What an end to the week…I’m sitting on the bus proof reading TBL 20 when I look up to find the guy in front has his laptop on, and I’m thinking how come I’m still in the paper world? Then I clock the screen to find he’s looking at a selection of naughty pics – and I think fuck the proof reading!

Whoever you were, thanks for brightening up an otherwise dismal week, if the magazine’s full of mistakes – sorry!

Saturday night and the XYZ boys and ladies converged on the local White Horse last night for the official unveiling (and toasting) of Tight But Loose 20. It’s always been a pivotal moment looking at the magazine for the first time and this was no exception.

Massive thanks are due in the usual directions for all contributors but in particular Gary Davies.

Within this issue there’s ample reflection on the afterglow of the O2 reunion with a summary of views, plus a behind the scenes exclusive insight to the animating of the O2 show.  

The undimmed legacy of John Bonham comes under the spotlight in a special appreciation of his greatest beats and percussive perfection. The Zeppelin at 40 spread offers a scrapbook of memories from the year’s 1968 to1971.

Add in all the latest news, collector focus, Bonzo ’78 and Bath ’69 cine film finds and more – and we think this issue stands as a pretty essential Zep read packed with exclusive info unavailable on the net.

What you may not be aware of is that the sales of the magazine, Tight But Loose, solely provides the funding to keep this site alive. If you’re a regular visitor to this website and have purchased a copy of the magazine ‘we thank you’ for your continued support – however if you’ve never purchased a TBL magazine, then why not give it a try?

TBL is designed (as it was back in the days of the very first issue) to aid your appreciation of all this great music, and have you suitably inspired to reinvestigate the many facets of the Led Zeppelin catalogue

As the calendar reached April 17 last week it prompted some very vivid memories.

That date is another one ingrained on my Zep memory bank. It was on April 17 back in 1994 that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant made their first appearance together as part of their renewed alliance.

Rumours had been rife since early in the year that the pair would be announcing a special Unplugged appearance for filming in the MTV series. Q magazine published a pic of them outside Kings Cross Depot Studio and it was clear something was happening.

At the time this was in its way as exciting as the O2 announcement though without the media glare. We had long since harboured for some sort of Zep revival and though it was a disappointment that JPJ would not be involved, an Unplugged reunion was a mouthwatering prospect. 

Early in the year Robert had put himself forward to contribute to a special Alexis Korner memorial show to be held at Buxton Opera House. I had it on good authority in the weeks leading up to the event that Jimmy would be joining him. In a stop press news item in the latest TBL published in March I predicted ‘’There can be little doubt that some sort of collaboration is set to be announced’’.

So it was on a spring Sunday evening the boy Foy and Bedford crew of Kam and co made the long haul up to the Derbyshire hills to Buxton. It was to be another eventful TBL night out and another for the memoirs. It was total déjà vu to be watching at close quarters from the side of the stage (a position I’d been lucky enough to find myself in on the 1980

Over Europe tour) Jimmy and Robert turn back the clock and rip through Train Kept a Rollin’.

It was the kick start to a memorable period that would encompass the two nights filming in August for MTV and the No Quarter/Unledded tour.

Within a year of this Buxton reunion, I’d find myself in the second row at Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey watching the pair stride on stage and launch into Thank You.

Unfinished business then…and unfinished business now.