In this age of You Tube where countless clips of Led Zeppelin can be accessed at the click of the mouse, it’s incredible to think that there was a time when there was no readily available visual evidence of the band whatsoever. That was the situation that prevailed prior to October 5th 1976 – all of 35 years ago.Back in 1976 there was no circulating cine film of Led Zeppelin and in the pre video recorder age, no way of accessing the little surviving clips that existed –namely their Beat …

Robert Plant made a surprise appearance along with Patty Griffin in Marfa, Texas at the 6th Annual Trans-Pecos Festival of Music and Love last Thursday (September 22nd). Appearing with local Texan musicians David Grissom (electric guitar), Michael Ramos (organ, accordion), Glenn Fukunaga (acoustic & electric bass), Dony Wynn (drums), the pair, under the name Crown Vic performed a set of blues/country standards included Tear It Up, Lonely Avenue, You Can’t Judge A Book By Looking At The Cover, Rich Woman and Don’t, as well a Black Dog, Misty Mountain Hop …

On stage Mannheim July 2nd 1980 -photo from the Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind -Over Europe 1980 book
John Bonham 31 years gone – and yes it does seem like a lifetime but a second. In the early years of the anniversary I always busied myself on the day. 30 years ago on the first anniversary, I  went to see New Order at Walthamstow Assembly Hall. I hooked up with the Bedford New Order clan led by my good friend Dec (who incidentally is readying an updated version of his New Order …

TBL 30 is out on the streets. UK subscribers should receive their copies over this weekend with Europe and USA/rest of world to follow. I mailed all pre orders out yesterday afternoon so they are in transit. Let me know what you think when you receive it.
As mentioned last week it’s another action packed issue from the very pleasing Ross Halfin cover shot of Jimmy back on stage with The Black Crowes through to Mike Tremaglio’s ever enlightening logs on Led Zeppelin on the road 40 years ago.
TBL 30 single …

20 years ago this week, I was on a whirlwind tour of UK radio stations promoting mye then just published Led Zeppelin A Celebration book. Publishers Omnibus Press arranged for me to be driven by their PR company rep to visit a host of UK radio stations in a four day span. It included stop-offs in Sheffield, Manchester, Shrewsbury, Bristol, Coventry, Northampton and
finally Nottingham. I also conducted a couple of interviews on something that was called a mobile phone. Oh yes from the comfort of the passenger seat I could …

Tune in on Saturday September 10th at midnight to Sky Arts HD channel for an exclusive Seasick Steve performance featuring John Paul Jones from this year’s Cropredy Festival. John appears on Seasick Steve’s new album, ‘You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks’ which has been released through Jack White’s record imprint, Third Man Records in the US & through Play It Again Sam in the UK.

Last weekend the pair along with drummer Dan Magnusson performed at the  the Reading and Leeds Festival and the whole of the Reading set can be …

Stage diving not advised for those in their mid 50’s…
Fifty flippin’ five….
I was 15 years old when I first saw Led Zeppelin live…18 when I saw them play five nights at Earls Court… 23 when I was over Europe …28 when I wrote my first Zep book The Final Acclaim (it wasn’t of course!)…39 when Page & Plant did the Unledded tour…51 when they reunited at the 02…
Is there a pattern developing here? Yes key Zep landmarks have marked much of these nigh on 55 years alongside of course my …

With September upon us, it’s an appropriate moment to reflect back to a September of 41 years back when a recording of a Led Zeppelin concert captured by some enterprising fans resulted in one of the iconic bootlegs. This TBL Archive feature first written in 2003, focuses on the story and impact of the recording of September 4th 1970 that captured Led Zeppelin on stage in full flight at the Los Angeles Forum.
Led Zeppelin’s impact on their initial American tours made them a prime targets for the then emerging …

The new issue of the Tight But Loose magazine is due for publication in September and as you can see by the cover –it’s another packed affair. Mike Tremaglio’s extensive tour logs capture Led Zeppelin on tour in 1971 from Montreux to Honolulu with more illuminating text and rare visuals. Part two of Rikky Rooksby’s intensive study of Stairway To Heaven looks at the performance and lyrical and musicology of the much maligned classic – all guaranteed to take you back to the song with fresh perspective. The return to the …

Photo Richard Grubb
Robert Plant is 63 today.
From his vital contribution to Led Zeppelin and on through an eclectic solo career, Robert Plant has occupied a unique position at the forefront of rock culture for over 43 years.
That unmistakeable voice and that charismatic presence, together with an quenching thirst for musical invention and energy have placed Robert Plant in a category of his own.
In the past 12 months working within The Band Of Joy, he has provided some of the most remarkable nights of his career –notably for us his life affirming …