IT’S THE 02 REUNION TEN YEARS GONE WEEK ON TBL WEB – TODAY’S POST TBL ARCHIVE 2009:-

Two years gone and it still seems like a dream. Watching the DVD and playing the vinyl and CD’s today reminded me of the surreal feel that surrounded the whole event. Of course I’m taking about Led Zeppelin at the 02 Arena on the second anniversary of what for me will ever be etched on my brain as the experience of a lifetime. There are some lovely comments on the 02 show by Robert Plant in this months Q magazine. Asked what went though his mind at the end of the 02 show after Rock And Roll he replied:

‘’Bonzo’s family. It was an exorcism in a way for them to let Jason express himself and his dad’s work. Without him it would been a totally different thing because his enthusiasm and points of reference were spectacular, his knowledge of shows that had been performed when he was a tot. And I thought about Bonzo’s Mum Joan. I used to pick Bonzo up when I was 17 in some clapped out Ford Popular, and she used to shake her head and frown and go ‘’You two’’! We were 17 and 19 and then 29 and 32 and that was it’’

As I was lucky enough to be seated in the vicinity of the Bonham family I vividly recall Robert coming to the edge of the stage for the final ‘’Lonely lonely’’ refrain and holding his hand up in at acknowledgment of the family with a beaming smile. So many memories remain ever present about the event, even little quirky ones like having a coffee with Brian Knapp early on the day as though he had wandered in from down the road and not Washington DC, same vibe bumping into Terry Stephenson in the Pilot Inn, nearly losing my mobile phone and then it playing dead for the next twelve hours (that didn’t help matters!). The adrenalin rush of seeing the massive queues, saying to Eddie Edwards in the pub ‘’In three hours Led Zeppelin will be on stage in front of our very eyes’’ and really feeling the magnitude of it all, communal hugs as we went in to the arena…that Tampa film and then in the light there they were (Initial reaction: ’’They are on the fucking stage!’’). A performance beyond expectation – so many moments to take the breath away. For Your Life previously unplayed live utterly compelling and the point it really went into the stratosphere , Trampled oh the groove, Dazed And Confused 1969 and all that, Stairway – yes they did it Ahmet and with dignity, The Song Remains The Same so joyously uplifting and Kashmir so utterly mesmerizing. Jason was brilliant, the staging and graphics simply stunning (as can be seen via the pics here). I could go on and on…suffice to say everything about the 02 performance was quintessentially Led Zeppelin. The way it was, the way it still could be.

Then the sheer relief of the aftermath when going to bed just wasn’t an option and talking long into the early morning with Graeme H, JR and back at the hotel with Gary Davies and Lee Henley from the Midlands.

Oh it is a great life this life of music as Ahmet said and that was one of the greatest nights. The world seemed a very small place that December night as fans converged from all corners of the globe to create what still can only be described as Planet Zeppelin.

Yes it’s a shame they didn’t take it further and Paul Rees quote in his review of the show in Q ‘’One is left to wonder how they can now possibly leave all this behind again’’ might now have a hollow ring about it. But regardless of what’s happened since, on that celebrated December night the story did have a happy ending. Will it ever come out officially on DVD? I’m sure we all hope it will eventually.

In the aftermath of the 02 two years back I received a lot of feedback and comment about the event some of which went into TBL issue 19 and 20. One very touching gesture was made by musician and long time TBL supporter and Zep fan Rikky Rooksby. In noting my reaction to the show and in particular the moment at the beginning of Stairway when the tears came (‘’He’s losing it’’ as the guy next to me one of Robert’s friends commented!), Rikky penned a lyric titled ‘Dave Lewis’ Tears’ based on Billy Bragg’s song Levi Stubbs Tears from his album Talking With The Taxman About Poetry (see YouTube clip below)

I’ve kept this under wraps since then but it seems appropriate to print it here with Rikky’s permission on the second anniversary so here goes – this is

Dave Lewis’ Tears

‘Stairway…have to say I completely lost it at that point and tears streamed down my face all the way through this’

With the money from his paper round He bought himself a stake in a band Guaranteed for maximum enjoyment After 1971’s Empire stand No one could say that he was slow off the mark It’s TBL and me against the world, typewriter, he mumbled after dark

Where the years are Led some Gibsons stay in place Dave Lewis’ tears run down his face

Every album on release was feverishly bought He went for five nights when they ravaged Earl’s Court And his obsession meant he was one of those blokes The sort that follow through good times and bad The sort that a tour takes away And when there wasn’t a tour he kept printing anyway

Where the years are Led some Gibsons stay in place Dave Lewis’ tears run down his face

Robert Plant and Jimmy Page Are here to renew everything that’s gone John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham too Are here to make it all okay at the O2

One ecstatic night he left home for the ‘Smoke’ And put a hole in his wallet where no hole should be It hurt to know ticketless millions were not ‘in the light’ And when a Gibson double neck was strummed his heart burst on the night When music falls apart some things stay in place He takes off the ‘Presence’ tape and puts it back in its case

Where the years are Led some runes hold their grace Dave Lewis’ tears run down his face.

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I Was There – more memories from the night…

You could sense the buzz as soon as you arrived as people of all ages and from all corners of the world were up for it as were the band. Jimmy was smoking and Robert might have lost a few high notes, but he is still the golden god. John Paul Jones is just a genius and when No Quarter started I just collapsed and the emotions overwhelmed me, but chatting to Billy Kulke from Letz Zep afterwards I wasn’t the only one to shed some tears. Jason was excellent as well, as he kept things simple and did best what the Bonham family seems to be doing best. His dad would have been proud.

Yes I would have loved to hear Achilles Last Stand and Babe I’m Gonna leave you, but with a set list as impressive as last night’s and a first outing of For Your Life (one of my absolute favourites) I really got no reason for complaint. After all if they would have played all I wanted to hear we would still be there….

Sitting here in the office now feels weird, as suddenly all seems different and the sun shining this morning for a change seems to fit in nicely. A new day has definitely dawned.

It’s been emotional.

Andreas Stocker London December 11 2007

Can mere words describe this fantastic night?  The magic, the grandeur, the fun – just wonderful!  Thirty years melted away as three (or more) generations came together to view the mighty Zeppelin. The camaraderie in the crowd was lovely as people chatted, laughed and swapped stories from over the years.  We were standing about 5 or 6 rows from the front and there wasn’t too much jostling although at just 5′ 4″ it was a tricky business trying to see over rather tall gentlemen’s shoulders!  The power from the stage just washed over us like an ocean, wave after wave sending the vibes right through us, sometimes I could even feel my hair vibrating.  Ramble On was a highlight for me as I have loved that song forever. Altogether a confident, powerful performance by musicians who are happy with their own brilliance – Here’s hoping for more!

Jill Warburton UK

Above pic by Dave Linwood

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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

Bron-Yr-Aur will be featured in a BBC TV show on Friday evening. (BBC Television)

• There was an attempted demolition earlier today of part of the Pontiac Silverdome, where Led Zeppelin performed on April 30, 1977. But it failed due to a wiring issue. You can read more about the history of the Silverdome in this recent Guardian feature.

• A new, unofficial Led Zeppelin photo book titled “Led Zeppelin Live Times” will be released in February/March. You can find out more about how to purchase the book here.

• A BBC TV show featuring Bron-Yr-Aur will be shown on BBC One on December 8 at 8.30 pm UK time. It will be featured in episode two of “Kate Humble: Off the Beaten Track.”

Jimmy Page

• Jimmy Page’s website is sending out replacement discs because of a production error on “Yardbirds ’68.” It was found that there was a production issue on the first CD of the CD release which caused a small drop in the audio on one track. Page’s website contacted customers to tell them that replacement CDs will be sent out next week.

• Jimmy Page was photographed recently by Ross Halfin with Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron’s new solo album Cavedweller. See the full photo here.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant performed five shows this week: November 27 in Glasgow, November 28 in Perth, November 30 in Manchester, December 2 in Belfast, and December 3 in Dublin. See the known setlists below with videos of each song linked.

November 27 — Glasgow
New World…
Turn It Up
The May Queen
Rainbow
That’s the Way
All The King’s Horses
House of Cards
Gallows Pole
Carry Fire
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
Little Maggie
Funny in My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ to Die)
Misty Mountain Hop
————
What Is and What Should Never Be
Poor Howard
Whole Lotta Love

November 28 — Perth
New World…
Turn It Up
The May Queen
Rainbow
That’s the Way
All the King’s Horses
Season’s Song
House of Cards
Gallows Pole
Carry Fire
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
Little Maggie
Funny in My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ to Die)
Misty Mountain Hop
————
What Is and What Should Never Be
Bluebirds Over the Mountain
Whole Lotta Love

November 30 — Manchester
New World…
Turn It Up
The May Queen
Rainbow
That’s the Way
All the King’s Horses
Season’s Song
House of Cards
Gallows Pole
Carry Fire
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
Little Maggie
Funny in My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ to Die)
Misty Mountain Hop
————
What Is and What Should Never Be
Bluebirds Over the Mountain
Whole Lotta Love

December 2 — Belfast
D’yer Mak’er
New World…
Turn It Up
The May Queen
Rainbow
That’s the Way
All the King’s Horses
Season’s Song
House of Cards
Gallows Pole
Carry Fire
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
Little Maggie
Funny in My Mind (I Believe I’m Fixin’ to Die)
Misty Mountain Hop
————
What Is and What Should Never Be
Bluebirds Over the Mountain
Whole Lotta Love

• Robert Plant has also given two new BBC radio interviews this week: The first aired on BBC Radio 6 Music on November 30 (from 1:35:57.) And the second aired on BBC Radio 6 Music on December 3.

• Robert Plant has announced two new dates in Australia next year: March 23 in Sydney, and April 5 in Adelaide. Find out more here.

• Barnes & Noble is selling an exclusive gold vinyl version of Robert Plant’s new album.

Upcoming events:

December 6 – Robert Plant will perform in Sheffield.
December 8 – Robert Plant will perform in London and Bron-Yr-Aur will be featured on “Kate Humble: Off the Beaten Track” on BBC One at 8.30 pm UK time.
December 10 – Tight But Loose will host a fan meet-up in London to mark 10 years since the O2 reunion.
December 11 – Robert Plant will perform in Portsmouth.
December 12 – Robert Plant will perform in Birmingham.
February/March – New Led Zeppelin photo book “Led Zeppelin Live Times” will be released.
February 1 – Robert Plant will perform at the UK Americana Awards in London.
February 9 – Robert Plant will perform in Raleigh, North Carolina.
February 11 – Robert Plant will perform in Charlotte, North Carolina.
February 12 – Robert Plant will perform in Norfolk, Virginia.
February 14 – Robert Plant will perform in New York.
February 16 – Robert Plant will perform in Boston, Massachusetts.
February 17 – Robert Plant will perform in Toronto, Ontario.
February 20 – Robert Plant will perform in Chicago, Illinois.
February 22 – Robert Plant will perform in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
February 24 – Robert Plant will perform in Denver, Colorado.
February 26 – Robert Plant will perform in Phoenix, Arizona.
February 28 – Robert Plant will perform in Oakland, California.
March 2 – Robert Plant will perform in Los Angeles, California.
March 23 – Robert Plant will perform in Sydney, Australia.
March 26 – Robert Plant will perform in Sydney, Australia.
March 27 – Robert Plant will perform in Sydney, Australia.
March 30 – Robert Plant will perform at the Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia.
April 1 – Robert Plant will perform in Melbourne, Australia.
April 2 – Robert Plant will perform in Melbourne, Australia.
April 5 – Robert Plant will perform in Adelaide, Australia.
April 8 – Robert Plant will perform in Perth, Australia.

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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”Ahmet We Did it”:

Led Zeppelin 02 Reunion Ten Years Gone TBL Anniversary Celebration Day Event Update:

This is all shaping up to be a great day out

Tickets to the event are now on sale – please note you can also pay for entry on the day if that is more convenient. Entry on the day is £8

We are now running the event one hour earlier so we kick off at 1pm and run through to 9.30pm 

Just heard legendary UK Led Zep collector/chronicler is aiming to join us

Guest speakers lined up are Legendary Led Zep author Luis Rey will be in attendance talking about his Led Zeppelin Tape Documentary book

Plus  Former Melody Maker editor and author Chris Charlesworth is coming along to talk about his time on the road with Zep – he will also talk about and have copies available of his new Elvis Presley book Caught In A Trap: The Kidnapping of Elvis.

Simon Cadman who covered the 02 Reunion concert for IRN News will also relay his memories.

In amongst all that, there will be plenty of Zep related and 02 Reunion Concert footage

There’s also a TBL Survey to complete on the day to determine the favourite Led Zeppelin 02 performance, all time favourite best track and all time favourite album – the results of which will be announced during the day.

The Quiz will involve questions surrounding the o2 Reunion Concert plus a Guess The Song lyric round – there’s prizes for the winners!

Here’s the planned line up:

1pm to 2.15 pm : Introduction and footage playback

2.15 to 2.45:  Guest Speaker Luis Rey

2.45 to 3.15: Footage playback

3.15 -3.45:  Guest Speaker – Chris Charlesworth

3.45 to 4.15:  Footage playback

4.15 to 5.00: The Quiz

5.00 to 5.30: Footage playback

5.30 to 7.00: Guest Speaker Simon Cadman plus ‘I Was There’ fan forum – personal memories of the 02 Reunion

7.00 to 9.30: Footage playback

The line up is fairly flexible and subject to change but that’s the overall scope of the day. The footage will be a variety of Led Zeppelin film through the years with emphasis on the 02 Reunion.

Photos:

A couple of other points – if you are attending on the day and have any photos you took at the 02 Reunion concert we would love to see them -so bring them along.

Lunch:

The Atlas pub will be serving meals including a Sunday lunch – if you require lunch we would ask you to ring the pub to confirm this so they know how many lunches to prepare. You can ring them on 0207 385 9129

To re- iterate all the details:

Dave Lewis and Julian Walker Present:

‘’Ahmet We Did it’’: Led Zeppelin 02 Reunion Ten Years Gone TBL Anniversary Celebration Day Event

Sunday December 10, 2017

Venue: The Atlas Pub

Upstairs Function Rooms

16 Seagrave Road,

Fulham,

London,

SW6 1RX

0207 385 9129

http://www.theatlaspub.co.uk/

From 1pm to 9.30pm

Nearest tube: West Brompton (District Line, London Overground, and Southern train services)

A unique TBL Led Zeppelin fan gathering staged exactly ten years gone from that night of nights.

‘’Ahmet we did it’’

Ten years on let’s celebrate that fact all over again….

IMPORTANT:

To confirm your attendance:

Please send £7.50 via PayPal at the link below:

Please note if you require more than one ticket – just make an additional order for each ticket -there is not a facility for multiple orders.

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/led-zeppelin-02-reunion-ten-years-gone-tbl-anniversary-celebration-day-event-order-tickets-here/

 I will send you a PDF ticket to confirm your attendance. This will need to be presented on the day at the pub. Also please print out the confirmation E-mail I will send with the PDF attachment and bring that along too. You will require both the ticket and a copy of the E-mail confirmation to gain entry.

We look forward to seeing all that can make it along

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To be continued – more 02 Reunion Ten Years Gone thoughts tomorrow…

YouTube clip:

Billy Bragg -Levi Stubbs Tears: