Here are the full details again of the John Bonham Celebration Festival set for Redditch on September 22:  
JOHN BONHAM A CELEBRATION FESTIVAL IS READY TO ROCK REDDITCH
 Following the installation of a permanent bronze memorial statue in his hometown of Redditch, Worcestershire, a very special music event has been organised to celebrate the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer’s 70th Birthday, life and legacy.
 Organised by The John Bonham Memorial Friends and in partnership with Heart of Worcestershire College, the celebration festival will take place at Peakman Street, Redditch on Saturday 22nd September 2018.
A stellar …

Announcing the forthcoming publication of …
Evenings With Led Zeppelin – The Complete Concert Chronicle by Dave Lewis and Mike Tremaglio
At last we have reached the finishing line – the book myself and Mike Tremaglio, along with TBL designer Mick Lowe have been working on for the past four and a half years is finally a wrap…
On Thursday, June 14, 2018 we did the last corrections and the book files are now with Omnibus Press to begin printing.
Planned publication via Omnibus Press is September.
So firstly, here are some facts and figures about the …

Visiting the John Bonham Memorial Statue on May 31, 2018…
It was the late evening of July 5, 1980 and earlier we had witnessed the thrilling Led Zeppelin performance at the Olympiahalle in Munich. Now my TBL colleague Tom and I had gone with the Zep entourage to a night club within the Hilton Hotel. All the group were in attendance and as had happened a lot during our time on the tour,, we got talking to John Bonham. As ever, his down to earth Midlands tone rang out. He was …

To mark his 70th birthday on May 31, 2018 …
JOHN BONHAM: AN APPRECIATION – 70 AT 70 THE TBL BIRTHDAY PLAYLIST:
Greatest Beats – Percussive Perfection – 70 Examples of the John Bonham Drum Craft
Thursday May 31, 2018 is John Bonham’s 70th birthday. The intervening years since his untimely death at the age of 32 in 1980, have only enhanced his reputation as the outstanding rock drummer of all time.
To quantify that statement and in celebration of his life and legacy, what follows is a listing of 70 of his most notable performances.
It’s continually evident …

Fate Of Nations  25 Years Gone – TBL Archive Special:
To mark this 25th anniversary, here’s the final part of part of the  TBL Fate Of Nations archive special – more very passionate and enthusiastic text from yours truly that first appeared in TBL issues 8 and 9. This is my review of the Fate Of Nations album and a tour overview
The accompanying Fate Of Nations album provided the soundtrack to that summer of 1993 – 25 years ago
I’ve just played it through again – it still sounds such a brilliant album…
THE FATE OF NATIONS …

Fate Of Nations – King’s Head – 25 Years Gone – TBL Archive Special Part 2:
25 years ago this month, Robert Plant performed two warm up gigs at the King’s Head in Fulham. Gary Foy and I were lucky to be in attendance at both these memorable shows. It ushered in another great Plant period with the accompanying Fate Of Nations album providing a soundtrack to the summer of 1993.
To mark this 25th anniversary, here’s part two of our TBL Fate Of Nations archive special – more very passionate and enthusiastic text from …

Led Zeppelin Record Store Day Release – Rock And Roll (Sunset Sound Mix)/Friends (Olympic Studios Mix) TBL PREVIEW:
Since we’ve been loving them….again…
Just had a listen to this promo copy I’ve received – here’s how it sounds to these ears..

Rock And Roll the Sunset Sound Studios Mix – slightly punchier in the rhythm department and slightly more shrill in the vocal. The guitar solo is more prominent and up front. It’s Rock And Roll…and it’s brilliant…
Friends Olympic Studios Mix – this is an absolute gem. Basically a mix without the string …

TBL Archive 1 – Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – Walking Into Clarksdale – 20 Years Gone:
Photo by Eric Ubben
To mark the release of the Walking into Clarksdale album 20 years ago this month, here’s a TBL archive piece that looks back to the release of the album.
On the back of the Shepherds Bush gig and all the media coverage, it was such a great time to be a Page & Plant fan. Here’s my original and very optimistic review of the Walking Into Clarksdale album written for TBL issue 13.
 Walking …

Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy  – TBL 45th Anniverary Special:
45 years ago this week Led Zeppelin released their long awaited fifth album, Houses Of The Holy.
Here’s a round up of  House Of The Holy coverage collated five years ago for the 40th anniversary:
March 2013 TBL Archive:
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 …

RECORD STORE DAY x LED ZEPPELIN = COLLECTING JOY: 
…AND STILL BIGGER THAN ANYONE ELSE…
Some DL thoughts…
The announcement of the Led Zeppelin Record Store Day special limited edition single on Tuesday, was met with what has become a familiar mixed bag of comments – some for, some very much against.
Call me a fool, but a limited edition single with two unreleased mixes of two of their finest achievements on yellow vinyl? Come on, what’s not to like!
Yes, the strategy of Record Store Day is by no means perfect – too many releases now …