Jason Bonham has announced a May tour in the USA with the Led Zeppelin Experience. The highly acclaimed tribute show to his father, John Bonham, was staged  last year to rave review across America. Jason said of the Experience.  “I never imagined that the tour would have received the overwhelmingly positive reactions that it did, It’s been beyond my wildest dreams to come out represent my family, my father and the music of Led Zeppelin”

As with last year, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience feature James Dylan on lead vocals, Tony Catania on guitar, Stephen Leblanc on keyboards/pedal-steel guitars and Michael Devin on bass.

The tour is sandwiched in-between Jason’s UK tour with Paul Rodgers in April and the June-July tour with the Black Country Communion.

The dates for Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience are;

May 04 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
May 05 – New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre
May 06 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Resort
May 07 – New Hampshire, CT – Capital Center
May 09 – Buffalo, NY – University PAC
May 10 – Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury
May 12 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis
May 14 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy
May 15 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre
May 17 – Indianapolis, IN – Egyptian
May 18 – St. Louis, MI – The Pageant
May 19 – Kansas City, MI – Harrah’s Casino
May 20 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
May 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
May 24 – Fremont, CA – Saddlerack
May 25 – Napa, CA – Uptown Theatre
May 26 – Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre
May 27 – Los Angeles, CA – The Greek Theatre
May 28 – Las Vegas, NV – Alliente Casino

Short clip of the intro to The Led Zeppelin Experience

The Anna Nicole Opera featuring an appearance by John Paul Jones is due to receive its television premiere this Friday March 25th on BBC 4 at 9pm. The hit opera based on the life of the young American Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith.Composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas have created a darkly comic work for the Royal Opera which satirises celebrity and consumer culture. Eva-Maria Westbroek sings the challenging and complex title role, and the two central men in her life, her billionaire husband and her lawyer, are sung by Alan Oke and Gerald Finley. Musical director Antonio Pappano conducts the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House. John Paul Jones appears as part of a jazz trio at a party during the second half of the show.

Jet Harris 1939 – 2011

All here at TBL are sad to hear the news of the death of Jet Harris, aged 71.

Jet was a founder member of The Shadows and performed on many of their early hits including Kon Tiki, Wonderful Land and the world wide smash Apache. In 1962 he left the band, eventually teaming up with ex Shadows drummer Tony Meehan. The pair enjoyed hits with iconic instrumentals Diamonds, Scarlett O’Hara and Applejack. The number one hit Diamonds was one of Jimmy Page’s first appearances on record as a session guitarist. John Paul Jones then known as John Baldwin, became a member of the Jet Harris & Tony Meehan touring band.

A serious car crash took Jet out of the limelight and he battled a drink problem. Admirably in recent years he emerged back on the touring circuit and in 2010 he was awarded the MBE for services to music. He was a true pioneer of the bass guitar and a huge influence on a generation of musicians. (DL)