It was 50 years ago – 50 years of DL music passion 1969 – 2019:
I ran this piece last week to celebrate this personal music milestone  – here it is again with some additional content.
It all acts as prelude to a series of DL Celebrates 5o Years of Music Passion postings that will appear throughout the year. The first of which, The sampler Albums – The Rock Machine Turns You On follows this introducionary piece
50 years ago around the Easter period, The Beatles released their first single of 1969. Get Back …

Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin Masters
Hammersmith (Odeon) Apollo
April 14, 2019
The good lady Janet and myself were due to attend Sunday’s show but were unable to make it.
Long time TBL friend and contributor Michaela Tait was there to file this on the spot report:
The last time I was at the Hammersmith Odeon (I know it’s the Apollo now, to me it’s always the Odeon!) was to see the premiere of the Celebration Day film, an event attended with my son and friends from all over the UK and beyond. Last …

My thoughts on…
John Paul Jones, Thurston Moore & Steve Noble – a benefit concert for Resonance FM: 100 Club, London, March 28, 2019:
John Paul Jones was reunited with ex Sonic Youth guitarist Thurston Moore for the first time in a decade last night – back in 2009 they collaborated on the score for the stage show Nearly Ninety to celebrate choreographer Merce Cunningham’s 90th birthday
They linked up again for special benefit performance to aid the annual fundraising efforts by community radio station Resonance FM. The non-profit station has been broadcasting …

This Thursday…
John Paul Jones, Thurston Moore & Steve Noble – a benefit concert for Resonance FM 100 Club London: March 28, 2019:
To re-iterate the details of this gig taking place on Thursday at the 100 Club in 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 …

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 …

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 …

So this is Christmas…so here’s some Zep related Christmas memories….
TBL Retro Christmas Reflection:
 Christmas always bringing with it that air of nostalgia, so here’s a seasonal TBL retro reflection from 1972:
ALLY PALLY 46 YEARS GONE:
46 years ago on Saturday December 23rd  1972, I was lucky enough to be in attendance at the closest gig Led Zeppelin ever played to Christmas in the UK. It was a cold  dank day and the walk up Muswell Hill to the Alexandra Palace was a bit of a trek. All worth it of course, as this very …