ROBERT AND SSS FOR BLUESFEST WITH VAN /TBL ARCHIVE – PAGE & PLANT AT BUXTON 24 YEARS GONE – PAGE & PLANT 1988/ WALKING INTO CLARKSDALE FEEDBACK/LZ NEWS/RECORD STORE DAY/BEATLES MOJO/ DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE
Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters for Blues Fest 2018 double header with Van Morrison:
Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters and Van Morrison join John Fogerty and Steve Miller Band in the line up for BluesFest 2018.
Here’s the info:
Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters, and Van Morrison have both been announced as playing full sets at Bluesfest London, which returns to the various venues of O2 Arena, Greenwich, from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th October 2018. Plant and Van Morrison will appear on Friday 26th October plus special guest Colin Macleod.
Plant appeared as a guest for Bill Wyman’s 80th birthday show at BluesFest in 2016, and this time brings his Sensational Space Shifters “to perform classic Led Zeppelin material alongside tracks from his acclaimed solo projects including Carry Fire, his eleventh solo album, which was released in October 2017″. Van Morrison returns to the festival “for a career-spanning set that will include music from his new studio album You’re Driving Me Crazy, which is released this month”.
Robert Plant said“It’s been way over 50 years since I first shared the stage with Van Morrison; and his band were positioned no.2 on the charts with ‘Here Comes the Night’. His style then and now remains unique and loaded with deep soul. I’m looking forward to an exciting and dynamic night.”
BluesFest Director Leo Green said“For Bluesfest to present an evening featuring full sets from Robert Plant & Van Morrison is a huge honour. Robert Plant & Van Morrison have made some of the most important recordings in the history of music and they both continue to be as vital, relevant and brilliant as they have always been – this promises to be an incredible evening.”
Pre sale for tickets is April 19 -general sale April 20.Ticket details and more here:
https://www.livenation.co.uk/event/allevents
Robert Plant and Van Morrison will also perform full sets at Dublin’s 3Arena on Sunday October 28.
Plant brings his latest outfit, the Sensational Space Shifters to Dublin to perform Led Zeppelin classics alongside tracks from his solo albums, including music from Carry Fire, his eleventh solo album, which was released in October 2017.
Van Morrison comes to the festival for a set that will include music from his new studio album You’re Driving Me Crazy, which is released next month. You’re Driving Me Crazy follows hot on the heels of the swing-inclined Versatile and the bluesy Roll with the Punches both of which were released last year.
https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2018/0416/954799-van-morrison-and-robert-plant-for-bluesfest/
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TBL Archive 1:
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Alexis Korner benefit show at Buxton Opera House April 17 1994 – 24 years gone:
24 years ago this week, I was lucky enough to be at the Brixton Opera House. The occasion was a tribute show to Alexis Korner – it heralded the beginning of the Page & Plant re- alliance – they would go on to produce the Unledded project in the summer. Watching these old devils run though I Can’t Quite You Baby with Charlie Jones on bass and the late great Michael Lee was an incredible thrill…Jimmy and Robert were back together and it kick started an amazing four year period…and it all started in Buxton..what a night…
Here’s some TBL/ DL memories of it all…
TBL archive special: 24 years ago on Sunday April 17th 1994, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed together for the first time in four years at a special memorial concert for Alexis Korner. This was the first sighting of the newly reunited Page & Plant on stage -they were already rehearsing for their MTV Unledded project which would eventually see them perform two special shows at the London TV Studios on August 25th and 26th. Robert Plant had initially been billed to appear but the rumour mill was soon in overdrive that he would be joined by Jimmy.
So it was in the unlikely setting of the Buxton Opera House we watched in some wonderment as Bob Harris introduced the pair and the long awaited reunion of the pair was on. They kicked off with a cover of Them’s Baby Please Don’t Go and then on to a very authentic I Can’t Quite You Baby ably assisted by Charlie Jones on bass and the late great Michael Lee on drums – my review of the time noting that he ‘’crashed and clattered in all the right places’’ –something he would do throughout the P & P re-alliance between now and 1998.
Alongside feeding back for TBL, I reporting on this show it for Kerrang !then the main rock music paper and given the low key nature of the event I was billed as an ‘’undercover Big K! reporter’ .
My review went on to reveal they then played an up-tempo blues jam built around Don’t Stop Me Talkin’ and then a loose instrumental work out with definite Crunge like leanings.
Here’s some extracts:
And finally ’’At least two people haven’t played this song before’’joked Plant as Jimmy stepped on the wah wah pedal and teased out the intro to the classic Train Kept A Rollin’, a track Jimmy used to play with The Yardbirds before he formed Zeppelin and the same number that Zep used to open their set on their last tour in Europe 1980. Inevitably this one was met with a huge roar of appreciation and was performed with an irrepressible swagger that recalled so many past glories. And with that Page and Plant were gone..
This comeback proved conclusively that Page and Plant are more than happy to be back in each other’s company rekindling a partnership that was responsible for so much great music in the past. And judging from a delightful telling moment when Jimmy skipped around the stage chugging out a fierce blues riff against Robert’s incessant scat singing – the potential for this new alliance is awesome. Buxton might just have signalled a whole new beginning for the post –Zep era’.
Pleasingly that latter statement proved to be somewhat prophetic. By the end of August the pair had recorded in various locations and performed the memorable Unledded concerts which formed the contents of the No Quarter Unledded film aired on MTV in October and accompanied by the release of the soundtrack album. The next year they hooked up with the Egyptian Ensemble and orchestra for an ambitious world tour that delighted audiences across the globe.
The initial spark of all this reunion activity occurred on this remarkable Sunday evening in the Derbyshire countryside all of 24 years ago. …who knows where the time goes…but it does and all too soon.
DL – April 17 ,2018
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TBL Archive 2:
TBL Archive – it was 30 years ago this week…
SUNDAY APRIL 17 1988
LONDON, ENGLAND
HAMMERSMITH ODEON
30 years ago this week I was very lucky to attend this Robert Plant gig during his Now And Zen UK tour
Jimmy Page joined Robert and his band for an extended cameo appearance – it was an unexpected delight for all those lucky enough to be in attendance. Originally scheduled to play on three encore numbers, Jimmy stayed on stage for half an hour, performing a stunning ‘Tramped Underfoot’, ‘Gamblers Blues’ (including snippets of ‘I Can’t Quit You’ and ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’) and ‘Rock And Roll’. It was absolutely sensational. ..an unforgettable night when the Page & Plant on stage chemistry was right before my eyes all over again …something I did not expect to see…
DL – April 17,2018
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TBL Archive – Walking Into Clarksdale:
Here’s some feedback from journalist/TBL contributor Stephen Humphries to last week’s Walking Into Clarksdale TBL archive piece…
I enjoyed reading your then and now take on Walking into Clarksdale on TBL. And also the recent reminiscence about Page & Plant at Shepherd’s Bush Empire. I was at that show and it remains one of the best-ever concerts I’ve seen. (I remember how, a night later, Chris Evans on TGiF commented that some people told him it was the best gig they’d ever been to.) I’m listening to the bootleg of the show again now, in fact.
My impression listening back to that show now is that Robert actually sounds better now, and sounded better at the 02 reunion, than he did on this show in 1998 – and that’s saying something. Perhaps it’s because his voice had thickened and has more power now even if he can no longer reach the stratospheric note he hit in “How Many More Times.” It’s a shame that the duo hardly ever played “House of Love” again after those early shows. It’s one of my favorite songs on WiC, though I think it could use a new mix to sharpen the dynamics and highlight the chorus. The studio version doesn’t “pop” as much as it should. (I have always wanted to ask Robert about whether he sees “House of Love” on lullaby and…the Ceaseless Roar, which has some of the same lyrics, as a remake or a sort of sequel to it.)
My take on Walking into Clarksdale is that it’s both underrated and also not as good as it could have been. Too rushed. They needed to spend more time working on the often undercooked songs and the arrangements. The dry production could have benefited from Page stepping up to the fore. There are some great songs: “Please Read the Letter,” “Blue Train,” “Most High,” “When I was a Child,” and the title track. To my ears, the very best song of this period is “The Window.” So bizarre that it was relegated to a B-side because it sounded so different and so fresh and bold (despite the lyrical lift from Moby Grape). My theory is that the song was recorded after the Steve Albini sessions and perhaps to late to make the album. It should have replaced “Burning Up” or “Sons of Freedom.” It has a much richer sound than most of what Albini produced.
A few years ago, I lobbied the Plant and Page contact at Rhino/Warners to reissue Walking into Clarksdale with a remix/remaster and to include the B-Sides “The Window,” “Whiskey in the Glass” and perhaps also a bonus disc of the Shepherd’s Bush Empire show, which was recorded, or some of the live video from that era. But nothing has (yet) come of that. The Zeppelin reissues are clearly the priority, especially this year.
Stephen Humphries
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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 Led Zeppelin Record Store Day single has arrived in stores. It goes on sale on Record Store Day on April 21.
- We updated our list of all the Led Zeppelin-related Record Store Day releases. Don’t stop at the official Led Zeppelin single — there are other releases featuring John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page.
Jimmy Page
- Jimmy Page was interviewed for a new documentary about Jeff Beck. Page appears in “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story.” Page and his girlfriend Scarlett Sabet attended the film’s premiere in London on April 12. We’ve heard that the film will be shown on BBC Four in the UK on either April 27 or April 29, and it will go on sale on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital download on May 18.
Robert Plant
- Robert Plant has been interviewed by Andrew Denton for an upcoming TV show. It looks likely that Plant’s interview will air on April 17.
- Robert Plant was photographed at the Wolverhampton Wanderers football game on April 15. See the full photo here.
Upcoming events:
April 17 – It looks like Robert Plant will be interviewed on “Interview,” which airs on Australian TV network Channel 7 at 9pm local time.
April 21 – Led Zeppelin will release a vinyl single for Record Store Day.
April 27/29 – “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story,” the documentary which features Jimmy Page, will be shown on BBC Four on one of these dates.
May 17 – An updated version of Stephen Davis’ Led Zeppelin biography “Hammer of the Gods” will be released.
May 18 – “Still On The Run: The Jeff Beck Story,” the documentary which features Jimmy Page, will go on sale.
May 26 – Robert Plant will perform at the Bearded Theory Spring Gathering Festival in the UK.
May 27 – Robert Plant will perform at the Bath Festivals in Bath, UK.
May 31 – The statue of John Bonham in Redditch is planned to be unveiled.
June – The gold edition of “Five Glorious Nights” will be released.
June 8 – Robert Plant will perform in Atlanta, Georgia.
June 10 – Robert Plant will perform in Richmond, Virginia.
June 12 – Robert Plant will perform in Columbia, Maryland.
June 13 – Robert Plant will perform in Forest Hills, New York.
June 15 – Robert Plant will perform in Toronto, Ontario.
June 17 – Robert Plant will perform in Chicago, Illinois.
June 19 – Robert Plant will perform in Vail, Colorado.
June 21 – Robert Plant will perform in Berkeley, California.
June 23 – Robert Plant will perform in Stateline, Nevada.
June 24 – Robert Plant will perform in Pasadena, California.
June 26 – Robert Plant will perform in Troutdale, Oregon.
June 27 – Robert Plant will perform in Redmond, Washington.
June 29 – Robert Plant will perform at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in Canada.
July 17 – Robert Plant will perform at the Istanbul Jazz Festival in Turkey.
July 19 – Robert Plant will perform at the Black Sea Jazz Festival in Georgia.
July 22 – Robert Plant will perform at the Vielles Charrues Festival in Carhaix, France.
July 23 – Robert Plant will perform in Paris, France.
July 25 – “Led Zeppelin Live,” a photo book edited by Dave Lewis, will be released and Robert Plant will perform at the Festival de Carcassonne in France.
July 27 – Robert Plant will perform at the Milano Summer Festival 2018 in Milan, Italy.
July 29 – Robert Plant will perform at the Stimmen Festival in Lörrach, Germany.
July 31 – Robert Plant will perform in Pardubice, Czech Republic.
August 1 – Robert Plant will perform in Dresden, Germany.
August 11 – John Paul Jones will perform as part of Snoweye at the Varangerfestivalen in Norway.
September – Official celebrations of Led Zeppelin’s fiftieth anniversary are expected to start this month.
September 14-16 – Robert Plant will perform at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Colorado and the KAABOO festival in California.
October – The official Led Zeppelin photo book will be released.
October 16 – “Bring it on Home,” a new biography of Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, will 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
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Robert Plant on the Andrew Denton show:
Here’s a full round up via LZ News of Robert’s recent appearance on the Andrew Denton show in Australia:
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Record Store Day – April 21, 2018:
Record Store Day is once more upon us and once again, come early Saturday morning the TBL/RSD gang will be be in the queue hoping to snap up some limited edition goodies.
This year there’s the added attraction of the first official Led Zeppelin Record Store Day Release – namely the Rock And Roll/Friends single – that one is sure to be in big demand.
Aside from that gem I have my eyes mainly on the following:
Beverley Martyn – Where The Good Times Are album – this features session appearance by Jimmy and JPJ.
Nico – I’m Not Sayin’ / The Last Mile single – the 1965 single produced by Jimmy Page
The Dream Syndicate – How We Found Ourselves…Everywhere – 12 inch single (which features John Paul Jones]
Lulu – Heaven And Earth And The Stars album
Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn album
Small Faces – Lazy Sunday Afternoon (Early Mix) / Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake (Alternate Take – Phased Mix) (stereo) single
Steve Ellis – Everlasting Love / Lonely No More single – the lead singer with Love Affair and later Widowmaker – a great singer he is too
No doubt one or two others will catch my eye between now and Saturday…
All those are going to be in some considerable demand and I will count myself very lucky if I get my hands on all of them. Still, that is all part of the thrill of the RSD chase.
I’ll be reporting back on the day on the TBL Facebook
As for locations, we are aiming to be at the excellent David’s shop in Letchworth early on Saturday and there may be other record shop visits before the day is done – including the Bedford Slide Records store.
This is the eight year in succession we have ventured out on Record Store Day. I was aware of it in 2009 and the following year Dec made a few choice selections on my behalf. The next year we met at the Rough Trade shop in West London ( see pic here of the fab four in 2011) – a trend that continued until Dec moved to Ireland three years ago. He will be in Ireland at a local record store in Wexford and no doubt we will be in touch with him on the mobile comparing what stock he has found. A strategy that will extend to a fair few fellow collectors such as Steve Livesley, John Parkin and Ian Avey.
Record Store Day remains a universal calling card for vinyl collectors to get in line and unite in their quest for those limited editions. It’s also a welcomed boom in business for countless independent record shops.
All in all, it’s a great event that really does put firmly in the spotlight our love of records and record shops – an excuse (as if I need one!) to revel in the buying of a music format that has inspired generations – and continues to do so…
See the full RSD listing here:
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The Beatles Mojo Special:
Just when you think there is nothing new to write about The Beatles – along comes this new Mojo special – a very clever idea linking it to the famous red and blue compilations (which I bought the day they came out 45 years ago this month) in a slip case cover.
This Red Issue 1962 – 1966 has superb features by the likes of Mark Lewishon,Jon Savage, Phil Sutcliffe (who once spent an evening here researching a Zep III Mojo story) and David Fricke. It had me digging out the original double album and appreciating it all over again. Superb stuff all round. The Blue Issue 1967 – 1970 follows in June. Bring it on…
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DL Diary Blog Update:
Friday treats at the Vinyl Barn – at the always excellent Vinyl Barn last Friday I was well pleased to pick up a copy of the classic King Crimson In The Court of The Crimson King album – a US copy on the Atlantic label – very nice indeed. Thanks Darren!
Book Latest:
The pic below was taken at StudioMix last Saturday with the latest fruits of our labour –namely more pages designed for the in progress Evenings With Led Zeppelin – this is the 575 page volume chronicling all known Led Zeppelin gigs from 1968 to 1980. Co-author Mike Tremaglio , designer Mick Lowe and myself are totally immersed in this – there’s still a way to go with final design, checking and re checking and photo research etc. It’s been, and continues to be a monumental task – easily the most challenging book project I’ve ever been involved in. We think we have something pretty special here and the quest for it to be as good as we can possibly make it continues…more news on the books progress as it unfolds…
The plan is for it to be published by Omnibus Press later in the year.
In the midst of all this, in the last few days I’ve also signed off the other book project I am involved in editing – namely Led Zeppelin Live 1975 – 1977. This is a large format photo book which profiles the work of photographers Terry O Neill, Michael Brennan and Baron Wolman. This is due out via Iconic Images – ACC Editions in late July/early August. It looks most impressive.
Further book updates to follow.
It’s a big weekend ahead with Record Store Day on Saturday and then in the afternoon, the FA Cup semi final between Spurs and Man Utd. That will be some match for sure – here’s hoping Spurs can succeed where they have failed so often at this stage of the glorious old competition. I’ll be watching it unfold with my good friend Max who is a staunch Man Utd fan – it could get noisy and one of us will be disappointed -but hey that’s football!
I’m currently in the throes of a heavy bout of Hay Fever – I get it around late April /early May -something to do with the trees – so if you hear someone sneezing repeatedly in the Record Store Day queue that will be me …hopefully it won’t get in the way of searching out those vinyl gems…the countdown is on – 4 days to go and counting – full Record Store Day report next week.
Dave Lewis – April 18, 2018
Until next time, have a great weekend
Website updates written and compiled by Dave Lewis
with thanks to Gary Foy, Mike Tremaglio and James Cook
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Many thanks Ralph!
Hi Dave! I was on the road for a couple of weeks again, and so was delighted to find the TBL bundle had arrived in my absence, and a couple of days after my return ‘Then As It Was’ showed up. Absolutely stunning products all, so richly laden with photos and text that they will delight for weeks and months on end. As I had mentioned the book is a housewarming gift for my niece and her husband, sort of a coffee table book. (I hope they have a coffee table!) I’ll be surprising them with it at their 1-year anniversary party this Friday, and cannot thank you enough for this mother lode of Zep wonderment! Best wishes and blessings to you and Janet and fam! — Ralph Hunt Sidway
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Tight But Loose Website edited by Dave Lewis and Gary Foy.
Tight But Loose Magazine created by Dave Lewis 1978. TBL/Web launched by Dave Linwood 1995. TBL logo by Mike Warry.
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