record with a series of incisive phrases.

It carried the headline The Beatles as nature intended. It read as follows:

‘’Get Back’’ is The Beatles new single. It’s the first Beatles record which is as live as can be in this electronic age.

There’s no electric watchamaclit.

‘’Get Back’’ is a pure springtime number.

On the other side there’s an equally live number ‘’Don’t let me down.’’

Paul’s got this to say about Get Back…

‘’we were sitting in the studio and we made it up out of thin air. We started to write words there and then …when we finished it we recorded it at Apple Studios and made it into a song to rollercoast by’’.

P.S. John adds its john playing the fab live guitar solo.

An now John on Don’t Let Me Down.

John says don’t let me down about ‘’Don’t let me down’’

In ‘’Get Back’’ and’’ Don’t let me down’’ you’ll find The Beatles as nature intended.

I could easily apply my then new found enthusiasm with the same statement because it rely did feel like I had found redemption in music – as nature intended.

53 years on nothing has changed – music is the DNA that defines who I am and what I do. In sharing it over the years, it has built friendships and created much camaraderie. As of now I am officially celebrating 53 years of music passion.

So thank you dear Beatles for opening the music floodgates for me that Easter all of 53 years ago.

Oh and John…I did not let you down about Don’t let me down – and you never let me down either….

Dave Lewis – April  15 2022

……….

DL Diary Blog Update:

Saturday April 9:

Saturday is platterday…on the player the 1977 Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane album Rough Mix and sounding mighty fine…

Sunday April 10: 

The N’Betweens later to be Slade and Listen with Robert Plant performing You Better Run ( a single I am lucky enough to own) and then Lulu I’ll Come Running Over with Jimmy Page on guitar followed by The Pretty Things Don’t Bring Me Down – what a great start to Robert Plant’s BBC 6 show…

 

 

Monday April 11:

In Hackney for Saving Grace featuring Robert Plant and Suzi Dian and feeling very blessed – my first Robert Plant gig for three years and the 123rd occasion I will have seen him sing live…

Wednesday April 13:

Recent charity shop find – Frank Sinatra The Reprise Collection 1990 compilation – 4CD set with 36 page booklet – £4.99? I’ll take it…

 

 

 

 

Update here:

A busy week here as can be seen -it was an absolute tonic to be in the company of Robert Plant and Saving Grace on Monday night. Back here Janet has been making slow but sure progress so far and we are well into a groove with all the domestic arrangements. The good lady has also began to venture out for short walks on her crutches.

Musical inspiration as ever has been on hand and here’s the current playlist:

Dusty Springfield – Dusty Sings Soul CD

Steve Winwood – Arc of A Diver Deluxe 2CD

Saving Grace Featuring Robert Plant & Suzi Dian – Live at Birmingham Town Hall 2021 – 2CD (thanks Steve Hall)

Robert Plant – Dreamland LP

The Rolling Stones – Black And Blue LP

Bad Company – Straight Shooter LP

Led Zeppelin Complete BBC Sessions 2 CD

The Faces -Killer Highlights 1972 – 1973 bootleg CD

Vashti Bunyan – Just Another Diamond Day CD

Lulu – The Atco Sessions 1969 – 1972 2CD

Paul Weller – An Orchestrated Songbook CD

Easter is upon us and may we wish you all a Happy and safe Easter

Thanks for listening – stay safe and well you very lovely people…

Dave  Lewis – April 15 , 2022

Until next time, stay safe and stay well…

TBL website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis

Follow TBL/DL on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tightbutloose.loose

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3 Comments »

  • VHP said:

    Dave,

    Hope you and the good lady are keeping well.

    Interesting comment above about Jimmy promising new music previously – and then nothing happening. I do hope that his new projects are new music, and not another book / £1000 prints / another way to sell his autograph.

    Also in the current copy of Classic Rock there is a second magazine with some archive interviews including one from issue 203 (2014) which Jimmy states his he loves playing live & was planning to do it next. Well that was 8 years ago and nothing.

    Maybe he feels at 78 – if he doesn’t actively do something now then it maybe too late? I really hope that this time he does keep to his word.

    Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing Jimmy’s old Yardbirds mate Jeff Beck in a few weeks time. Last time I saw him he delivered 100% and gave a truly mind blowing demonstration of guitar playing without the ‘look at me’ guitar histrionics that a lot of other players resort to.

    Take care everyone.

  • Kevin John Ellacott said:

    I was on the same 1995 New York trip as you Dave and travelled to April 6ty show, it was absolutely phenomenal. Just the whole atmosphere inside and outside the venue, rusted root supporting. The miller genuine draft open back truck outside displaying all the led Zeppelin memorabilia. So gutted I didn’t take my camera in my. Still have my gig ticket.

  • Byron Lewis said:

    Wow, great to have you back, as usual lots to mull over. Oil Jefferson really stood out for me on percussion at the Brum Town Hall, a delightful gig, can’t wait to see them at Cheltenham. Just booked Scarlett n Jimmy at Hay, it’s such a privilege to be able to see them so close to home.

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