TURNING THE CLOCK BACK  35  YEARS AGO:
SUNDAY MAY 18 1975
Ticket: Gallery Block 70 Row E Seat 17
Ticket Price £1
Woke up around 10am with the prospect of the second Zep gig ahead.  In the morning I brought the Sunday Observer with the colour suppelment magazine that carried a major Tony Palmer feature –parts of which were in the official Earls Court programme.
”Led Zeppelin bigger than The Beatles?” proclaimed the front cover. What a compliment.
On the train at 5 in the afternoon with fellow fan/Wallbanger player Nic and his girlfriend.  My eldest …

35 years ago this weekend Led Zeppelin were finally back on stage in England. During that first weekend of the Earls Court run they set the standard for a memorable series of performances.
In this second part of the TBL Earls Court Archive Special, Dave Lewis offers an overview of those five glorious days of May 1975……..
Finally London was ready for Led Zeppelin…and just after 8pm on Saturday May 17th the lights dimmed, the band walked onstage and the long wait was over. However after all the build up…it was all …

35 years ago this month, Led Zeppelin performed what would be their last indoor performances in England.
When the band undertook the series of five shows at London’s Earls Court Arena in May of 1975 they were at the very peak of their creative powers. Spurred on by the critical and commercial success of their sixth album, the double set Physical Graffiti, each show they played took on event-like proportions. The 17,000 capacity Earls Court afforded them the luxury to showcase in the best possible setting, the sheer enormity of their …

Another missing link in the saga of Led Zeppelin’s TV appearances in 1969 has recently surfaced on You Tube.
It had long been speculated that Zep made an appearance on the famous German Beat Club TV show recorded in Bremen in 1969.
Clear evidence that they had recorded a slot first came to light with the emergence of a story in the Hearts & Essex Observer edition of April 4th 1969. This story reported that the band were on board a British Airways Comet plane on Friday March 28th returning from Bremen …

Stairway To Heaven has been voted Britain’s favourite rock song by listeners of the digital radio station Absolute Classic Rock.  The classic track from Led Zeppelins fourth album beat the likes of The Who, Queen and The Beatles – whose tracks were all included in the top ten. One fan of the band who voted in the poll said, “I love The Beatles but their songs are so short and happy. For the best song of all time you want something epic, and Led Zeppelin capture it all — grand …

Buddy, Gurf, Dennis and Robert. Photo from Gurf Morlix my space site.
Some excellent photos have appeared on the my space social network site with Robert Plant in the studio with Buddy Miller and other musicians recording his forthcoming new album tentatively titled ‘It’s Rude To Say No”. The photos appear on Gurf Morlix’s my space site. Gurf Morlix is a much acclaimed guitar player and producer of Americana music. The photos show a relaxed Robert along with Buddy Miller, Dennis Crouch, Stuart Ducan, Jay Bellerose with Gurf on lap steel guitar. The …

35 years ago today February 24th 1975 Led Zeppelin’s sixth album Physical Graffiti was unleashed on an eagerly awaiting Zep public. This 15 track double album stands for many as their premier recorded statement. Over three decades on, it remains the perfect one stop summary of every ingredient that makes Led Zeppelin THE outstanding rock band of yesterday… of today and tomorrow… 
I vividly remember the pure excitement of investing in the new Led Zeppelin album that day 35 years ago. Feasting my eyes on that incredible sleeve, and the first …

Now that I have undertaken the administration and distribution of the Tight But Loose magazine, here are a few admin details to note – plus a summary of TBL web site activity. This is the first in what will be regular bulletin updates to inform you of what is happening with the TBL site and magazine looking ahead. Take time to have a look at this as there are some important points and information to soak up. (DL)
 
TBL 2010 Magazine Subscriptions:
Many thanks for everyone who has subscribed to the TBL 2010 magazines so …

The young DL looks to the East-  Cologne June 18 1980 -pic Tom Locke
 It hadn’t occurred to me until Steve A. Jones noted it in the comments of the last Diary entry, that this is the commencement of my fifth decade of chronicling the world of Led Zeppelin.
The fifth decade has duly got off to a great start. The arrival of the new Mojo magazine with its inspiring Jimmy Page interview had me rushing to get some of that old Page magic back on the deck.
Cue everything from The …

We are planning a TBL Fan Gathering to be staged on Saturday September 25th 2010. This all day event will celebrate the life and times of John Bonham and Led Zeppelin and will also act as the official launch for the next TBL publishing book Led Zeppelin, A Feather In The Wind, Over Europe 1980.   The venue is likely to be a London area location and the event will run along the lines of last year’s Lytton Arms Knebworth gathering with various attractions and specials guests to be announced. More …