ROBERT PLANT FATE OF NATIONS – LIMITED EDITION VINYL LINED UP FOR RECORD STORE DAY 2019:
Here is the Record Store Day release info for the announcement of much welcomed Robert Plant Fate Of Nations reissue:  
This special limited edition 180gm black vinyl of Fate of Nations is being re-issued on Robert Plant’s own record label Es Paranza around Earth Day. All profits from the sale of this record will be given to Robert Plant’s nominated Environmental charity. The album title and the artwork of the original 1993 is focussed on the impacts …

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 …

 
TIGHT BUT LOOSE ISSUE 44 – HOT OFF THE PRESS …AND OUT ON THE STREETS:
TBL issue 44 is hot off the press and out on the streets…
I’ve been extremely busy in the TBL distribution centre (our dining room actually!) sticking on stamps and labels and packing the pre -orders ready to leave here.
TBL distribution update:

All UK pre-orders left here on Tuesday and are now in transit – they should begin to arrive over the next two or three days. A bulk of the overseas copies are also now in transit – I hope to have all …

TIGHT BUT LOOSE ISSUE 44 – ON THE WAY SOON:
40 years ago in January 1979, I was busy handwriting the first Led Zeppelin TBL magazine in my bedroom. I had already run a couple of adverts in Sounds and NME and the initial orders were filtering in. It was scheduled to be published on February 10,1979.
40 years on, here I am in early 2019 – just as I was in early 1979, ready to publish another issue of the magazine I created to form a platform of communication between Led Zeppelin fans across the …

Led Zeppelin 1 – it was 50 years ago this week.. to mark the 50th anniversary of the debut Led Zeppelin here’s some facts, figures and thoughts on it all…
January 20, 1969 – Led Zeppelin debut album released:
Despite often being attributed to either Sunday, January 12, 1969 or Friday, January 17, 1969, the correct “official” release date of the debut album might well have been Monday, January 20, 1969. As Mike Tremaglio flagged to me – this release date was referenced in an Atlantic Records memo accompanying white label advance LPs …

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 …

 
Jimmy Page on the occasion of his birthday….
Jimmy Page is 75 today (January 9th)
In a career that has spanned over six decades, he has more than made his mark when it comes to the art of rock guitar playing.
From monolithic riffing to bombastic solos. From simple acoustic beauty to vast guitar instrumental orchestration. Jazz, classical and Eastern influences, blues, 50s rock’n’roll and psychedelic – he has turned his hand to all these varying styles over the years.  Always inventive and with a brilliant ear for production values, Jimmy Page is the epitome of …

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 …