Julie Felix 1938 – 2020:
I was so very sad to hear the news of the passing of Julie Felix aged 81. Julie was always so supportive of my TBL work through her association with John Paul Jones and I did a couple of very memorable interviews with her. This photo was taken at the Royal Albert Hall after her performance at the Icons of The Hall event in May 2017. Julie shone such a light for the folk rock and protest movement over many decades and her BBC2 TV show …

 
Robert Plant Q and A with Mat Everitt – Rough Trade East record shop London – Friday February 28, 2020:
With Adam looking after the good lady Janet last Friday I ventured into London for the Robert Plant Q and A at Rough Trade East record shop. I fared better than my last London visit.  I still felt anxious at times and was not 100 percent in the zone but it was an improvement. As for Robert Plant – a very engaging hour of chat with the excellent Mat Everitt – …

TBL Archive Special: 
TBL Led Zep 1975 Snapshot: Number Two
Snapshot Notes:
MONDAY JANUARY 20th, 1975
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
CHICAGO STADIUM

Set: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/When The Levee Breaks/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/The Wanton Song/No Quarter/In My Time Of Dying/Trampled Underfoot/Moby Dick/How Many More Times/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Communication Breakdown.
Robert ‘s flue is now in full effect and Jimmy is struggling with an injured finger. How Many More Times’ was recalled to the set to allow space for guitar improvisation. As Page told Chris Charlesworth …

TBL Archive Special: A look back to the second date of the Led Zeppelin 1975 touring campaign:

TBL LED ZEPPELIN JANUARY 1975 SNAPSHOT…

DATE: SUNDAY JANUARY 12 1975
VENUE: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
VORST NATIONAAL
Setlist: Rock And Roll/Sick Again/Over The Hills And Far Away/When The Levee Breaks/The Song Remains The Same/The Rain Song/Kashmir/The Wanton Song/No Quarter/Trampled Underfoot/In My Time Of Dying/Stairway To Heaven/Whole Lotta Love – Black Dog/Communication Breakdown.
Snapshot Notes: The second warm up date for their forthcoming US tour – the previous night they had played Rotterdam. Before the show Robert conducted an interview …

Michael Putland 1947 – 2019:
I was very sad to hear the passing of another iconic rock photographer Michael Putland aged 72. During the 1970s, his work was a staple feature in the UK music press. When I was editing the Five Glorious Nights Led Zeppelin at Earls Court 1975 book for Rufus Stone I had access to his amazing Led Zep Earls Court photos many of which were featured in the book – including the cover shot .
I was lucky enough to meet him at the Led Zeppelin From The …

David ”Front Row Dave” Beesmer RIP:
Like so many of us, I was very sad to hear the news of the sudden passing of David ”Front Row Dave”Beesmer aged 54.
Dave was well known in the Zep fan community as ‘’Front Row Dave’’, so called for his knack of always being there or thereabouts at concerts – notably the Led Zeppelin reunion show at the 02 in 2007. Dave was interviewed on BBC Breakfast the day after the show. I was lucky enough to meet him before the Celebration Days London premiere …

Chris Charlesworth Just Backdated blog:
Here’s a great piece by Chris Charlesworth on TBL 45…
No rock group protected its rights more fiercely than Led Zeppelin. Manager Peter Grant famously declared war against anything and anyone that might seek to deprive them of income, make money off their backs or hamper their progress in any way, and if this meant something might get broken or someone get hurt then so be it. You made an enemy of the mighty Zep at your peril, at least until Grant retired from the front line. …

Led Zeppelin over Europe 1980 -39 years gone…Feather In The Wind – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 book re-launch:
This week marks the 39th 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 –
Note – stock of the book is now running down so if you have yet to check out the book – now is the time!
This …

Robert Plant – Digging Deep Podcast Episode One now available:
The first episode of the new Robert Plant podcast Digging Deep is now available. Episode one sets the tone for what promises to be a hugely enlightening and entertaining podcast. In a relaxed conversation with BBC 6 Music presenter Matt Everitt, Robert discusses the song Calling To You from the 1993 Fate of Nations album. There’s due acknowledgment to the input of Francis Dunnery, Nigel Kennedy and the late great Michael Lee. He also touches on the song Too Loud from …

On the occasion of John Bonham’s 71st birthday….
I love this photo – it may not be the sharpest image but for me, it captures the joyous spirit of John Bonham in full flight during Kashmir. It’s taken at Knebworth of course and frames the screen shot of Bonzo as it was being relayed on the backdrop screen by the video cameras. John Bonham’s total commitment to making it all tick over those two nights was pivotal to the success of that comeback. They all knew they had a lot to …