From a Whisper to a Scream, the new complete guide to the music of Led Zeppelin published by Omnibus Press is now ready to roll. All pre order copies via the TBL website will be distributed over the next couple of weeks.

From their 1969 debut album through to the Mothership compilation, this is an album by album, track by track analysis of every official Led Zeppelin recording.

However familiar you may be with their albums, this guide to all aspects of their output is designed to take you back to the music with renewed perspective. This is Led Zeppelin – from blues to rock, light to shade, loud to soft and from a whisper to a scream. Consider this as your one stop, easy access companion to their timeless catalogue of work.

The special TBL edition includes a four page individually signed and numbered insert featuring an interview with Dave Lewis about the writing and collation of the book and all copies of the book are personally signed by the author.

In effect this is the perfect Zep summer read.

You can order the book via this link:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=14483

All roads lead into London next week with Robert Plant presents The Sensational Space Shifters at the London Forum on July 12 and John Paul Jones appearing with Minibus Pimps at the Café OTO on July 13th

The pub venue for the TBL pre gig meet for the Robert Plant London Forum London gig on Thursday July 12 is as follows:

The Assembly House,

292-294 Kentish Town Road,
Kentish Town,
London,
NW5 2TH

Link at:

http://www.assemblyhouse.co.uk/

The pub is situated between the Forum and Kentish Town Station and was the pub we met at for the Band Of Joy gig September 2010 and when Robert and Strange Sensation played the Forum in December 2005. We should be in there around 6pm and we look forward to seeing all that can make it along. By the way if anyone is in need of a ticket -I know of a spare going.

The TBL meet for the John Paul Jones gig is at the venue

Cafe OTO

18 – 22 Ashwin Street

Dalston

London

E8 3DL

Link at:

http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/

To celebrate Robert’s return to the capital, look out for a week of Robert Plant TBL archive postings from this weekend.

The excellent Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy Live From The Artists Den DVD/Blu Ray is out next week   -you can access a couple of previews via these links:

https://vimeo.com/44804571

https://vimeo.com/44804711

…….

Other stuff going on: Thoroughly enjoyed the Euros with Spain proving football is all about pass and movement. Shame England could not progress and fell victim to the old penalties yet again – but there was some pride restored and we had some good fun watching it unfold here at the TBL Towers. In Roy Hodgson we may have found a decent man to take it forward. Have to say I am baffled by Stuart Pearce’s decision not to include David Beckham in the Team GB selection for the Olympics. Also enjoying Wimbledon which inspired the boy Adam and myself to get out on the local tennis court – he beat me 3 sets to 1 in an epic three hour encounter -I ached for days!

Talking ofthe Olympics – we have the Olympic Torch passing through Bedford early on Sunday morning and we hope to be out there cheering it along the route. It’s history…pure and simple.

Watching the clips on the news a couple of weeks ago of the heroic Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, wounded in Afghanistan in 2006, and valiantly carrying the Torch in his home town of Doncaster supported by members of his regiment had me moved to tears.

Going back seven years I was in a London pub on July 6th 2005, when it was announced at 12.45 pm that the games would be held in ‘’The city of London’’ –an incredibly momentous moment – of course that joy was short lived with the next day’s London 7/7 bombings. I watched the moving BBC2 documentary this week –our hearts go out to all those affected by that terrible tragedy.

It was disappointing to hear of the impending closure after one more issue of The Word magazine. It’s clear indication of how hard it is to maintain a foothold in the world of magazine publishing. On that note I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the Tight But Loose magazine by subscribing to the 2012 issues or purchasing the latest TBL 32.

These are indeed challenging economic times and your support of all TBL products is very much appreciated. For my part the quest to produce quality material that justifies that support goes ever onward.

On that note, TBL 33 is now beginning to formulate – and already there are some great features being lined up with Mike Tremaglio’s 1972 US tour log sure to inspire  while an depth illustrated look at the Led Zep UK promo singles from leading vinyl collector Nick Anderson looks set to put the record straight on these much converted collectors’ items.

On the player: The Ram re-issue  by Paul and Linda McCartney- an underrated Macca outing in my view, plus George Harrison Living In The Material outtakes (thanks John P), How The West Was Won (40 years gone), For Badgeholders Only (35 years gone), Blitzkrieg over Europe 1980 (32 years gone)

Here’s a link to listen to the BBC6 programme Jagger’s Jukebox in which Sir Mick selects some of his faves – good to hear up talking up the Zep boys, though a glance at page 53 of the book From a Whisper to a Scream would put him right on the correct recording location of the Zep track he chose. Mick it wasn’t at your house honest! Just another TBL reader service!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b01kcqk2

Last Saturday I met up with my lifelong TBL associate Tom Locke to reminisce about the Over Europe tour, 32 years ago to the day that we witnessed a remarkable gig at the Festhalle in Frankfurt on June 30 1980. Those were indeed the days, which of course you can read all about in the Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind –Over Europe 1980 book – now available with a free copy of the TBL magazine.

Now -Tom and DL, in the bar Fox  And Hounds, Bedford June 30 2012

Then  – Tom and DL, side of the stage Eisstadion Mannheim, July 3 1980

You can order from this link:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=9965

Also on the player: The excellent Rod Stewart Sessions 1971 – 1998 box set – this is all aiding research for a feature I am about to get ensconced in writing regarding one of Rod’s seminal 1970s albums which is long overdue for re-appraisal.

I’ve been fending off a whole lotta coughing and sneezing this week as the demands of a summer common cold took hold (the good lady Janet has also been suffering.) Not a lot of time to be ill though with back to back meetings in London yesterday (re TBL) and later today ( re Rod).

Congratulations are due for our Sam who is about to start her first job as a journalist on the St.Albans based Herts Advertiser.  Much deserved after so many years of hard work. Good luck Sam! If you have any local stories Sam is on the look out – follow her on Twitter @ samlewis 400.

And finally Led Zeppelin make the hallowed pages of Viz magazine –the adult comic magazine has an hilarious Zep parody in the new issue (link at  http://www.viz.co.uk/) thanks to Stuart B for flagging this one.

This was a much needed laugh during what has been a bit of draining week.  A tour of charity shops…you gotta love it!

Have a great weekend,

DL – July 6 2012