John Paul Jones back on stage:
Tres Coyotes the new band formed by John Paul Jones with Anssi Karttunen and Magnus Lindberg made their live debut in Helsinki, Finland on Wednesday April 5.
Long time TBL contributors Tiina Puska and Minna Luostarinen were in attendance – here’s their first impressions:
”What can we say about the Tres Coyotes; challenging, powerful, enjoyable. JPJ was relaxed and clearly enjoying himself. He played five string bass and mandolin and grand piano. Modern contemporary classical improvisation. It was fantastic”
Photo by Juha Palotie – many thanks to them for that on …

 
TBL Archive Special 1:
Led Zeppelin Houses Of The Holy  TBL – 44th Anniverary Special:
44 years ago this week Led Zeppelin released their long awaited fifth album, Houses Of The Holy. Coming off the back of the hugely successful fourth album, there was much anticipation for this new record – their first in nearly 18 months. The eclectic feel good content meandered from familiar hard rock through acoustic and orchestral arrangements, to brooding synth affairs and ’50s doo-wop/mock reggae and funk pastiches. It was all performed with a joyous abundance that …

 
Robert Plant – guest appearance with Nigel Kennedy Gala Celebration concert at the Royal Albert Hall:
Review by Dave Lewis.
I’ve always had a strong liking for the violin being used in a rock setting.
Daryl Way in Curved Air, Rick Gretch in Family and Blind Faith (check out Blind Faith’s Sea Of Joy)  David LaFlamme in Its A Beautiful Day, Flock’s Jerry Goodman and Jim Lea in Slade (check out Coz I Love You)  are all musicians who all bought something special by adding a violin arrangement within a rock framework. The violin bow …

Robert Plant lined up for Royal Albert Hall Appearance with Nigel Kennedy:
This news via Music Week:
Robert Plant and jazz violinist Jean-Luc Ponty will join Nigel Kennedy for a one-off concert at the Royal Albert Hall next month.
The Led Zeppelin vocalist and jazz-rock virtuoso are among the high-profile stars confirmed to appear with  violinist Kennedy as he headlines the venue’s Love Classical festival on Tuesday, March 14.
Other guests announced include violinists Michael Guttman and Pieter Daniel, Bulgarian gadulka player Georgi Andreev, and Kennedy’s own ensemble, the Orchestra of Life.
Lucy Noble, artistic director at the Royal Albert Hall said: “We’re incredibly excited to …

Evenings With Led Zeppelin by Dave Lewis and Mike Tremaglio
Here’s an update of the current major project.

The pic below was taken at StudioMix last week as I was working with TBL designer Mick Lowe on the Evenings With Led Zeppelin book project. This is the major book I am co-writing and collating together with long time TBL contributor Mike Tremaglio – with Mick handling the design and Omnibus Press the publishing.
Mike needs no introduction to readers of the TBL magazine. His diligence in researching the concert history of Led Zeppelin is second …

TBL 42 on Magzter:
Essential Led Zep reading for your iPad, tablet and phone – TBL issue 42 now available to download via the Magzter newsstand…
I am pleased to announce that the recent TBL issue 42 is now available as a digital download for iPad and Android formats via the Magzter Digital Newsstand .
The Magzter Digital Newsstand is one of the leading multi platform digital newsstand, with 6,000 magazines from 2,500 publishers globally available for sale.
The Tight But Loose magazine has long been established as the key regular Zep written source. …

TBL issue 42 Latest:
TBL issue 42 is well and truly now out on the streets – all subscriptions and pre orders should have arrived in over 30 countries across the globe.
If you have yet to indulge – it’s essential Led Zep reading – and don’t just take my word for it – here’s some comments from satisfied readers…
Issue 42 once again proves that TBL is undoubtedly THE magazine for Led Zeppelin fans. TBL 42 is all killer and no filler. Every article is a gem.
Michael Rae – Australia
The issues arrived today! Thanks so …

On the occasion of his birthday….
Jimmy Page is 73 today (January 9th).
In a career that has spanned over six decades – he has simply written the rule book on the art of rock guitar.
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. At times his playing may seem sloppy and seemingly undisciplined but that is all part of the attraction. Always …

TBL issue 42 is the house…
I took receipt of the standard issue and the 300 limited collectors Jimmy Page cover edition yesterday.
I am now in the process of fulfilling all the standard issue subscription orders and pre orders for the limited cover. I had forgotten quite what a task this is and I’ve spent the past few days preparing envelopes, sticking on labels and stamps and now matching the magazines into envelopes for the grand mail out to over 30 counties across the globe – some 800 copies will be leaving …

John Paul Jones on the occasion of his 71st Birthday:
John Paul Jones is 71 today (January 3)…
Throughout the past 12 months, John has again moved effortlessly between differing projects and collaborations –  and along the way, there was continued work on his opera project – of which more news will unfold this year.
Here are some extracts from the only interview John conducted with me last year, for publication in TBL issue 41:
DL: So let’s start with the present and your opera project – which I think I am right in saying is partly based on …