Above photo Robert Plant presents Sensational Space Shifters in Chicago -photo by Suzanna McElyea

 Robert Plant in surprise appearance at Bywater:

This story via wwltv.com:

NEW ORLEANS — Monday night wasn’t a normal night at BJ’s in the Bywater.  Most nights aren’t. But this Monday night was a special treat for a few lucky souls when rock icon and former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant stopped by Guitar Lightning Lee’s gig at the tiny club on Burgundy Street and sat in.

And, of course, in the digital age, rumors were abuzz Tuesday on social media and somebody recorded part of Plant’s visit.

In fact, several people recorded the event. Both videos capture Plant singing, a New Orleans classic, Jessie Hill’s “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” — with a few bars of Lee Dorsey’s “Ya Ya” thrown in for good measure.

The videos don’t show everything from the night. According to one person who uploaded the video on YouTube, Plant was part of “a two-hour blues jam that included 12-bar and shuffle versions of Black Dog, Since I’ve Been Loving You, and more.”

You Tube Clip:

See link at:

http://www.wwltv.com/news/Rock-icon-Robert-Plant-makes-surpise-appearance-at-Bywater-gig-215682481.html

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Robert Plant records with the North Mississippi Allstars at Royal Studios:

This via the Memphis Flyer…

Robert Plant dropped by Royal Studios on Saturday to cut harmonica tracks for the North Mississippi Allstars. Allstars Luther and Cody Dickinson had thought their new album was all but done, when they found themselves in town at the same time as the former Zeppelin front man and blues aficionado. The Dickinson brothers had opened a few dates for Plant in recent years and had talked about getting in some studio time.

“It was unexpected,” said Boo Mitchell, owner of the storied Royal Studios and a man not easily star-struck. Royal Studios is famous primarily for recording Al Green’s hits under the direction of Boo Mitchell’s father, the legendary producer Willie Mitchell. The house rhythm section, known as the Hi Rhythm section, backed tons of soul hits and is legendary in its own right.

There are few musical stars as accomplished as Plant. Led Zeppelin’s IV has sold a reported 37 million copies. Still Plant was moved by the experience of working at Royal.

“We let him use Al Green’s mic,” Mitchell said. He dug the sound and the fact that we haven’t changed anything. He had a fabulous time.”

They worked on two tracks and were joined by Lightnin’ Malcolm on bass. Both Plant and the Allstars had gigs that night. Plant played at the Live at the Garden series and the Allstars at the Recording Academy Memphis Chapter’s 40th Anniversary at the Levitt Shell.

“It was funny, Plant missed his sound check and Cody and Luther did too,” Mitchell said.

The session got off to a wobbly start. “About 4 my phone rings,” Mitchell said, cutting to a British accent. “‘Is this the studio? This is Robert. I need another harmonica.’ He said he had dropped his into some Indian incense.”

A harp was found and to great effect.

“He should play harmonica more than he does. He is a bad ass harmonica player,” Mitchell said.

See link at

http://www.memphisflyer.com/SingAllKinds/archives/2013/07/15/session-notes-robert-plant-and-allstars-at-royal-studios

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Jason Bonham Interview:

This story has been picked up by the national press and even made The Sun on Wednesday…

This via Classic Rock and Legendary Rock interviews

Jason Bonham is planning to stage a tour on which he performs a duet with a hologram of late dad John.

His Led Zeppelin Experience shows already feature on-screen images of the pair before the iconic drummer’s death in 1980, with a part of the performance featuring Jason playing along to video recordings of a solo by John.

But now he wants to take it one step further.

He tells Legendary Rock interviews “it’s important to me to have something in addition to the music – that was the whole point of it.

“It’s imperative that I continue putting together the best shows and take it to the next level. I’m talking to people about holograms, and my dream is to do a drum solo with Dad next to me. That’s my goal, my dream.”

The biggest challenge, he says, is finding original video material to work with. “These guys were operating in the 1970s; it’s not like it is today where everybody can record everything with a phone or digital camera. Back in those days, if you had a camera that could record video, you were well off. To edit, work with it, process it and release it was a whole other matter. I’m trying to work with the limited footage I have, to put it together in a way that works and is purposeful.”

Full interview is here:

http://www.legendaryrockinterviews.com/2013/07/12/jason-bonham-talks-led-zeppelin-experience-touring-with-heart-celebration-day-and-more/

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Bonham’s Auction – Led Zeppelin first album turquoise sleeve sale – more details via our fellow reporter…  

Keeping in the family: Bit of a coincidence this one –following the Bonhams auction our Samanatha came across the fact that the rare Led Zep 1 pressing that sold for £900 had come via the St Albans Oxfam shop – Sam duly reported on it for the Herts Advertiser  she works as a reporter for…and here’s the story…

A rare copy of Led Zeppelin’s self-titled first album that turned up in a high street charity shop has sold at auction for £900.

The valuable record was anonymously donated to Oxfam in Chequer Street, St Albans, a few months ago along with a bag of other unwanted vinyl LPs.

After staff researched the item it emerged it was a collectable first pressing of the rock band’s debut album released in 1969, complete with rare turquoise sleeve.

The store had the option of flogging it online but chose to take it to Bonhams auction house in London which gave it a reserve price of £700 to £900.

Deputy Manger Abigail Owen, who anxiously watched as the record went under the hammer last Wednesday alongside a guitar donated by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, said: “We have never taken anything to auction from our shop so we thought it would be an exciting road to go down.

“I was so nervous my heart rate started to go through the roof because I saw lots of the other lots not make their reserve price.”

Abigail added she was delighted with the outcome and expressed gratitude to the donor saying: “If I could speak to them I would say thank you very much you have done a fabulous thing for Oxfam.”

see link at:

http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/bonhams_beat_the_drum_for_st_albans_oxfam_s_rare_record_sale_1_2276416

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TBL – The global phenomenon !

TBL subscriber Tatan Taufik of Indonisia with some essential Led Zep reading matter in Gili Trawangan, a small island off the coast of Lombok. From Bedford to the world…anyone fancy this as the next Led Zeppelin Convention venue?…….Tight But Loose – truly the global phenomenon…

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DL Diary Update:

There’s been some solid progress on the Knebworth revised edition book project this week. Designer Mick Lowe and I waded in to some weighty chapters. Coupled with a few other projects going on, it’s made for some hard days nights as Ringo once put it…

On Wednesday  afternoon I zipped into a  very hot and sweaty London to sort some TBL stuff – while in town I met up with visiting Canadian based Zep fan Brian Gardiner who does the Ramble On Radio blog – took him to a couple of Zep landmarks including the street where the famous 68  photo was taken as featured in TBL 35.  Brian’s blog ref below:.

http://zeppeled.blogspot.co.uk/

On the player…Stephen Stills Carry Me box set, The Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore plus plenty of Miles Davis –the perfect backdrop for the hot weather including Kind Of Blue naturally ,The Birth of Cool and Round About Midnight – also about to get stuck into the new Led Zeppelin Feb 13th 1975 soundboard (thank you Tekami) and the recent Robert Plant Taste Of Chicago broadcast (thank you Billy F)

The addition of the Sensational Space Shifters to the Bluesfest 2013 line up was another twist in the saga and an expensive one ticket wise but it had be done as the Royal Albert Hall is one of my favourite venues,  though it looks like being something of a late late show with a 10pm start time….

It was a surprise and delight to hear Robert Plant’s performance of  Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down played at the very end of the very powerful BBC1 drama Luther on Tuesday…. A fair few TBL T-shirt buyers have posted pics on the TBL Facebook page of the coolest garment of the summer being worn with pride-  keep ‘em coming –and if you have not indulged yet,  hurry as stocks are selling fast…here’s the order link…

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/?page_id=20967

There’ more work ahead on the Knebworth book and the Rolling Stones feature in the coming days here…

And finally…this hot weather is reminiscent of another hot summer of some thirty years ago and on the subject….

30 years ago this month Robert Plant released  Big Log as the first single from his album The Principle of Moments.It went on the reach number 11 in the UK charts –to mark the 30th anniversary of his biggest UK hit, here’s a then and now focus on the song…

Then…the original Top of The Pops appearance as aired on July 28th1983…I remember that day well as the good lady Janet and I had been in London  (we were just about to get engaged – ah the summer of love!) – specifically to attend  The Beatles At Abbey Road Presentation that was running at the time at the fabled Abbey Road Studios. We then rushed back to Bedford to get in front of the TV for what was Robert’s first ever solo TV performance – a big deal back then believe me! Mime or no mime, on that Thursday night 30 years back I watched the song unfold  in some awe… it all looks very 1980s and very nostalgic…1983 – you gotta love it!

Now…30 years on a performance of Big Log from two days ago ( wrongly listed as The Enchanter for some reason!) with the Sensational Space Shifters, on July 17, 2013, at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts in New Orleans…still a great tune….

Until next time…Keep listening, keep reading…

Have a great weekend

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy – July 19th , 2013.

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