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 …

Deborah Bonham and band on the Paul Rodgers Free Spirit tour: 
Deborah Bonham and her band kick off their collaboration with Paul Rodgers on his Free Spirit tour on Friday with the opening date at the Clyde Auditorium in Glasgow. The 14 date tour ends on May 27 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
As Paul explains in the press release for the tour:
“It was so inspirational playing Free material with Deborah Bonham’s band, led by guitarist Pete Bullick, when we played charity gigs to support Willows Animal Sanctuary and Assisted Therapy Unit, which my …

The Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds album The Beginning… is released this week via Jimmy Page’s website. Produced by Jimmy when he was 17 at the RJ Sound Studios in Morden, it’s an important remnant of the London R and B scene. To tie in with this archive release we present…
AN EXCLUSIVE TBL INTERVIEW WITH CHRIS FARLOWE:
‘’We are like brothers really, we totally respect each other. He thinks I’m a great singer and I think he’s a great guitarist.’’
Chris Farlowe talks to Dave Lewis about the release of  The Beginning… and …

TBL EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF THE FORTHCOMING CHRIS FARLOWE AND THE THUNDERBIRDS RELEASE VIA JIMMYPAGE.COM:
Thunder Over Morden in 1961: The beginnings of the London rhythm and blues scene…Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds The Beginning
So here it is, a genuine archive recording that takes us back to the pre Beatles days of 1961 – and it’s the vision of a young Jimmy Page that has made all this possible. His decision to record Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds in RG Jones Sound Studio in Morden near London some 56 years ago …

John Paul Jones back on stage:
Tres Coyotes the new band formed by John Paul Jones with Anssi Karttunen and Magnus Lindberg made their live debut in Helsinki, Finland on Wednesday April 5.
Long time TBL contributors Tiina Puska and Minna Luostarinen were in attendance – here’s their first impressions:
”What can we say about the Tres Coyotes; challenging, powerful, enjoyable. JPJ was relaxed and clearly enjoying himself. He played five string bass and mandolin and grand piano. Modern contemporary classical improvisation. It was fantastic”
Photo by Juha Palotie – many thanks to them for that on …

Announcement from Jimmy Page.com:
Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds: The Beginning…
Historic Demo Recording Produced by Jimmy Page Coming April 30
Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist and producer’s first official production available now for pre-order via jimmypage.com
Exclusive Stream of “Money” Track Premiere Available now via RollingStone.com
Available now for the very first time, Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds: The Beginning…presents a 12-song demo recording produced by legendary guitarist and producer Jimmy Page. Recorded in 1961 at RG Jones Sound Studio in Morden, London, this historic session marks the launch of a highly successful career for …

Following on from the Bad Company and Straight Shooter expanded reissues, here’s very welcomed news of another pair of Bad Company reissues:
BAD COMPANY: DELUXE EDITIONS
Double-Disc Versions Of Run With The Pack and Burnin’ Sky Feature The Original Album Remastered And Expanded With Rare And Unreleased Recordings/ 
Available From Rhino/Swan Song On May 26
 LOS ANGELES – Bad Company recorded four classic albums in as many years, giving rise to some of the most recognizable rock songs of the Seventies, including “Rock Steady,” “Run With The Pack” and the Grammy-nominated, “Feel Like Makin’ …