TBL Retro Archive: Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980: it was 37 years ago…
Concluding the TBL retro archive features on the final Led Zeppelin tour as chronicled in the Feather In The Wind Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 book.
This is my overview of the gigs that I caught – this extract picks up the on stage action in Munich on July 5, 1980 for what would be their penultimate show with John Bonham…
When the house lights dim some 15 minutes later, I get the most incredible buzz from hearing the Wembley-like …

TBL Archive: Robert Plant  Pictures At Eleven album 35 years gone… 
To mark the 35th anniversary of Robert Plant’s landmark debut album – here’s an extensive feature I wrote back in 2002. That album remains one of the most crucial of his long career and still sounds every bit as exciting and fresh as it did back in the summer of 1982.
Pictures at Eleven – Still vivid at  35
Robert Plant’s first solo album was a personal  career watershed to rival Led Zep 1 
For the former singer in the biggest band …

Feather In The Wind – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 book relaunch:
This week marks the 37th anniversary of the final Led Zeppelin tour – a low key 14 date trek taking in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland.
To celebrate this anniversary, I am relaunching the Feather In the Wind book – the price is a bargain £10 including postage and packing.
Note – stock of the book is now running down so if you have yet to check out the book now is the time!
This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the definitive account of the tour …

Feather In The Wind – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 book relaunch:
This week marks the 37th anniversary of the first dates of the final Led Zeppelin tour – a low key 14 date trek taking in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland.
To begin a month long celebration of that final tour, I am relaunching the Feather In the Wind book – the price is a bargain £10 including postage and packing.
Note -stock of the book is now running down so if you have yet to check out the book now is the time!
This is a fantastic opportunity …

 
Led Zeppelin and John Bonham to be honoured with Blue Plaques:
This one just in via Chronicle Live
The Mayfair Ballroom is being awarded the special honour by BBC Newcastle – announced in conjunction with The British Plaque Trust – to mark BBC Music Day.
It’s been picked for the commemoration because it was the venue where the band that went on to become Led Zeppelin made its UK debut on October 4, 1968.
Musician Laidlaw – who himself appeared on the bill that same night in his own early group Downtown Faction – …

LONDON TERRORIST ATTACK:
I watched the first news reports of the terrible terrorist attack in London late on Saturday night and then woke on Sunday to hear the full extent of the horror that unfolded around London Bridge and Borough Market – totally shocking.
Thoughts and a prayers go out to all those affected by yet another senseless attack….
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TBL ARCHIVE SPECIAL 1 – THE LED ZEPPELIN 2003 DVD RELEASE –  14 YEARS GONE:
It’s now some  14 years ago that Jimmy Page unlocked the Led Zeppelin film archive to present the five hour double DVD set simply …

Remembering John Bonham – on the occasion of his birthday…
Today Wednesday May 31 marks the 69th birthday of John Bonham.
Over the past  couple of year the Led Zeppelin Reissue programme has only gone to heighten John’s s percussive contribution and lasting legacy – as Jimmy remarked ”Listening to John Bonham, well that always makes me simile…”
Looking ahead, there will be the permanent marking of his legacy when the John Bonham Memorial Fund led statue project comes to fruition – this will see a statue of John Bonham erected in his home …

MANCHESTER ARENA BOMB ATTACK:
I watched the breaking news of the appalling terrorist bomb attack at the Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena in the early hours of Tuesday morning and woke up yesterday to the stark reality of it all. That so many young people should endure these terrifying scenes  shown on the news after attending a concert is just beyond words… and that so many have lost their lives and been injured only enhances the bewilderment and hurt we all feel by this senseless action.
Thoughts and prayers go out to all …

Paul Rodgers Free Spirit tour with guests Deborah Bonham & Doug Boyle (and two unexpected ones!)
Oxford New Theatre Sunday May 14, 2017
Pic by Krys Jantzen for TBL
‘’What fun we are having’’
To recap: I had been toying with attending one of Paul Rodgers Free Spirit gigs featuring Deborah Bonham and co. I cannot make the Royal Albert Hall date so I was looking at either Oxford or Leicester. As I was able to get the bus from Bedford through to Oxford, that date became the most feasible and at short notice …

Exclusive TBL Interview with Deborah Bonham:
Here’s the complete interview I recently conducted with Deborah Bonham. Deb and the band are currently collaborating with Paul Rodgers on his Free Spirit tour – initial reports of the gigs have been very impressive. The 14 date tour ends on May 27 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
DL: So first of all let’s talks about your album catalogue – this is all being re-released and remastered via Cadiz Music. You must be pleased about that?
DB: Yes, very much so. Cadiz are a great old label they have been …