TBL Celebrates Houses Of The Holy at 40:
A lot of work went into collating and writing the Houses Of The Holy feature earlier in the year – I was as usual spinning a few other plates, so it’s most gratifying to receive the kind of feedback below that makes it all worthwhile…inspiring a return to the music with a fresh perspective is always my mission on everything that comes out of here…judging by these comments it’s job done with Houses…
This one from Paul Humbley:
This is the least played Zeppelin vinyl in …

Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy  TBL 40th Anniverary Special:
40 years ago today Led Zeppelin released their long awaited fifth album, Houses Of The Holy.
We have been counting down to this milestone anniversary and the TBL website and Facebook page will be celebrating the album’s release over the next few days.
I myself have been getting intensely re acquainted with the Houses Of The Holy album since January, as over the past three months I’ve been collating a major feature  for the new issue of Record Collector – that issue is now …

I know I’ve run this before, but the posting on Jimmy’s site today – and the fact it’s 15 years ago today that they performed the Shepherds Bush Empire gig, prompted me to dig out the Mad Month of March text from TBL 13 that chronicles this intensive period that saw them stage the showpiece Shepherds Bush gig plus appearances of Top of The Pops and TFI Friday.
1998 really was a fantastic year for Page and Plant activity – for some of  us in the TBL crew perhaps the last carefree period before we got …

Here’s a new interview with Robert Plant via Digital Today Singapore conducted by Kevin Mathews ahead of his Sensational Spaceshifters date at the Timbre Rock & Roots music festival on Thursday.
Yes, he’s now officially in town. The voice behind Led Zeppelin will be performing, quite aptly, at Timbre Rock & Roots music festival. We were worried he’d strain his voice prior to his set on Thursday night, but Plant didn’t seem to mind, judging from our long and quite candid chat. Read on.
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YOU’VE HAD OVER FORTY YEARS OF MAKING MUSIC, WHAT …

As Robert prepares for his first appearances down under since 1996 – here’s a round up of pre – tour media coverage, interviews and quotes: 
Robert Plant has an unquenchable thirst for music that moves him.
From his golden-haired, rock-god days as frontman for Led Zeppelin to his latest British urban, West African-inspired incarnation, The Sensational Shape Shifters.
“Try combining West African rhythms with Led Zeppelin-fired blues,” he explains ahead of his two April shows in New Zealand.
It will be Plant’s third visit to New Zealand. Speaking from his home in Machynlleth, Wales, …

Robert Plant Presents Sensational Space Shifters set for JamBase Live at the Gorge WA  July 5/6
Robert Plant, Michael Franti, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Slightly Stoopid,  Robert Randolph & The Family Band, G. Love & Special Sauce and STS9 are among the acts slated to appear at the JamBase Live festival. As previously reported, the first-ever JamBase festival will take place at George, WA’s  Gorge Amphitheatre on July 5 and 6.
Other confirmed acts include: Galactic, Railroad Earth, Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Lettuce, Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers and ALO. The event …

Deborah Bonham has a charity gig with Paul Rodgers plus a full scale tour lined up  to coincide with the relase of her excellent new album Spirit.
Here are all the details:
Paul Rodgers & Deborah Bonham 30th March 2013 @ The Venue, Spur Rd, Chichester W. Sussex PO19 9PR UK
Paul Rodgers has announced that he will be returning to The Venue in Chichester to raise funds for Animal Welfare on Sat 30 March. Joining Paul Rodgers on the bill will be Deborah Bonham and her Band. All the proceeds will go to …

Jimmy Page in Vogue Italia:
This report via Vogue Italia website:
Music and fashion have always merged seamlessly with no shortage of pop-starry collaborations. Pop’s greatest chameleons from David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust–era glam to the Sex Pistols’ edgy no-frills anti-fashion continue to rule the catwalks and styling generations. British music legend Jimmy Page follows Iggy Pop, Slash, Paul Weller and Jane’s Addiction Perry Farrell as the latest rock god to front American menswear designer John Varvatos’ spring campaign.
White-haired and elegant, the Led Zeppelin guitarist is pictured posing moodily alongside the 28-year-old …

Led Zeppelin voted the most influential rock band of all time
Listeners of the award winning radio station Planet Rock have named Led Zeppelin as the most influential rock band of all time.
Planet Rock asked listeners to vote for the artist or band that they thought were the most influential in the world of rock.
With thousands of votes cast over the first three weeks of February, Led Zeppelin topped the poll, taking a massive one fifth of all the votes. In second place was Queen, with Black Sabbath taking up third …

Gerard Sparaco 1967-2013
I was deeply shocked yesterday to hear of the passing of Gerard Sparaco – a long time contributor and supporter of all things TBL. I know Gerard has had heart problems in the past but this indeed was a shock. He had posted reviews on the Music Collectors site earlier this week. 
Gerard’s understanding and expertise in the live and underground Led Zeppelin catalogue and many other bands and artists, was second to none. Through the Music Collectors web site, he came on board to contribute a regular review column …