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FEATHER IN THE WIND – LED ZEPPELIN OVER EUROPE 1980 – BOOK LATEST UPDATE AND CALL OUT

11 March 2011 8,977 views 10 Comments

Progress on the book I have been compiling titled  Feather In The Wind- Led Zeppelin  Over Europe 1980 is ongoing and we are now commencing the design stage with a view to publication in late May/June.

Here’s what the book is all about:

In the summer of 1980, Led Zeppelin undertook what would be their final tour –a low key 14 date trek across  Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland.

With a radically streamlined stage presentation and set list, the aim was to get back to being a working band after all the lay offs and grand scale of their 1979 Knebworth appearances.

This air of rejuvenation would inspire plans for a full scale tour of America in the autumn that would be sadly cancelled with the untimely death of John Bonham.

Vastly under reported at the time, the Led Zeppelin Over Europe ’80 tour has taken on something of mythical status over the years. It found the band anxious to stamp their authority on a changing musical landscape as their reputation tethered like a feather in the wind.

In this forthcoming book, Dave Lewis brings a first hand view in chronicling this final era  setting the scene with the build up to the tour, on the spot reports of the gigs from the time and retrospective views from those that were there. The book also includes an in depth gig by gig analysis, full bootleg appendix and is illustrated throughout with many rarely seen photos.

It all adds up to an illuminating volume that pours fresh 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 nearly forgot…remembered and re-assessed in greater detail than ever before.

.. .. .. ..

Here’s some additional Info:

* I have spent the past 18 months amassing the info and writing, editing and compiling the text and source material. During that process I would like to acknowledge the vital input of Gary Foy, Mike Tremaglio, Larry M. Bergmann Jr, Graeme Hutchinson, Howard Mylett, Steve Jones, Michael Kirschner, Nick Anderson, Gerard Sparaco, Sam Rapallo and Argenteum Astrum.

* The book is the follow up to the much acclaimed  Then As it Was -Led Zeppelin At Knebworth.

* It’s the same size as the Knebworth book and in hardback format and it will sit proudly on the bookshelf next to it. If you enjoyed the Knebworth book – you will find Feather In The Wind offers the same ‘I was there’ on the spot retrospective feel.

* Whilst similar in size and style, Feather In the Wind is a major step forward with a full colour design throughout by TBL designer Mick Lowe. It and features an abundance of rarely seen live on stage images from the Over Europe 1980 tour expertly presented to offer maximum visual impact.

* The centerpiece is a lengthy copiously illustrated gig by gig analysis of the 14 shows with venue and set list details, commentary info and complete on stage spoken transcribes.

* The series of I Was There recollections in the book includes contributions from renowned fans Howard Mylett, Steve Jones and Mark Harrison.

* There are also a series of backstage viewpoints drawn from various touring personnel – from the loyal roadies and tour managers to the record company representatives and sound technicians. These backstage recollections throw fresh light on the latter days of the group.

* Similar to the Knebworth book, long term TBL contributor Larry M. Bergmann Jr contributes a chapter reflecting his personal views on the Over Europe 1980 tour as seen from across the water.

* My own memories from the time are chronicled in a 10,000 word diary of my adventures up close and personal with Led Zeppelin in the summer of 1980 – as written at the time for the long out of print TBL 5.

* The book also includes a series of extensive appendix sections – including a fully illustrated Over Europe 1980 bootleg discography, a guide to Over Europe 1980 memorabilia items, on tour statistics, Coda discography and more.

It all adds up to the most intensive study of a single Led Zeppelin tour ever produced – made all the more compelling by the fact it focuses on the latter Zeppelin era when so many questions were being asked of the band – not least did they still have a future and where did they sit within the changing musical trends of the 1980s?

This book attempts to discover the answers to such questions and in doing so takes every reader on journey on tour with Led Zeppelin in the summer of 1980…

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

Feather in the Wind – Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 is the book that can transport you back in time to the last days of the legend.…

…And it’s coming soon….

Over Europe book work in progress – DL and designer Mick Lowe -Studio Mix Bedford, March 7th 2011

Ordering Details:

All those who have paid a £10 deposit for the book via the TBL fill in flyer will be notified prior to the publication of the balance to pay.

I will be confirming the price with postage costs shortly and will activate a pay pal ordering link where pre ordered copies can be ordered and paid for in full via the TBL site.

The initial run is a hardback limited edition – all books purchased will be personally signed by the author.

Finally – A Call Out:

I am keen to make contact with the following fans who were at some of the Over Europe 1980 shows.

If you are one of the listed names below or if anyone knows the email address or contact details of the following I’d be most grateful if they could get in touch via my email davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com

Mark Staples
Andrew Strauss

Chris Turner
Hans P Kirsch
Bruno Sattler
Francesco Nonino
Paul Nicholas
Berno Schunrck
Dan Groves
Angelika Stedouthe
Jorg Tschirschwitz

……

More news on all of this soon – meanwhile it’s back to the text, lay out and design…

Dave Lewis – March 11th, 2011

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10 Comments »

  • bernie said:

    listen to this, not only was i there, but i met plant and jones on the street!!!!

    anyone interested in talking to me e mail me ilysfrie@aol.com also the poster autographed to me Bernie is up for sale at Christie’s get in touch with them cgrahm@christies.com

  • JANEAULT DIDIER said:

    MAYBE YOU REMEMBER ,I USED TO READ YOUR TIGHT BUT LOOSE FANZINE,A LONG TIME AGO!!!!!!STILL INVOLVED IN ZEPPELIN MUSIC,THIS YEAR IS KIND OF BIRTHDAY FOR ME, CAUSE IN 1971,THE TWENTY THIRD OF NOVEMBER IN PRESTON,I MET LED ZEP ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME….AND ,SO, BECAME THEIR GREATEST FAN IN FRANCE…40 YEARS LATER,I STILL LOVE THEM AS THE FIRST DAY.AND THIS CONCERT IS STILL THE BEST OF THE BEST FOR ME.HOPE,IF YOU REMEMBER ME,YOU’LL GIVE NEWS.ALL MY ZEP BEST
    DIDIER

  • Shayne said:

    Dave- I’m very excited to get my hands on the new book. I discovered Zeppelin in 1979 when I was 11 years old. I got In Through the Out Door(on 8track)when it came out and listened to it endlessly in the dark in my bedroom as a 12 year old. So 1980 was the start of my Zep fascination.
    I received your last book “Then As It Was” for Christmas and read it in 2 days.
    I’m certain this new one will be just as great. Probably the only book ever written specifically about that tour. What a special time in Zeppelin’s history. It was a new album to go with a new time. An album that has been largely overlooked by critics and fans alike. Although anyone on this website certainly wouldn’t be one of those fans I hope.
    As far as the title of the book, I assumed it came from Plant’s symbol on the 4th album. Although the lyric from All My Love may be the origin. Great title either way.
    So thank you so much Dave for writing this very special Led Zeppelin book and for keeping the magic and mystery of Zeppelin alive and well.

  • Chris Wright said:

    Dave, it’s great to see that the project is coming together so well. Looking back it seems incredible that Zeppelin could ever have undertaken such a low-profile tour, after so many behemoth performances. But it was, of course, a total reflection of the music scene of that time, when the ” quick fix” of the three minute pop tune ruled the airwaves and the established rock gods were deeply unfashionable. I’m sure Feather in the Wind is not only going to be a fabulous re-counting of the band’s most out of character era, but also, like your last book, a wonderful evocation of what it was like to live through those times.

  • Jez Firth said:

    Need to correct Simon I think. I believe Dave’s book title is part of the lyric in the haunting and poetic All My Love from In Through The Out Door.
    Are you confusing it with Candle In The Wind?

  • john herbst said:

    Bought the Knebworth book and enjoyed it.Looking forward to Over Europe 80 book.I was first turned on to the boots of Zep from the 80 tour.Zurich was my first boot and I began to get more and fall in love with Zep from their.I’ll be waiting…

  • simon goldsworthy said:

    sounds great – but hate the title – it’s from an elton john song isnt it? please change it? always found it weird how under-reported it all was, so this will correct the travesty.

  • Gerd Zaunig said:

    Thanks for the update. I’m sure it will become a very interesting book. Can’t wait to order it!

  • Michael Brazee said:

    Dave,
    Can’t wait. I’m sure it will be even better (if possible) than The Knebworth book.
    Mike

  • Steve Harrison said:

    Cannot wait for this (but I must LOL) this is my most anticipated Zep book release.

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