John Bonham 40 Years Gone today…
To mark the 40th anniversary of the passing of John Bonham here’s some personal recollections from myself and long time TBL contributor Gary Davies…
The Optimism, The irony and the Agony
Dave Lewis reflects on the personal impact and aftermath of the events of Thursday September 25th 1980
I was just turned 24 years old and so far 1980 had been a rollercoaster year for me for many reasons.
Back in the early autumn it’s fair to say Tight But Loose, the Led Zeppelin magazine I had established in …

Sounds Four Part The Complete Led Zep –  42 years Gone – DL Reflections.
42 years ago this month I had my first Led Zeppelin written work published in a major UK music paper – my research for a 10 year retrospective look back on the band’s career in Sounds was extensively used across four weekly parts. It was an incredible thrill to see my work reach a wide audience and it was the kick start to many great things – here’s how it all came to be…
During 1977 and into …

TBL Archive Special 1: September 7, 1968 – the on stage debut 52 years gone:
52 years ago on September 7th 1968, the line soon to be known as Led Zeppelin performed their very first concert in Gladsaxe Denmark. – the first of two appearances that day… 

REMEMBERING 52 YEARS GONE….
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7th, 1968
GLADSAXE, DENMARK
TEEN CLUB BOX 45
DATE:                         September 7, 1968 (1st show)
VENUE:                     Teen Club, Egegård Skole
LOCATION:              Gladsaxe, Denmark
Billed as: “Yardbirds”
Support Acts: Fourways; Bodies
With The New Yardbirds line-up complete, there was an outstanding engagement to fulfil that was left over …

DL NOW I’M 64 – ON THE OCCASION OF MY BIRTHDAY…

I’ve been listening to The Beatles’ When I’m Sixty Four since I was around 11 years old.
Rrecorded for the Sgt Pepper album, its repeated phrase of ‘’Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m sixty four” is a quirky lament to old age and I never gave it a second thought that one day I would reach such an age.
Well that day has come…for today Saturday, September 5 I reach the grand age of 64…  
So as …

Robert Plant on the occasion of his 72nd Birthday:
Robert Plant is 72 years old on Thursday, August 20…
From his initial forays in the Midlands scene in the mid 60’s leading to his first record being released in 1966, through to his vital contribution to Led Zeppelin and on to an always compelling solo career, Robert Plant has occupied a unique position at the forefront of the music world for over five decades…
During the past 12 months he has continued to delight with his Digging Deep podcast – providing an opportunity …

GIBSON SG STANDARD ‘61 GUITAR SIGNED BY ROBERT PLANT AND TONY IOMMI AMONG ITEMS TO BE AUCTIONED FOR MUSICARES…
 Julien’s Auctions and MusiCares are pleased to present a marquee lineup of items to be sold at the MusiCares Charity Relief Auction, taking place Wednesday, September 9 live in Beverly Hills and online at JuliensLive.com with advance online bidding starting Monday, August 17.
 Included in the auction is this Classic SG Standard ’61 Vintage Cherry Gibson guitar signed by Robert Plant and Tony Iommi.
 The items offered by artists, athletes and entertainers includes Barbra …

My thoughts on Jimmy Page The Anthology…

Genesis Publications (Limited Edition sold out  – standard edition to be published October 13 in UK October 19 US)
This is Jimmy’s second book for Genesis following the publication of Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page back in 2010 – all of ten years gone. Jimmy described that previous volume as ”A  visual documentary to reflect my contribution to music.”
In his introduction to this new volume Jimmy states’’ As a result of archiving, this book is a continuation of the story mapped out in my first …

TBL Archive: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant: 1995 UK Tour:
Leading on from last week’s Page & Plant retro focus – here is Part Two of  the piece that originally ran in TBL 11: It focuses on an imaginary 4 CD compilation of the tour: CD 2 rounds up the 1995 Europe and UK leg. 
 
It was a glorious period as long time fans and those too young to have seen Zep in their prime revelled in what was all in name the Zeppelin reunion we had all hoped for. By the tour’s end …

It was 35 years ago on Monday …

Led Zeppelin at Live Aid – July 13, 1985:
Live Aid  – 35 Years Gone:
For all its ragged missed cues, hoarse vocals and cod drumming, I have great affinity for the ramshackle Zep Live Aid appearance. There’s little doubt that those 15 minutes on stage had a massive impact. Suddenly Led Zeppelin’s name was back in the frame and it was safe to own up to being a fan again.
Before all that, incredible as it sounds now, that early 80’s period had rendered them …

It was 40 years ago – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980: 
This month marks the 40th 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. I was lucky enough to attend five of those gigs. This is all chronicled in my Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind Over Europe 1980 book
 
 
Here’s is a further extract – my on the road account written at the time and first featured in TBL issue 5…

TBL Retro Archive: …