DAVID LETTERMAN LATE SHOW:

Last night’s taping of the David Letterman Late show featured an interview with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones –

This report of the Letterman taping via Steve Sauer:

http://www.ledzeppelinnews.com/

The elusive third chair was brought out to the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater for today’s “Late Show,” to accommodate the Led Zeppelin threesome of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The standard two-chair setup returned for the interview with actor John Krasinski of “The Office,” an unabashed Led Zeppelin fan who, as it turned out, was sporting a Swan Song logo T-shirt underneath his dressy outfit.

Audience coach Eddie Brill said he was psyched that Led Zeppelin was going to be on the show. Krasinski said he was working as an intern for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” the time Page appeared on the show with the Black Crowes, and he recalled what it was like behind the scenes of a TV show with such a huge star as Jimmy Page. Fraternizing with guests was grounds for immediate dismissal, he said, adding that backstage tonight he was basically unable to speak coherently to Page for fear of babbling and/or pissing his pants.

When the CBS Orchestra played the trio onto the stage to the strains of “Rock and Roll,” Robert Plant came out first, shook Dave Letterman’s hand and took the empty seat farthest from Dave. Page was next out, and when he went to take his seat in the middle, Jones was left with the one closest to Dave, and it looked like there was some confusion over the seating arrangement. All matched in their black outfits, although Plant traded in his black shoes for some tan cowboy boots.

Letterman started things off by asking if Led Zeppelin had received awards like the Kennedy Center Honors, prompting a brief one-word answer from John Paul Jones followed by a lengthy roll of the eyes. Dave appeared to be grasping at straws for ways to relate to the musicians, and Jones even made a witty remark after a few of Dave’s vein attempts: “How many ‘no’s do you want?” Plant, the only one who’d sat solo on Letterman’s couch before, joked it was good Jones was sitting closest to Dave. Dave got one back at Jones, saying the placement wasn’t best for everybody concerned.

Jimmy Page, sandwiched between his former bandmates, spoke early in the interview, picking up on a question from Dave about Buddy Guy, who’d also been an award recipient. Dave asked if Buddy was an influence on all of them, and Jimmy said indeed he was, referencing by name some of the other blues musicians he and Jeff Beck used to watch Buddy Guy playing with when they were all young. The names Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf were easy for Dave to pick up on, but Page’s mention of Sonny Boy Williamson threw the host a curveball. Dave , “Sonny Boy … Williams?” Robert shot a look of disgust toward the crowd, as if to say, “Can you believe this guy?”

Dave may not know old blues musicians well, but he named off a few of the most obvious choices for British rock bands from the same era as Led Zeppelin: the Who, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks. Dave listed off a few of these bands and asked if they would ever jam together back in the day. The answer was a surprising no, until Robert clarified that while he and John Bonham were touring the “big top,” the other two guys were studio cats and did indeed get to work with those groups. Plant interestingly went not for an anecdote about stealing milk bottles off of people’s front steps but said Bonham, in those days, was stealing cars. Dave kept the humor going by asking if this came up at all when being vetted for a Kennedy Center award. Dave also asked Paul Shaffer his opinion on whether the same musicians who were influences on British musicians similarly affected American musicians. Paul said British musicians had turned on to American music that wasn’t popular here first and, through their innovation, made it popular here.

If it’s a really enlightening question and answer session you were hoping for, it wasn’t there. Dave concentrated on the award ceremony and how they felt listening to others play their music back. Jimmy complimented Kid Rock, and Dave kept on naming other performers who had been on the scene to get their reactions. The mention of Jack Black seemed to make Plant chuckle. Even worse, the mention of “Stairway to Heaven,” which they performed at the Kennedy Center Honors, made Plant jeer once again. Either he didn’t like the performance, by a choir and an orchestra and Jason Bonham on drums, or he was just once again reiterating his disdain for the song.

For something visual, Dave displayed two photos on his desk. The first was less than 24 hours old and showed the three of them meeting with President Obama. Perhaps Dave was hoping the photo would elicit some comments once the crowd’s applause subsided, but it really didn’t. Dave moved on to the second photo, the famous shot from 1973 with the band posing in front of the Starship. This provided Dave with a subject to which he would refer often throughout the rest of the interview, about not needing to have your shirts buttoned up fully when flying on your own aircraft. Dave turned it into a running gag that went over well with the audience. One line that left a few heads scratching came from Plant when he asked Dave if “matinee” means the same here as it does in England. The way he related it had sex written all over it.

Dave recalled something Jack Black said about Led Zeppelin the day before, that their music is about sex … and Vikings … and Vikings having sex. The host asked if this was correct. While Page laughed, Jones added that some songs were about Vikings having sex with hobbits.

In one of the more mundane questions Letterman has ever uttered, he asked their musicians how one could sum up Led Zeppelin’s sound in a 10-word sentence. Plant didn’t jump at the ready with a response, nor did Page. It took Jones to break the silence, mimicking the opening riff from “Immigrant Song.”

Dave mentioned that Page and Jones had not been on the show before. He invited them back but did so almost as a group invitation. Imagine, Led Zeppelin’s surviving members making a habit out of forcing Dave’s third chair out of retirement!

To Dave’s credit, he did ask whether the 1980 death of “the drummer” — the name John Bonham obviously not on the tip of his tongue — made them think about continuing with somebody else on drums. To the surprise of nobody there, the answer was no. Jimmy Page pounced on it, saying it would have been unfair to tell another drummer, “Here, learn these parts.”

Lastly, Dave didn’t ask why these guys aren’t reforming — or if, in fact, they secretly were. He could have broached the subject easily by suggesting, “Look, all three of you are here now, and you’re musicians. Forget about reuniting in the future. Why the hell don’t you play us a little something right now, for God’s sake?” But alas, ’twas not to be. Instead, the studio and home audiences were treated to a musical performance by the waif-like British singer Paloma Faith, her elaborate orchestra and stage configuration, and her multicolored hair.

Above -Robert Plant arriving for the David Letterman taping

This via Facebook from Front Row Dave:

Dave, I had the pleasure of being at the recording of the David Letterman show today….here’s my thoughts….without giving away much….

For those who will be watching Letterman tonight…do NOT turn it off after the band leaves….the next guy also talks about Zep….

It is a hilarious show….Since the band and Letterman spent the weekend together in Washington DC they had a lot of hilarious stuff to chat about….

It was truly a pleasure to see the show in person….my first ever TV show that I attended….and what they say is true….it was freezing cold in there…..

The band did not play….and Letterman did not ask Theeee question…. Enjoy All…..

Many thanks to Steve Sauer and Jeff Strawman  

http://www.led-zeppelin.org/

There’s a clip at this link…

http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/video/2312303684/david-letterman-led-zeppelin-s-viking-sex-music 

John Paul Jones stealing the show here with some very dry wit…!

You Tube clip: 

KENNEDY HONOURS GALA:

More reports at these links:

DAVE GROHL ON PERFORMNG AT THE KENNEDY HONOURS GALA:

Instead of fronting his band, leader Dave Grohl paid homage to late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham from behind the drum kit. And Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins played frontman for the night, howling “Black Dog” and “Rock and Roll,” the bruising one-two punch that opens “Led Zeppelin IV.”

After the ceremony, Grohl told me that the decision was made at band practice just a few days earlier. The Virginia-raised 43-year-old remembers asking himself: “‘Can I sing Zep? I can drum Zep.’” So he traded Hawkins a microphone for two sticks. A few days later in Washington, the band took the Kennedy Center stage for a dress rehearsal without telling anyone about the swap. “The producer said, ‘Are those your starting positions?’” says Grohl. “And we said, ‘Yuuuuup.’”

The performance was one of the evening’s highlights. Grohl’s drumming in Nirvana was some of the most explosive rock-and-roll time-keeping since Bonham left us in 1980. And Hawkins was no slouch, either. His performance was poised enough to earn a bear hug from Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant afterward

Chris Richards/Washington Post

TBL GIFT IDEAS FOR CHRISTMAS:

It’s that time of year again and if you are fed up with receiving the same old tired gifts for Christmas each year, why not give your loved ones a nudge in the direction of the TBL ordering page and get them to invest on your behalf –let them really know what you want for Christmas or you may well end up with novelty socks and boxers yet again. Alternatively of course you can just treat yourself!

Here’s another recommendation for those perfect Celebration Day companions…

THE TBL 2013 SUBSCRIPTION

We are now accepting 2013 Subscriptions for the TBL magazine –this another gret Christmas gift idea

Subscribe now for the 2013 TBL magazines and never miss a future issue!

There’s another action packed line up of Zep related news, views and features ready to provide you with an ongoing Zep fix through the year.

Subscribe now to receive issue 35 (due late May) and issue 36 (due late September) with issue 37 to follow early in 2014.

If you are a current subscriber -for 2012 -your subscription will expire with issue 34 due early February 2013. Why not get your loved one to invest in the 2013 TBL Subscription on your behalf…or treat yourself anyway!

Here’s the ordering link for the 2013 TBL Subscription:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=18106

Above – TBL products ready to be packed to make somebody’s Christmas – it could be yours!  TBL magazines and books make the perfect Led Zeppelin gift…

THIS ONE IS ALREADY IN BIG DEMAND FOR CHRSITMAS…

 Special low price Christmas offer…the book that takes you up close and personal with Led Zeppelin in 1980… 

LED ZEPPELIN FEATHER IN THE WIND – OVER EUROPE 1980. WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY DAVE LEWIS

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Dave Lewis brings a fresh perspective in chronicling this final Led Zeppelin tour ,setting the scene with the build up to the tour, combining on the spot reports of the gigs from the time and retrospective views from those that were there both out front and backstage. The book includes an in depth gig by gig analysis of the 14 shows full bootleg, memorabilia and statistic appendix section and is illustrated throughout with many rarely seen photos and images.

The book also offers a unique up close and personal fans eye view of the era as re-told through Dave Lewis’ diaries of the time and his experiences of being in close proximity to the action during the tour. It all adds up to an illuminating volume that offers clear light on the final days of Led Zeppelin as they attempted to rejuvenate their career by doing what they did best – performing live on stage.

This is the Led Zeppelin tour that time forgot…until now – remembered and re-assessed in greater detail than any other single rock tour.

* Full colour design throughout with over 250 rarely seen photos and memorabilia images.

* Limited hardback first edition –each book individually numbered, certified and signed by the author

If you  weren’t there then…you can be now…

 ‘’Dave Lewis is an incredible archivist and chronicler, and is an asset to rock journalism. He is a fan above all else, but a shrewd and passionate one at that. Feather In The Wind is a hefty tome and a worthy addition to any rock library.’’ Neil Daniels Fireworks rock magazine

All books personally signed

Important Note: Signing of books: I will dedicate and
sign each book to the name of the book purchaser as listed -unless informed otherwise.

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All orders processed aand despatched as received for speedy delivery!

Special Offer Price:

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER! REDUCED BARGAIN LOW PRICE!

UK: £15 plus £3.95 postage and packing – total amount to pay = £18.95

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Don’t miss out – limited offer – order from this link:

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….

AND FINALLY…

DECEMBER 4TH…

Today is always a poignant date as it was 32 years ago that Led Zeppelin announced they could not continue as they were… and I and countless others will recall the pain of that statement released on this day in 1980. They indeed could not continue as they were without John Bonham …but continue they did as an inspiration and influence to millions –as we have vividly witnessed these past few months… and let’s remember amidst it all, that John Bonham was so integral to the reason it still means so much to so many people. Yes so much has gone in 32 years.. .but so much remains… in spirit, in mind and of course in the music. Dave Lewis – December 4th, 2012.

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy

December 4th 2012.

Don’t forget that you can follow Dave Lewis/TBL on Twitter – LedzeppelinTBL

and view additional photos etc at the Tight But Loose Facebook page (add us as a friend) at

http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1611296783