Heart’s performance of the Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway To Heaven” from last month’s Kennedy Center Honors tribute has been released via iTunes.

“I am so happy you all liked our performance of Stairway to Heaven at The Kennedy Center Honors event,” posted vocalist Ann Wilson. “It was our honor to be asked to do it before an audience like that. My main goal though was to please Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones…especially Plant, since all these many years he has taught me so much about singing from the soul and has given me such pleasure in his lyrics. What a high that night was. Never to be forgotten!”

Above photo Jeffrey R Staab/CBS

Heart will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame’s Class of 2013; joining the rock legends are Rush, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Randy Newman and Albert King.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on April 18 at the Nokia Theater, marking the first time the ceremony will be held in Los Angeles since 1993.

The event will be recorded for broadcast on HBO on May 18

The track is available at iTunes here.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/stairway-to-heaven-live-kennedy-center-single/id592650950

http://bit.ly/Y7PKqR

All proceeds raised by the single will benefit the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Led Zeppelin Triumph in Ultimate Classic Rock Awards:

This via the Ultimate Classic Rock website…

Led Zeppelin were the second biggest winners in the 2012 Ultimate Classic Rock Awards, taking home two trophies for their live album and concert film ‘Celebration Day,‘ which chronicled their triumphant one-off 2007 reunion concert.

The audio version of ‘Celebration Day’ won the Best Live Album competition by capturing 41% of all filed ballots. That beat out both the mighty AC/DC — whose ‘Live at River Plate’ earned 25% of the vote — and Ozzy Osbourne, whose archival ‘Ozzy Live’ set notched 9%.

On the visual side, the set also took home the prize for DVD of the Year with 37% of the vote, good enough to surpass fellow contenders such as Iron Maiden (who scored 11% for ‘En Vivo’) and Osbourne for the long-awaited DVD release of his ‘Speak of the Devil’ concert film.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin-win-two-2012-ultimate-classic-rock-awards/

Jimmy Page Greatest Guitar Solos

A listing via Ultimate Classic Rock

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jimmy-page-guitar-solos/

The Blind Boys of Alabama to appear with Robert Plant & Sensational Space Shifters

Following last year’s announcement that rock legend Robert Plant will be performing two New Zealand shows with his band the Sensational Space Shifters, Chugg Entertainment are thrilled to announce that The Blind Boys of Alabama will be joining the line-up for both the Wellington and Auckland shows.

More details at:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1301/S00239/the-blind-boys-of-alabama-to-join-robert-plant.htm/

TBL 34/Dave Lewis Diary Update:

Above – at Studio Mix Bedford this week working on TBL 34 lay out

A considerable amount of my waking hours recently have been applied to bringing the new TBL issue 34 to fruition. This one has really turned into an epic with some 40,000 words across the 32 pages – not so much a magazine…more a mini book. Latest addition to the text included a great interview I conducted last Friday with Deborah Bonham. Her new album Spirit is a class collection fusing blues, country, folk and rock. Debbie enthusiastically relayed the tale of how Band Of Joy drummer Marco Giovini came to appear on the album alongside a cameo appearance from Robert Plant himself.

Got to say I am well pleased with how this issue has evolved and once again Mick Lowe at Studio Mix has done a fantastic job bringing it all alive.  If you have never indulged in the TBL magazine before…well there is no finer issue with which to become acquainted with the best Zep read than this one. Pre order here…

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=18109

There are a few things to tighten up and checking to do on this forthcoming issue but I am hoping to have it on sale by the end of next month. More on this soon.

Projects ahead: As soon as TBL 34 is signed off I’ll be moving onto move into another Zep writing project with a tight deadline. I’ll have details of that soon.

I then intend to take a deep breath to see how the future projects are going to pan out over the next few months. I am well aware that I have yet to deliver the long promised Knebworth second edition – a number of you have paid in advance and I hope to have some clear indication on where that is heading. Once again the problem of only being able to apply myself to one thing at a time rears its head…and whilst there is some fantastic input from various people to aid the TBL cause – basically it comes down to me get things actioned and that’s the job in hand.

I have some exciting projects ahead, alongside the core task of producing the TBL magazine (and you are going to love this new issue) so it’s ever onward…thanks for your patience and support.

It was sad to hear the HMV chain announcing they were going into administration –even though the writing had been on the wall for some time. Even though for many years I worked for the competition (Our Price/Virgin/Zavvi) I’ve always respected them as a retailer and I have a fair few friends who have worked for them past and present. The news brought back some rather grim memories  as I  have first-hand experience of what they are going through as it was four years ago Zavvi went into admiration (rather cruelly on Christmas eve). The outcome then was of course not good as the entire chain closed.

There is speculation that a buyer will be found for selected HMV’s stores and I do think some of them will survive. The future is also uncertain for the Fopp stores which HMV own – the Charring Cross Store has been essential destination for any London visit for me and the Bedford gang – it will be sad to see that go.

Above -the superb Ascention In The Wane box set.

As the snow falls and the checking of TBL 34 continues, I have pulled out the ultimate January playlist  namely the ten CD box set Ascension In The Wane: The January 1973 Soundboards on The Godfatherecords.  It contains soundboards from Oxford, Liverpool, Stoke-On-Trent and Southampton University plus shorter soundboard fragments from Bradford and Dundee, and a sound check from the Gaumont Theatre in Southampton. Glorious experimental set lists with previews for the then yet to be released Houses of The Holy. This period is another highlight of the forthcoming TBL as Mike Tremaglio focuses on that remarkable Japan to UK touring era.

Above TBL 34 pre design raw text

Away from Zep, Bob Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks and Desire have been on – both prime winter artefacts, bleak meandering and captivating. Also had a bit of Glen Campbell vinyl on ahead of the BBC4 documentary which airs tonight. Sadly Glen has had to retire due to the onset of Alzheimer’s. Songs such as Witchita Lineman, Galveston and Where’s the Playground Susie are amongst the finest ever written (by the brillaint Jimmy Webb) and Glen’s legacy as a true singer of the classic song is assured.

There was a bit of drama here last night as  Adam hurt his wrist playing football and we were down A and E to get it x rayed – he has broken a bone in the left wrist. His wrist is in a cast and he’s enjoying being waited on –a trend likely continue for a while – Luckily he cans still play FIFA on PS3!  We will both be hoping Spurs can achieve a rare double over Man United on Sunday. Beating those old red devils is never easy of course.

Right it’s back to TBL 34 checking – and a bit of Southampton University January 22nd 1973…Over The (Snowy) Hills And Far Away…that will do nicely…

DL

Have a great weekend…