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 …

The much anticipated pictorial autobiography of Jimmy Page is now available for pre-order from Genesis Publications with an expected shipping date set for June.
The book is being offered in two limited editions, the first, a Deluxe Edition which is numbered  1 to 350 with a price of £695, will be presented on archival art paper, with gilded edging and will be fully bound in a single morocco leather hide with gold-leaf “Zoso” blocking. It will be presented in an archival solander box with traditional felt lining to protect the leather-bound …

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 …

Boot Led Zeppelin successfully revived the spirit of Led Zeppelin’s Earls Court 1975 shows with a marathon performance at the Shepherds Bush Empire last Saturday. 
Radio One DJ Fearne Cotton introduced the band on stage to a very enthusiastic crowd. For the next three hours, Boot Led Zep looked the part, sounded the part and even spoke the part –singer Luke Ward adapting Robert Plant’s between song intros and patter from the original Earls Court shows. This added yet more authenticity to a performance that celebrated the 35th anniversary of those …

40 year ago this weekend, Led Zeppelin flew out for the first date of their fifth US tour.
I was well aware of all this because I’d purchased a copy of Record Mirror that week. Under the front page headline of ‘Goldrush’ and a wonderful colour photo from the previous December’s awards bash, it revealed the bands current plans. Interestingly enough it reported that a film crew would be on hand to capture the tour.
The story read as follow:
‘’Off to America on Saturday go Led Zeppelin. And with the group will be …

Latest news on the Boot Led Zeppelin Earls Court 35th anniversary gig taking place this Saturday March 27th at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire is that Radio One DJ and big Zep fan Fearne  Cotton will be in attendance to introduce the band on stage.
On the night Boot Led Zeppelin will be recreating the magic of Zep in ’75 with a special Earls Court set list and the TBL crew will be in attendance with various Zep at Earls Court memorabilia on display. All in all this is a great way of …

The previously announced Show Of Peace Concert  due to be staged in Beijing next month has been postponed until October 10th 2010. A statement has been issued by the promoters that states that; “With the agreement of Ministry of Culture, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the organizers of the International Show of Peace Concert have discussed and decided to change the date of the concert to October 10, 2010 – 10/10/10.
“The concert, originally planned for April 17, will be held at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium. The …

It’s one of those periods where the best strategy of attack is, as my old boss used to say to J.F.D.I (that stands for Just F***ing Do It!), with much to get sorted in the next few weeks.
The Who Live At Leeds feature has been dominating a fair few waking hours here and it’s been enlightening to investigate in the nooks and crannies of The Who’s career circa ‘69/’70. It’s led me to search out some great Who live stuff which aside from the obvious Leeds recordings, has included a …

Nick Kent with DL  – Laughing off  the  matter of a 27 minute Dazed And Confused. Rough Trade Record shop Brick Lane March 3 2010 -Photo T. Zupancic
I have very rarely purchased an album on the strength of a positive album review but I can remember two vivid exceptions. One was a rave review in the Melody Maker in 1972 for the Jefferson Airplane album Long John Silver. ‘’This is the album that will brighten your weekend’’ it said.  I duly laid out the slightly extortionate £2.70 (it had a deluxe cover) …

At a special book signing event in London to launch his new book Apathy For The Devil, legendary 70s rock journalist Nick Kent reminisced about his days on the road with Led Zeppelin. ‘’When they got into their groove on things like Trampled Underfoot they were as good as it gets’’ he told Dave Lewis. ‘’I had some amazing times with them.’’
The book is a memoir of his life in the 70s as the most controversial journalist of the era – becoming as notorious as the stars he wrote about. …