Led Zeppelin at the  University of Kent – March 11, 1971:
University of Kent magazine feature by Peter Piddock reveals previously undocumented venue change and more…
This one came my way recently – it’s an issue of the University of Kent magazine with a brilliant feature on the day Led Zeppelin came to perform at the University on March 11, 1971. This was during the so called ‘Back to the clubs’ tour where the band went back to many of the venues they had performed at in the early days.
Given their stature …

Saving Grace featuring Robert Plant-  The Alban Arena Friday February 22, 2019…
TBL on the spot report:
Saving Grace – Back To The Future…
Dateline : September 25,1999:
The Priory of Brion – The Boardwalk, Sheffield.
From backstage right Robert strides on as Kevyn Gammond strikes up the moody intro of Season of the witch
‘’When I look out my window
Many sights to see’’
Those are the words Robert Plant utters as he walks up to the mic
It sounds so right Simple as that it’s evident from the first note that Robert’s voice is as powerful an instrument …

Saving Grace featuring Robert Plant –Saturday February 16, 2019
The Forum, Bath
TBL on the spot report by Rob Whitmarsh:
Less than a month ago an unknown band called Saving Grace performed their debut gig at a very low-key show at Bishop’s Castle on January 25th 2019. Their line-up sounded very promising though, as the band consisted of: Suzi Dian (vocals), Tony Kelsey (guitar and mandolin), Matt Worley (banjo), Oli Jefferson (percussion), and Robert Plant (vocals).
I’ve heard of that male singer before and have been following his musical reinventions for decades, so when …

 
TIGHT BUT LOOSE ISSUE 44 – HOT OFF THE PRESS …AND OUT ON THE STREETS:
TBL issue 44 is hot off the press and out on the streets…
I’ve been extremely busy in the TBL distribution centre (our dining room actually!) sticking on stamps and labels and packing the pre -orders ready to leave here.
TBL distribution update:

All UK pre-orders left here on Tuesday and are now in transit – they should begin to arrive over the next two or three days. A bulk of the overseas copies are also now in transit – I hope to have all …

Robert Plant and John Paul Jones gigs announced:

John Paul Jones, Thurston Moore & Steve Noble – a benefit concert for Resonance FM: March 28, 2019 – 100 Club London.
A unique musical meeting of three of the most inventive performers of our time – for perhaps the only time – all to benefit Resonance FM! As co-founder and legendary multi-instrumentalist with Led Zeppelin, John Paul Jones needs no introduction. A restless and radical musical innovator for over half a century – as composer, arranger, and producer across genres ranging from pop to opera …

TIGHT BUT LOOSE ISSUE 44 – ON THE WAY SOON:
40 years ago in January 1979, I was busy handwriting the first Led Zeppelin TBL magazine in my bedroom. I had already run a couple of adverts in Sounds and NME and the initial orders were filtering in. It was scheduled to be published on February 10,1979.
40 years on, here I am in early 2019 – just as I was in early 1979, ready to publish another issue of the magazine I created to form a platform of communication between Led Zeppelin fans across the …

Led Zeppelin 1 – it was 50 years ago this week.. to mark the 50th anniversary of the debut Led Zeppelin here’s some facts, figures and thoughts on it all…
January 20, 1969 – Led Zeppelin debut album released:
Despite often being attributed to either Sunday, January 12, 1969 or Friday, January 17, 1969, the correct “official” release date of the debut album might well have been Monday, January 20, 1969. As Mike Tremaglio flagged to me – this release date was referenced in an Atlantic Records memo accompanying white label advance LPs …

The new issue of Classic Rock:
As mentioned last week, on the occasion of Jimmy Page’s Birthday last Wednesday – how fitting it was to see this new issue of Classic Rock on the newsagent shelves.
This new issue of Classic Rock has a supplement Led Zeppelin The Birth of A Legend 50th Anniversary Special. This includes a feature on their early days and the making of Led Zeppelin 1 by Mick Wall and an introduction piece that sets the scene about their impact on the US by Mike Tremaglio and… myself …

John Paul Jones on the occasion of his 73rd Birthday:
John Paul Jones is 73 today (January 3)…
John’s activity over the past 12 months included attending the Festival of Writing and Ideas at Borris House in Ireland on June 8 and 9, performing with Julie Felix at her 80th birthday concert in London on June 17 and with his a new line up Snoweye at the Varangerfestivalen in Norway on August 11. Commenting on his long awaited opera The Ghost Sonata John said “My background has been in classic and in …

 
So that was the year that was….2018…
It was the 50th Anniversary of the formation of Led Zeppelin and there has plenty to celebrate – reissues for How The West Was Won and the Soundtrack From The Song Remains The Same, the Record Store Day Rock And Roll single, and the publication of the official Led Zeppelin By Led Zeppelin book
There was no shortage of other Zep related books with Chris Salewicz’ Jimmy Page The Definitive Biography and Mark Blake’s  truly excellent Peter Grant biography garnering much press coverage.
As for me, well it’s …