Exclusive TBL Interview with Deborah Bonham:

Here’s the complete interview I recently conducted with Deborah Bonham. Deb and the band are currently collaborating with Paul Rodgers on his Free Spirit tour – initial reports of the gigs have been very impressive. The 14 date tour ends on May 27 at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

DL: So first of all let’s talks about your album catalogue – this is all being re-released and remastered via Cadiz Music. You must be pleased about that?

DB: Yes, very much so. Cadiz are a great old label they have been going years, they have all been remastered and we added the extra songs to the Spirit album. So they are all out there for the tour.

DL: When you hear some of your earlier work on the Looking Back At The Moon collection, what are your memories of that 1980s period?

DB: Some of it I love. In fact we started adding the song Heaven to the set and it’s been going down a storm.

Some of it I really wouldn’t want to listen to again! It’s all part and parcel of the time. Some of the stuff like Heaven, I did without record company interference, so that doesn’t sound too dated. Looking back, they tried to make me sound of the time because they felt that was what was selling. Now you could not do that with Led Zeppelin or say Joni Mitchell. If you put an early Joni album on, or a Led Zeppelin one it’s not dated – it sounds as fresh today as the day it was recorded.

DL: So many artists though were caught up in that 80s sound – even Robert Plant…

DB: I guess so yes – perhaps with the Shaken’n’Stirred album though I think that is a brilliant album – Little By Little is one of my favourite songs of his. I think in the 1980s a lot of people fell victim to that sort of thing. I guess if I hadn’t gone through all that turmoil with Carrere Records, I would not be the person I am today. I’m really glad it worked out the way it did.

DL: You have some dates lined up in France ahead – you seem to have a good following over there.

DB: Yes it’s really fantastic. We have such a good agent out there. He believed in us when everyone else was saying ‘oh well they’re getting older and its only rock and blues’- and all that negativity. He just came to a show and said ‘If I work hard I can get this band moving in France’ and that’s exactly what he did.

DL: You have had Jo Burt supporting…

DB: Yes he’s great. In in fact at one of our shows a guy came up and said ‘I’ve got this for you’ and it was a Virginia Wolf with Jason and Jo live at Reading recording. I got up at that one so it’s me singing too. It was when we were all very slender and ready to conquer the world!

DL: So let’s talk about the upcoming tour with Paul Rodgers – how did that all evolve?

DB: Originally we did the Willows Charity show and we did some Free stuff. Paul did talk about doing something again but then sadly Andy Fraser passed away and the timing wasn’t right. It’s come full circle now and I think the time is right. Paul was so inspired performing with Pete and my guys in the band and he said ‘This is the band I want to do this tour with’.

I was absolutely thrilled for the guys and they are over the moon to be playing the songs of Free with Paul. Then I got asked if I would open the shows and I thought ‘ What an honour.’

I will be performing with Doug Boyle on electric guitar, he is brilliant. He played with us earlier in the year at the 100 Club. I’ve known Doug for along long while. He played on the Old Hyde album with me. I knew I wouldn’t be playing with my band -and I had already done the piano and vocal thing at the Albert Hall before when Paul did the Royal Sessions . So I knew I needed someone fresh to it. I wanted to do it with electric guitar and I wanted it to sound right out there. So I rang Doug and he said he would love to di it. It’s pushing the boundaries a bit as it will just be Doug and myself. I am really looking forward to it.

It’s another challenge. I’ve leant from Robert about always trying to re invent yourself to move forward. That’s something he’s brilliant at. He just comes back with another phenomenal project and you listen to it and think ‘oh gosh he’s done it again’.

DL: It’s 25 years next week since you appeared at the UK Led Zeppelin Convention I co- organized with Andy Adams at the Royal National Hotel in London. So many of your family members were there, it was a very special time. The Sunday afternoon set you performed there was one of the most emotional gig’s I’ve ever witnessed. How do you look back on that weekend?

DB: Oh my goodness – where has that gone? Oh gosh, If I think back too much, I well up a bit because something special happened in that room when we played on the Sunday afternoon. Something really special happened and I would like to think that it was the spirt of my brother John. There was something incredibly moving that occurred then. Every single person who was in that room felt it, including my late brother Michael , Zoe, my Mum, Pete – we all left with an incredible feeling.

I look back and I see the photos (NB: the pic to the left shows myself, Deb and Michael at the 1992 Convention) and Michael on conga drums – he didn’t  know I was going to do that do you remember? We just set the congas up and then called him up on stage. It was just an incredible occasion to be amongst so many fans – there was this real spirit of Led Zeppelin being so alive again. I can’t believe it was 25 years ago  – though if I looked in the mirror I would start believing it!

We were doing Heaven back then. In fact I remember our long term supporter Pat Lyons shouting out ”Do Heaven!” in his welsh accent.

When we did the Giants of Rock festival recently, I dedicated it to him – that was when we dug out Heaven again so I said ”I am going to dedicate this to an old longtime supporter and follower of ours Pay Lyons.” I can still hear him shouting ”Do Heaven!”

DL: You recently appeared with Foreigner at the Palladium – that must have been a thrill?

DB: That was fantastic. Mick Jones called me to do it – they really wanted me to sing on I Want To Know What Love Is. That is an iconic song and they are an iconic band. I’ve known Mick for a long time, I toured across Europe when Jason was playing with them. I have such a lot of respect for him – you forget how many great songs they’ve written. When they perform the likes of Waiting For A Girl, and all those great songs, it’s like they are playing them for the first time. The passion and emotion is all there still.

DL: What’s the progress on the planned stature of John as championed by the John Bonham Memorial Fund?

DB: Well it’s all happening – and in true Zeppelin style it’s got that mystique around it, so I cannot tell you too much as yet. I can tell you its going to look phenomenal and I’m incredibly proud. It’s taken a lot of work getting it right and getting the right sculpture because this is John – it has to be the best. We are looking at some time next year  and like I said, we will keep it all within the Zep mystique.

DL: Robert had some very nice words for you when he came on stage at the Worcester gig – you must be very proud of the lasting affection he has for all you do

DB: There’s a great love between us. It goes back many years – as we get older, as I’ve got older, we have got a lot closer which I think happens. I’ve ceased being the little girl – John’s little sister…it’s taken a few years (laughs). At the end of the day he will always be Uncle Robert! We had a great time when he came to sing with us recently and it’s such an honour to share the stage with him. There’s a lot of love and Robert has a big heart.

My brother Michael had one of the biggest hearts in the world. I just think we’ve worked hard to get it right and do the right thing. Sometimes we’re humans and we get it wrong but the majority of the time you try to do the right thing and I’ve been trying to do that musically too.

DL: Do you find it hard to cope with the obvious Led Zeppelin association you have?

DB: It can be hard being connected to Led Zeppelin but it was a decision I took many years ago not to deny it. I had to stick to my guns and do what I wanted to do. I did open myself up to agents and god knows what to absolutely abuse that position which I have – which as I said, I am connected to Led Zeppelin because my brother was John Bonham. That fact should never be abused. I get very protective and angry if someone thinks they are going to have a quick fix with my career by trying to play that card and I just won’t let it happen. I’ve been quite fierce about that throughout my career.

DL:  You always seem to strike the right balance with that I’d say…

DB: It is a balance you are absolutely right you don’t want to upset people. At the same time with the Zep thing, it has to be right so as an encore if we do Rock And Roll,  it’s as a little thank you and nod of acknowledgement. If people have listened to me for an hour and a half and if get a good response, then that is great.

I would never pull out a Zep song out just to try and get a great response. It’s not like ”let’s play Rock And Roll and people will start clapping’.  It’s just not like that. It’s a tip of the hat and it is is my heritage and I’m very proud of it.

Led Zeppelin included my brother in the line up and that is something incredibly special. I love that fact, I mean gosh – they are my favourite band there’s no denying that!

But I’m doing my own thing and it seems we are now in a position where people are really getting it. When the likes of Paul Rodgers and Robert and Nazareth when we were  touring with them, get it that means a lot.

More and more of my peers are endorsing what we are doing. That to me is just fantastic. So it doesn’t matter what record sales we do, it doesn’t matter we are not playing in front of millions of people and breaking the bank. Because if you have someone like Paul or Robert  saying ‘this is a great band’, well that’s it isn’t it? It’s never going to get better than that!

We are in a good place and we are still doing it and I everybody’s having a great time then we will continue to keep doing it until they wheel us out!

DL: Looking ahead, are you planning the next album?

DB: I’ve been writing quite a bit and it’s just trying to find the window to do it. I’m hoping August will be a time when we can actually start recording again. I’m also doing something on an album by Marco Giovino who worked on the Spirit album and played with Robert in The Band Of Joy –  it’s a tribute to Elmore James album. There’s some great artists on it including Tom Jones. I’ve been asked to contribute and I’m just waiting for Marco to come over.

DL: How is Jason?

DB: He is really busy. I believe he has got a new Black Country Communion album coming with Joe and Glenn. He is constantly out there touring. I’ve been trying to get out there to see him but our paths have not crossed – it’s like we are ships in the night!.

DL: And Zoe and Pat?

DB: They are great – everybody is doing fine and Zoe has a little girl. She is absolutely beautiful, a proper little Bonham I would say. She loves her music and she likes it loud. She loves hearing Zep. ‘I want it loud’ she says and she is only four years old!

DL: Deb it’s always great to catch up with you  – best of luck with the tour, the albums and everything ahead.

DB: Thanks Dave – we look forward to seeing everyone that can make it along to see Paul and our shows.

Dave Lewis interviewed Deborah Bonham on April 11 – with thanks to Dave Hill

Further details of the Paul Rodgers Free Spirit tour at the link below:

http://www.paulrodgers.com/

For more details of the Deborah Bonham Band visit the link below:

http://www.deborahbonham.com/

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Led Zeppelin News Update:
In conjunction with the Led Zep news site, each week I will be re- producing highlights from their weekly email update news summary. This goes out every Sunday. Sign up details are below. Many thanks to James Cook.

Led Zeppelin

The biggest news this week was a sketchy rumour that lead to mainstream media reports that Led Zeppelin could be about to reunite. The rumour came from a site called “Feel Numb” which claimed that Led Zeppelin will reunite to perform at the Desert Trip festival this year for Led Zeppelin’s fiftieth anniversary. The site suggested that the “Any time now…” message on Robert Plant’s website was about a Led Zeppelin reunion.

However, Feel Numb didn’t report that there likely isn’t going to be a Desert Trip festival this year, that Led Zeppelin’s fiftieth anniversary isn’t this year, and that the message on Plant’s website is to promote his upcoming solo album. Here’s our full article looking into the rumour.

The only publication that we saw do any original reporting on the rumour was Billboard, which reported that sources told it that there is “no deal in place” for a Led Zeppelin reunion. That doesn’t mean that no talks have taken place, but it does cast doubt on Feel Numb’s report. Billboard also reported that sources told it the “Any time now…” post on Plant’s website was indeed for a solo album.

• Hipgnosis cofounder Aubrey Powell gave an interview to Rolling Stone in which he talked about designing some iconic album covers, including Led Zeppelin’s “Houses of the Holy,” and “Presence.” You can read the full interview here.

Jimmy Page

• Robbie Williams’ builders were fined £3,000 after Jimmy Page complained that they noisily dismantled a shed on a Sunday. Page complained about noise levels on September 11, 2016, and the building firm ended up in court on May 3. They were fined £3,000, and were ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and a £170 victim surcharge. You can read our lengthy history of the feud between Page and Williams here.

• We published a photo of both Page and Chris Farlowe’s liner notes for Farlowe’s new release “The Beginning.” See our post on the album here for the full image.

• Page and his girlfriend Scarlett Sabet were photographed in New York on April 26 and April 30. Getty Images published photos of Page outside a hotel in the city, and The Daily Mail published an article featuring photos of Page and his girlfriend on April 30. Here’s our post wrapping up what they were up to in the US.

John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones’ updated signature bass guitar (John Paul Jones)

• John Paul Jones’ updated signature bass guitar is now in stock, according to a Facebook post from Manson. Here are all the details on the bass guitar.

Upcoming events:

May 19 – The new album by Darrel Higham, which features Robert Plant, will be released.
May 23 – A photo of Jimmy Page appears in the new photo book by Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, which will be released today.
May 27 – Unrestored footage of Led Zeppelin performing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970 will be screened there as part of an event about the director Peter Whitehead.
Late May/Early June – The March 21, 1975 Seattle soundboard bootleg “Deus Ex Machina” is rumoured to be released around this time.
June 2 – Robert Plant will be interviewed on “Brian Johnson’s Life On The Road” on Sky Arts.
June 23 – John Paul Jones will perform at the Sun Station Vadsø festival in Norway.
June 24 – John Paul Jones will perform at the Sun Station Vadsø festival in Norway.
Mid-September – The new Black Country Communion album, which will feature Jason Bonham, is due to be released.

Many thanks to James Cook.

The complete Led Zeppelin News email goes out every weekend. To receive it each week sign up here: http://tinyletter.com/LedZepNews

Led Zeppelin News Website: Check out the Led Zeppelin news website at

http://ledzepnews.com/

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Reunion Rumours:

I’ve been living with  Led Zeppelin reunion rumours since the early 80s – so this latest round are nothing new.

Many people have been in touch with my take on it – I could be wrong but I would find it very surprising if they were to regroup for the Desert Festival – if such a festival is taking place this year as nothing as I know has yet been organised on that. Any notable anniversary is also bound to throw up speculation and the 50th is no exception – and obviously given the significance of the milestone, it will raise hopes. As for Robert Plant’s ‘Any time now’ message…that has already been up at least three weeks before anyone put two and two together…  one would expect such a massage on a Robert Plant website to be announcing a Robert Plant project and not one of his former band.

Like I said, I’ve been living with Led Zeppelin reunion rumours since the early 1980s and with one or two exceptions, nothing has come of any of them.

But that won’t stop the speculation…

DL

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TBL Archive 1:

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant – Walking Into Clarksdale – 19 years gone: 

19 years ago, on May 5 , 1998, I was very lucky to be at the side of the stage to witness Jimmy Page and Robert Plant perform live on Later with Jools Holland – below is a couple of YouTube clips from the recording of them performing a fantastic version of The Wanton Song and Burning Up – the late great Michael Lee is just phenomenal.

Record Store Day Product  Review Number 2:

Beverley – Picking Up The Sunshine/Me And My Gin (Fly Records RSD limited edition seven inch single)

It was John Paul Jones himself who first alerted me to Beverley Martin’s mid 60s Deram work.

In my interview with him last year I asked John about his 1960s session work. ”I was on masses of stuff and every now and again I get reminded” he commented. ” There was that one I put up on my Facebook page Beverley Martin’s version of Happy New Year. Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate who I have worked with sent me an email ‘Have you heard this?. It was his favourite song at the time and he researched who was on it and found it was me I listened to it. It’s almost a bass solo record. Beverley Martin is fantastic and it’s a great Randy Newman song that one.”

It was a pleasant surprise then when I saw this year’s Record Stories Day listing included another Beverley single – and one drawn from the same session that produced the Happy New Year single.  These recordings were made with the illustrious help of  the aforementioned John Paul Jones on bass along with Jimmy Page & John Renbourn (guitars), Alan White (drum), Nicky Hopkins (piano) and  Mike Lease (organ) and produced by well known 60s producer Denny Cordell.

The young Beverley Martyn first performed with The Levee Breakers, a jug band featuring Mac McGann and Johnny Joyce, who played the folk circuit in south east England. At the age of 16 she recorded her first single. Babe I’m Leaving You, released on the Parlophone label in 1965.

A year later, Beverley was signed as a solo artist to the Deram Records label. Happy New Year was in fact the very first single release on the Deram label, distributed by Decca Records. Though critically acclaimed, Beverley’s Deram output failed to make a big impression  – she would go on to find greater success in the company of John Martyn whom she later married.

This RSD single features two previously unreleased recordings – exclusive to this release only.

Picking Up The Sunshine (take 1) a Donavan composition, commences with prominent piano from Nicky Hopkins and looping bass lines from JPJ. A jaunty affair with a slight Joplinesque slant to the vocals, it’s further benefited by a swirling organ from Mike Lease, very much in the vein of Alan Price’s work on The Animals House of The Rising Son. Jimmy’s role is more of a strumming rhythm contribution that adds to the swirling psyche like texture.

The B side is an arrangement of the blues standard Gin House Blues titled here Me And My Gin aka Gin House Blues (take 1). I had previously heard this song as an A side to an early Amen Corner single (again on the Deram label) featuring Andy Fairweather Lowe.

Beverley’s  version is dominated by some barrelhouse piano from Hopkins and Jimmy gets in some pleasing Lemon Song type steely blues lines.

Whilst neither of these recordings match the quality of the Happy New Year single, they are yet more welcomed remnants from an always interesting period of British music making – and the beginnings of the then fledgling singer. An album of yet more Beverley recording’s from these sessions is on the way – and like this welcomed RSD release, I will be looking to add that to my collection for sure.

DL – May 9, 2017.    

There’s a sample of this RSD single at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSQyFxmUD1A

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DL Diary Blog Update:

The TBL stall did some good business at the Bedford Record Fair on Saturday with a fair few bits sold – and reason prevailed, with just a couple of lovely Carly Simon albums purchased – inspired by the No Secrets Classic Albums BBC 4 Doc.  As ever, it was great to amongst like minded collectors and vinyl enthusiasts including Jerry Bloom, Pete Burridge, Adam Tibb, Michael Herd and Jerry Keen.

After the Record Fair activities – it was time to get suited and booted ready for Janet’s cousins son Edward’s 21st party in the Village Farm Barn in Stanford – and for once it was not a Vinyl Barn! Here’s the good lady and I ready to rock…

TBL Projects Round Up:

In amongst the record buying and nights out, there is some solid work going down on various TBL projects – the workload as ever is well full -here is a round up of what’s going down here:

Evenings With Led Zeppelin:

This is the major book project I am working on with co author Mike Tremaglio and TBL designer Mick Lowe. It’s due to be published next year by Omnibus Press.

This is proving to be a major task – the detail involved in presenting this gig to go chronicle is vast. We all aware that we are working on something very special and it’s not something that can be rushed. We are currently wading through 1971 so yes there is a long way to go. On the plus side, we have got through 1969 which really was intensive. I am at Mick’s most days chipping away on this and will be in the coming months -as well as being in touch constantly with Mike in America via email and skype. The pic here was taken earlier this week as we worked on 1971 text at StudioMix.

In between all that, there is the regular updating of this website to address – and the not inconsequential task of producing another 32 page TBL magazine issue 43. I am lining up some great stuff for this including a new piece from Paul Sheppard, a 1977 US tour retrospective and of course Ten Years Gone reflections on that night of night at the 02 on December 10 2007. Realistically, I am aiming at a late summer early autumn publication. Hopefully it will be worth waiting for.

There’s also a few other things mulling around which may involve yet more plate spinning between the various projects ongoing – more on some of that as it unfolds.

It was good to see The Rolling Stones announce a series of European dates for later in the year – here’s hoping they add some UK dates at some point ahead.

Another one joins the club – It was a happy 60th birthday to the esteemed TBL designer Mick Lowe on Monday – pictured  at StudioMix in Bedford – the man who brings it all alive at the StudioMix design dream factory — Happy 60th mate!

On the playlist: Carly Simon No Secrets album as mentioned above, inspired by watching the excellent BBC4 Classic Albums documentary – and what a great album that is.

Some You Tube clips of a new US based Zep tribute band Mr Jimmy were bought to my attention by Gary Foy recently and most impressive they are too. Have a look at the clip below from their debut show on April 30 at the Whiskey Ago Go – very atmospheric in an authentic spirit of 1969 way – and the guitar playing is incredibly fluent and right on the button – bet those in attendance had a fantastic night…play Led Zeppelin they did and Mr Jimmy did it very well indeed.

Dave Lewis – May 10, 2017

YouTube Clips:

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant – Burning Up on later With Jools Holland – May 5 , 1998 – That’s Mr Gary Foy grooving along to the right of the stage next to the amp:

Mr. Jimmy’s debut show at the Whisky in LA – Train Kept A Rollin’/I Can’t Quite You Baby: