TBL 39 Coming your way soon…

TBL 39 is a wrap – Designer Mick Lowe and I signed it off on Monday and it’s now at the printers. Distribution should commence at the end of next week. We really went some to get this one finished -we had done a little work on it early in the year but that all got way laid when we began the Earls Court project – and it  was only after the Five Glorious Nights book was completed in early May that we got down to getting to grips with this issue. It’s been pretty non stop since then.

The end result is another TBL outpouring- 40,00 words of it. Many thanks to all the contributors who have made this issue what it is, to Mike Tremaglio for overseeing the text and to Gary Foy for assisting with TBL 39 admin.

Just to reiterate:

All current TBL 2014/15 subscribers will automatically recieve this issue.

TBL 39 is the second issue of the TBL 2014/2015 subscription. If you have yet to susbcribe you can do so now  – TBL 38 will be sent to you immediately with issue 39 to follow and issue 40 later in the year.

As a bonus, every subscriber will receive an exclusive 10 x 8 limited edition print suitable for framing. This is a Jimmy Page shot on the Over Europe 1980 tour. It was taken at the Frankfurt Festhalle gig on June 30, 1980 by Tom Locke. Perfect for framing and yet another reason to subscribe to the TBL 2014/15 magazines…

The subscription order link for the 2014/1205 TBL magazines is below order:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/subscribe-now-to-the-tbl-201415-magazines-and-receive-a-free-10-x-8-led-zep-art-print/

TBL issue 39 single orders:

TBL issue 39 is also available as a single order purchase on the link below:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/the-new-tbl-magazine-issue-39/

Suffice to say if you are reading this, you will love this magazine…great summer reading to accompany this summer of Led Zeppelin with less than 30 days to go for the arrival of the final reissues.

Tangible, collectable and that thrill of expectation of something eagerly awaited dropping through your mailbox. Don’t miss out!

Here’s a summary of the contents of the forthcoming TBL issue 39:

Jimmy Page – on the companion disc audio contents:

Jimmy Page talks Dave Lewis through the companion disc audio content of the final three Led Zeppelin reissues.

Presence/In Through The Out Door/Coda Olympic Studios Playback Event:

On the spot report from the June 16 unveiling.

Unstoppable Ascendancy: Led Zeppelin IV/Houses Of The Holy/Physical Graffiti Reissues:

Richard Grubb provides a perceptive overview of the second and third batch of Zep reissues.

The Reissued Graffiti:

Dave Lewis on a monumental reissue.

In Through The Out Window:

Bucks Burnett tells the story of how he secured the ultimate Physical Graffiti collectors item.

Tea For One:

Neil Jeffries takes tea for one at 96 St. Marks Place.

A Teenager Succumbs To the Graffiti of the Physical:

Bucks Burnett on his first exposure to the epic 1975 double album.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss back together for the Lead Belly at 125 Tribute:

Larry Bergmann Jr reports from the Kenendy Center.

Led Zeppelin At Earls Court – 40 Years Gone

Rikky Rooksby remembers the opening night.

Led Zeppelin at Earls Court – 40 years Gone – The Tape Analysis:

Andy Croft’s tape analysis of all five Earls Court shows.

The Making Of Five Glorious Nights:

Dave Lewis on how the new Earls Court photo book came to fruition.

The Vibration of Sound Tracks:

Larry Bergmann Jr. explains why the new Jimmy Page Sound Tracks set is one of the most important of his career.

Nick Anderson Collectors Column

Led Zep reissue promos round up, Led Zep eBay -o meter, and more

From The Underground: CD’s Reviewed & Rated:

Scott Heck contributes a new CD review column.

My First Ever Music Interview with Led Zep:

Chris Charlesworth on his first encounter with some advanced pop exponents in 1969.

Plus Robert Plant and John Paul Jones Latest News Round Up

Joe Jammer album, History of JB’s Book, Deborah and Jason Bonham latest, book round up and more.

This is another epic issue –don’t miss out – order now!

Remember – websites are for browsing – the TBL magazine is for reading time and time again…

Many thanks in advance for all your support.

The new TBL issue 39 – not just a magazine…more a mini book

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Five Glorious Nights – Led Zeppelin at Earls Court May 1975:

This was the scene in my front room on a Saturday afternoon in early March – I was laying out the contact sheets to try and find some order as to how I was going to formulate the Earls Court book  – I can honestly say at the point the task seemed somewhat impossible and I was a worried man… however slowly with the brilliant design work of Mick Lowe we began to make progress….it’s therefore very heart warming to read the positive responses below from some of  those that have received the book…this one was some challenge and I really felt the pressure to it justice.

I recently went through a period of real insecurity over the book  – all objectivity seemed to disappear – I really had lived with it for so long I was not really sure If what I had set out to do with it all and been achieved. Those who had been working on it with me and those close to me, were telling me it was some accomplishment…but I wasn’t really sure about it all – and I knew it was going to be for others to really judge – namely the people who had invested in what is a fairly hefty price for this book.

So the type of response that has come in over the past week has been both gratifying and inspirational. My heart and soul went into producing this book – it is a subject very dear to me and countless other Led Zeppelin fans across the globe. It was essential that I did it justice. I hope I have.

Here’s some feedback:

It’s not often (these days) I’m blown away by things in general, but this book is fantastic. I expected it to be good, but this is beyond my expectations – John Copeland

Five Glorious Nights’ arrived this morning, a stunning book that takes you back to those magical May evenings at Earls Court all those years ago. It’s hefty size and weight can only reflect the power of those concerts, and the array of beautiful shots of the band in all their glory, a fitting tribute to Led Zeppelin in one of their momentous periods. To collate all the photographs and references must have been an Herculean task, but the wait has been worth it, a fine souvenir  for all of us lucky enough to witness those amazing concerts, but also for anyone with an interest in Led Zeppelin. Thanks Dave and the team for all your hard work, just off to have another browse through the book, I can almost picture. Bob Harris in the spotlight and remember the intense excitement and anticipation of what was to follow in the next three hours  that warm evening in May 1975. – Alex Machin

This book is amazing. This is much more than a photo book. It is in fact an “experience” to go through. I went to the three show run and the memories of those nights is forever imprinted on my mind. The book certainly reinforces those memories and has reminded me of things I had forgotten. You and your colleagues deserve a lot of praise for the efforts required in getting such a publication together – well done. – Martin Vail

Just received my book had a quick run through like you do and after doing so had to email you personally to congratulate yourself and all concerned on what can only be described as one of the best books on Led Zeppelin I have seen! At last count I had 23 books on our beloved Zep and this is right up there with the Neil Preston books and even Jimmy’s own book, you should be very proud. – Del Sharpe

Just wanted to drop you a quick line about your book Five Glorious Nights. I received my copy today and I think it is stunning, I’ve had a look through and one of the things I love most are the quotes  by the side of the picture, and also the way the pictures show the concerts as they happened, it really is wonderful, apart from a DVD of the concerts it’s the nearest I will ever have gotten to seeing these shows live. I didn’t fall in love with the band until 1990 when the remastered vinyl was released and that vinyl has become one of many Led Zeppelin treasures I hold dear to me. Thanks to yourself, Ross and all the other people that put the book together, I am very grateful. – Stephen Brockley

Dave – Fantastic job!  I’m not just blowing smoke either.  Could be your finest book ever.  It’s not full of the wealth of info ‘Celebration Day’ and ‘The Concert File’ or ‘Final Acclaim’ for example but that’s understandable because we’re only talking (5) five nights here.  So it shouldn’t be.  In visual terms,  it’s your finest piece of work.  The photographs really capture the five nights from literally every conceivable angle.  The full stage shots helped in that category.  As with Jimmy’s book,  it’s going to be years before I digest what all it has to offer and that’s hard to do at the moment because we are literally being bombarded with Zeppelin and that’s a situation none of us have any complaints about!  As a musician, I could spend hours studying the closeups of Bonzo’s kit, Jimmy’s action setup on his guitars etc. I can almost see his amplifier knob settings!  It’s fantastic!  Keep up the dedication and hard work Dave.  No other band can say they have a dedicated ambassador in their flock like Zeppelin can say regarding you. – Ken Winovich

Led Zeppelin Five Glorious Nights landed here in New Jersey in the USA a few minutes ago and it is just beautiful! I’ve listened to and watched the Earls Court shows many times, but now I feel like I’m experiencing them on a whole other level. Thank you, Dave, for the great care you gave this book and for the great care you give all your Zeppelin endeavours. – Jim O’Donnell

The Earls Court Book – your finest. You can be very proud. It will stand the test of time as this is history on many levels. This is world class – it captures the greatest band at their greatest time. – Steve Way

A couple of longer reviews here:

Rarely does a book come along that actually fully captures a monumental moment in history. But with the new Dave Lewis Led Zeppelin Earl’s Court book, it’s as if you are actually there with a front row seat! Dave’s left no stone un-turned. The book reminds me of the best of those Kennedy Assassination books where every photo, every angle, every nook and every cranny of Dealey Plaza was uncovered on that fateful day in order to document what unfortunately in that case would become the saddest event in American history. In contrast, the Dave Lewis book is again, a celebration. I immediately get that perspective with this monumental book. Right off the cuff, you get the feel of the buildup to the gig as the trucks pull up, unloading stage scaffolding and chairs even before the band’s equipment arrival!

There’s ticket stubs, articles, set lists and reviews. You name it! But most importantly, photos from each of the five shows. And lots of ’em! And they’re not the usual far away shots, blurry, in-cohesive and foggy. They’re right up close and personal.

Led Zeppelin’s 1975 Earl’s Court shows were the band at the top of the rock and roll mountain where literally no other band hand gone before them. They are firing on all cylinders. At their best, no other band could touch them. Argueably, many might feel the 1973 U S Tour captured the band at the top of their peak. Some fans may even feel that 1977 was better or flip-flop back and forth between 1973, the 1975 Earl’s Court shows or the 1977 U S Tour…like myself. Nevertheless, this is Led Zeppelin at their best. Confident, in full swing and explosive!

The book is a nice compliment to the 2nd printing of Jimmy Page’s photographic biography. It has all the set lists and concert summaries as well as important tidbits from newspapers and reporters plus their quotes regarding these shows. You get a full spectrum of observations by many who witnessed these shows. This wasn’t just slapped together with “we’ll go with what we have” type of setting. It’s so full of gems, one would hardly think there’s anything left to add for a revised and updated version in the future! Not unless the former band members themselves would show up and say “I’ve been wanting to show this to the fans for years..” type of momentos.

If you are a die-hard Led Zeppelin fan, this book will give you the clearest look at the band ever. Even better than anything the band’s record company could possibly slap together and would be neck and neck with anything the band members themselves would put out and that’s what’s nice about it! You can easily tell that this was produced by a dedicated Led Zeppelin fan. All of Dave’s books are still used by me on a daily and weekly basis and this one is right up there with them if not eclipsing them all. From the care, planning and assemblage, it’s all here! It’s not only Dave’s perspective or account of the five London shows from May of 1975 since he attended them all. But there are quotes and articles from many others which prove this was a monumental event for London’s Led Zeppelin fans and those from other countries lucky enough to attend.

Many of the pictures are so close we can actually see the band members facial reactions and grins during the show. There are countless great shots of Page’s iconic black dragon suit, their equipment, Jones’s stand-up bass and more and I must say it’s going to take months if not years to thoroughly process all of it. Many Zep fans are musicians and we take the time to study Page’s guitars or Bonham’s drum kit and how it’s mic’d. It’s the best thing there possibly is short of the band actually releasing a DVD of these five epic shows. It’s Led Zeppelin….captured in the apogee of flight! The book includes all of the classic shots we’ve come to love and many more new ones! This is as good a non-video documentary as you could ever possibly hope to get! Fantastic!

Scale of 1 to 5 with ‘5’ being the best: 5-star rating! Utter quality! Well done Rufus Stone and Dave Lewis! Thank you!

Ken Winovich

This book, released in late June 2015, is a visual tribute to the legendary five nights that Led Zeppelin played at Earls Court Arena in London, exactly 40 years ago. The first thing that strikes you about this big and heavy book is the size, it is exactly 12 inches by 12 inches, the same size as a vinyl LP. This is a homage to the hallowed vinyl by the publisher. Rufus Stone have in the past published some large and lavish books on Deep Purple, the late and great Ronnie James Dio, the Beatles, Whitesnake, and Yes, a rather eclectic variety of musicians and musical art forms by anybody’s standard! However with this new book on Led Zeppelin’s very famous, if not legendary, five nights at Earls Court, the publisher has pulled off a remarkable visual feat for all Led Zeppelin fans. As already stated, this is a large and heavy book, but it can still be ready comfortably with it resting on your lap. It is indeed most fortunate that the author of this book is Dave Lewis, the man behind the superb Tight But Loose magazine, and numerous excellent books about the band. Dave attended all five concerts, so he can write with considerable authority and insight about them, as he witnessed each one first hand. He has put in a tremendous amount of hard work into this project, in fact as he just said to me in an email: “I put my heart and soul in that one, and then some!”. The book is heavy because of the high quality paper used in the printing. As the publisher advised me, it would have been a lot cheaper to have this printed in China. But quite clearly this book has been produced on the highest quality terms alone, not on costs. Hence why it is an expensive book, limited to 1000 numbered copies, each signed by the author. There is also a super deluxe leather bound edition, strictly limited to 100 signed and numbered copies, inside a white powder coated slipcase, that is completely sold out.

The book opens with a lovely introduction from DJ Nicky Horne, who introduced the band on the 24th May. He recounts that a few days after the concerts he was given a beautiful engraved Asprey’s silver goblet as a thank you, a lovely jesture from the band. Dave sets the background to these May 1975 concerts with a review of the North American tour that had run from late January to the end of March. This is followed by a detailed look at the the massive organisation and logistics of preparing for these five mammoth concerts. Each of the five nights are then covered, illustrated by countless superb colour and black & white photos from the well known photographers who were lucky enough to get passes for the shows. Intersperced on the pages are quotes from the press reviews, but mainly from what Robert Plant said each night to the audience. The quality of the reproduction of these photos is outstanding, and they add up to make this book one of the finest rock concert records extant. As a serious photographer myself (I bought my first Pentax SLR in 1971), I can appreciate the difficulties in shooting on film (negatives or positive slides) using only available light, at a concert with constantly changing conditions. With today’s massively powerful DSLRs it is straightforward to crank up the ISO and get shot after shot bang on. It was very much harder in those days, manually focussing as well. So the photos displayed in this book are a testament to the professionalism and skills of these photographers. Apart from the photos there are also colour reproductions of the adverts and posters, and at the end of the book all the tickets, bootleg LPs, CDs and DVDs are also illustrated.

Having carefully gone through the book, it is still very difficult to pick out my favourite photos, as there are so many great ones to choose from. Suffice it to say, this book is crammed full of outstanding images, which will bring great enjoyment to all fans lucky enough to own this book. Combined with the extremely high standard of printing (rare in this day and age), this all adds up to a truly wonderful record of those five concerts from exactly 40 years ago. There are also interviews with the promotor, Mel Bush, one of the photographers, Barry Plummer, and finally the music journalist Chris Welch. The book concludes with a brief resume of the events that followed these concerts, with Robert’s terible car accident just a few months later, that ground the juggernaut that was (and remains) Led Zeppelin to a halt. And also a look at the stupendous double LP that was the highlight of 1975, “Physical Graffiti”. The very last photo in the book, on the last page, is most aptly one of John Bonham, hard at work behind his drum kit. Without him there would be no Led Zeppelin, and there never can be again, he was totally irreplaceable.

Every serious fan of Led Zeppelin needs this beautiful and superbly printed and produced book. (Jules McTrainspotter June 2015).

Jules McTrainspotter June 2015 via Underground Uprising website.

http://uuweb.led-zeppelin.us/new_releases.html

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Many thanks for all your feedback – I am a man humbled by the response.

Book Distribution Latest: 

I spoke to publisher Mark Smith tonight. He informed me that 80% of the standard issue pre orders have now been shipped. The remaining orders are mainly overseas and will be on the way in the next few days.

The leather bound edition with metal slip case (which looks amazing and sold out on pre-orders alone weeks back) are now being collated for shipping. Some went out today, the rest will filter out in the next few days. Mark and his team have been doing a great job under the sweltering conditions of the past couple of days. So if your order has yet to be fulfilled – hold on it’s coming.

Book ordering: 

The standard edition of the book is readily available now – from this link

http://www.rufuspublications.com/

Limited Edition of 1,000 only – don’t miss out.

DL

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Led Zeppelin Final Three Reissues – Jimmy Page Interviews:

Jimmy Page has recorded a number of radio interview regarding the final three reissues including a slot for the Johnnie Walker BBC Radio 2 show and Nicky Horne’s Classic Rock Radio show. Keep an eye on the TBL and LedZep news Facebook pages for schedules.

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Robert Plant Movie Appearance: Doreen The Movie…

This clip has been doing the rounds – watch out Brad Pitt – here comes Robert Plant the actor! See YouTube clip below.

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Robert Plant UK Forest Gigs – next week:

Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters are back on home soil for two upcoming dates next week -here is a reminder of all the info:

Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters  – July Forest Live Dates:

Nugent and Belle will be guest support on both the previously announced Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters Forest Live dates.

Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters woodland concerts announced:

 Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters have announced two special dates as part of Forest Live, the summer concert series promoted by the Forestry Commission.

 After nearly 50-years in music, Plant, continues to surprise and challenge his audience with music that is smart, exciting, and completely of the moment. His incredible legacy as the front man of Led Zeppelin and as a solo artist, only serves to keep pushing him forward. Returning to his native England after an extended sojourn in America, last year saw the release of his 10th ‘solo’ album, ‘lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar’, his latest project recorded with The Sensational Space Shifters. The album received worldwide acclaim for its contemporary song-writing and brilliant musicianship. Following a recent sell-out tour of indoor venues, fans can look forward to an exceptional live show which will include tracks from the 2014 album as well as new interpretations of Led Zeppelin classics and other solo material from a long and very successful career.

Forest Live is an independent programme organised by the Forestry Commission to bring forests to new audiences. Over Forest Live’s 14 year history, money raised has contributed to a wide range of projects, from wildlife conservation to making improvements for visitors. With everything required for a great night out, including full catering and bar facilities, the gigs are renowned for their relaxed atmosphere.

 ROBERT PLANT and The Sensational Space Shifters

Friday 10 July – Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Glos

Saturday 11 July – Cannock Chase Forest, near Rugeley, Staffs

Tickets £48.50 (plus £4.85 booking fee) are available from 03000 680400 or buy online: forestry.gov.uk/music

Further Info:

robertplant.com

forestry.gov.uk/music

facebook.com/fcforestlive

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Led Zeppelin Over Europe 1980 – 35 years Gone

This month marks the 35th anniversary of the final Led Zeppelin tour – a low key 14 date trek taking in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Austria and Switzerland. To begin a month long celebration of that final tour, I have reduced the price of the Feather In the Wind book for a limited period to just £8 including postage and packing.

This is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the definitive account of the tour at a bargain price – yet more Led Zep summer 2015 reading.

For those who have yet to indulge, to give you a flavour of the contents – this is an extract from the introduction to the book.

Freeze frame Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany – June 30th, 1980 around 10.30pm:

Robert Plant, with microphone in hands held aloft, is shaded by a single spotlight. Jimmy Page is showered in sweat but still grinning as his guitar tech takes the Gibson. To his right John Paul Jones is dapper and cool as ever after driving the Zeppelin rhythm section for nigh on two hours. John Bonham, happy and smiling, jumps from the drum rostrum and strides over to the side of the stage where manager Peter Grant, promoter Harvey Goldsmith and the esteemed head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertugen, are ready to receive them in a joyous celebration.  Indeed, Harvey is keen to preserve this moment, duly hands me his camera, and asks me to take a photo of him and Ahmet by the side of the stage.

Tonight in Frankfurt, we all have every reason to feel extremely optimistic about the future of Led Zeppelin. Tragically, in less than three months, the band will grind to a halt following the tragic death of John Bonham. 

Fast forward 31 years on:

StudioMix design studio Bedford, England – March 2011

31 years on, I am in StudioMix design studio in Bedford gazing at the various photos Tom and I took when we were situated on the side of the stage watching Led Zeppelin. They are laid out before me as the collation and design of the book you are now reading commences.

So first things first:

How on earth did I manage to secure this prime position up close and personal to Led Zeppelin all those years ago?

I guess it was a combination of fanatical enthusiasm, dedication to the cause, and being in the right place at the right time.,

I had been an extremely fervent Led Zeppelin fan from the day I first heard Whole Lotta Love powering from the radio when I was just 13 years old. I was totally hooked, and from then on this band became an integral part of my life. I took in their shows at Wembley Empire Pool in 1971, Ally Pally 1972, five nights at Earls Court, and of course two weekends at Knebworth. Every album they released, every move they made I soaked up with near religious fervour. By 1976 I was already penning my own reviews and notes on the group and had begun to harbour a massive desire to channel my dedication into chronicling the group in print.

This initially bore fruit when I contributed to a four part series marking Led Zeppelin’s tenth anniversary in the late summer of 1978 for the UK weekly music paper Sounds. I had been eyeing creating my own Led Zeppelin fanzine for about a year, and participating in this well received series was the kick start to getting things moving. Ironically, I was inspired by the do- it- yourself punk fanzines of the day such as Sniffin’ Glue and Ripped And Torn.

Led Zeppelin did not do fan clubs and gaining information was strictly down to whatever coverage Zeppelin were afforded in the then weekly music papers NME, Melody Maker, Sounds, Disc and Record Mirror.  Back then, there was, of course, no internet and in the UK little radio coverage of rock music on TV or radio – and there were no blanket news channels, or even breakfast/daytime TV.

In search of info, and keen to put my thoughts on paper and connect with like-minded fans, I created my own magazine – Tight But Loose (so called after an expression used by both Page and Plant in 1977 to describe their music). I handwrote issue number one (an Earls Court Revisited special), advertised it in the music paper small ads and the response was pretty instant.  There were many more like-minded fans out there across the world that wanted to buy into this hub of info I was committed to supplying.

Luckily for me, this self published magazine struck a chord within the band and their organisation. Within a year, I had developed the format from a hastily handwritten stapled booklet to a glossy A4 format with exclusive photos. The most recent issue – number four published in April, had gone down well within the hallowed walls of their Swan Song record company empire.

Along the way, I had developed a good relationship with their then press agent and office manager, Unity McLean and other Swan Song personnel.  They saw the intentions of this venture were genuine and seemed more than happy for me to produce it.

Back in 1980, in between my job as manager of the record department at the local WH Smiths in Bedford, I spent a sizable amount of my waking hours, researching, writing and collating material for the magazine. This, of course, was long before the age of the internet, Facebook and Twitter. Today, there are literally thousands of ways to discover information about Led Zeppelin – back then there was precious little.

Central to the function of the Tight But Loose magazine was the ability to produce up-to-the minute information to share. With Led Zeppelin preparing to tour in Europe, the objective was a simple one that spring of 1980.

To report on it all I needed to be right there where the action was.

So I hatched a plan with my good friend Tom Locke in Bedford to travel initially to the Cologne show. Work schedules did not allow for much more in that first week of the tour, but having attended that show and been totally amazed, there was no doubt we needed to be back out there as soon as possible .

So it was, I singled out the week commencing June 30th to catch the gigs in Frankfurt, two in Mannheim and Munich.As you will discover in the book, many UK fans had the same intention and travelled into Europe to see them. They included original Zep author Howard Mylett, massive Zep/Page fan Mark Harrison and Manchester based fan and collector Steve Jones. In fact, Steve attended ten of the shows on this tour and enjoyed good access himself.

Back to the photos that lay before me:

There’s Robert smiling directly at us as he walked off the stage in Frankfurt. Jimmy handing over the Gibson guitar to Ray Thomas – tweaking the echoplex – singing backing vocals on Whole Lotta Love. There’s Jonesy driving them through Trampled Underfoot and Bonzo nonchalantly smoking as he thundered through the climax of Kashmir. There’s a magnificent shot of them all under the white mist of dry ice that accompanied the performance of Achilles Last Stand. There’s a handful of shots taken by fans out front where you can see Tom and myself at the side of the stage watching the action unfold (see the circled photos on these introduction pages).

Then there’s the handwritten dedication Jimmy wrote for me to use in the TBL magazine after the July 3rd Mannheim show: “Hope we can always live up to your expectations.’’

They did that alright.

Alongside that is another note, this time written for me by Robert Plant in the Plaza Hotel after the Frankfurt show .The message says: “It works – contrary to public opinion’’.

And it did of course…

So many vivid images, so many vivid memories…

Looking at them now I am filled with wonderment and awe. This is the Led Zeppelin tour that time seemed to forget…until now…

To be continued…

Extract from the book Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind – Over Europe 1980 by Dave Lewis.

 SPECIAL 35TH ANNIVERSARY BARGAIN LOW PRICE!

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Over Europe tour this summer – for a limited period the price of the Feather In The Wind book has been massively reduced – the book price is now just £8 plus postage and packing – a massive saving of £17 on the cover price.

Book ordering Details:   http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/books-t-shirts/led-zeppelin-feather-in-the-wind-over-europe-1980-book/

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Chris Squire 1948 – 2015:

Very sad the passing of Chris Squire aged 67 -Yes co founder and brilliant bassist –

So sad to hear the passing of Yes bassist and co founder Chris Squire age 67 -their music had a massive impression on me in the early 70s – I remember seeing him backstage at the Led Zep Earls Court party on the last night….pioneering bassist simple as…and what a band…Chris of course  worked with Jimmy Page on the XYZ sessions in 1981. There’s some YouTube clips in tribute below. RIP a fantastic musician.

Val Doonican 1927 – 2015 :

Also sad too to hear the passing of Val Doonican aged 88. The young Jimmy Page played on some of his early hits. Val was a mainstay of UK TV light entertainment in the 60s and 70s – he sang gentle songs of old fashioned values – of which, amongst all the rock and pop cultural change – there was always a place for…RIP

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DL Diary Update:

A few from the TBL Facebook pages:

The Who at Glastonbury – sensational… their performance of Baba O Reilly – one of the all time great Glastonbury moments…

To quantify my thoughts – Baba O Reilly was awesome for me – we may not see their like again and one last hurrah…well it did it for me… Rogers vocals – yes not what they were – Pete still on it…I saw the full set at the 02 in March and they really cooked …the Glastonbury TV set was edited which lost the continuity of the show I saw in March. It still was very good and it’s the flippin Oooo! Still….for now.

July 1: Bowie retro 1:38 years ago tonight on July 1 1978. I was in the hallowed confines of the Earls Court Arena with Dec Hickey and Yvonne  and Barry Farnsworth  watching David Bowie. This was his Stage tour and I remember it for being one of the fist gigs I’d ever been to that had an intermission.  Not that this was a problem as the second aprt saw Bowie zip through some Ziggy highlights including this belter ecorded two months earlier in Dallas …great gig indeed  during a spring/summer of gigs that took in The Who at Shepperton and Bob Dylan at Blackbush…

July 1: David Bowie Retro 2: Five years on from the Earls Court Bowie gig  almost to the day – on July 3 1983, I attended the David Bowie show at the Milton Keynes Bowl. This was on the Serious Moonlight tour. I attended this with my good friend Tom and the late and much missed Alan Johnston – along with the good lady Janet during our early days of going out together. Another great gig….32 years gone phew!

…….And phew what a scorcher… the heat has been just amazing here this last few days. We just don’t get this sort of weather! It won’t last of course Yesterday I sweltered in the heat here as I was sticking stamps and labels on envelopes in preparation for the TBL 39 mail out. Adam and I stayed up to watch the England team in the semi final of the Women’s World Cup. Such a shame they did not make it through as they deserved, losing 2-1 to Japan with a last minute unfortunate own goal.

On the player, some suitable hot tunes and albums that sound particularly good when the heat is on -The Loving Spoonful Summer In the City, The Rolling Stones Black And Blue album, Zep Houses Of The Holy, Zep Burn Like A Candle LA ’72, Bowie Young Americans, Frank Sinatra A Man Alone, Burt Bacharach Hitmaker – Burt was superb at Glastonbury – all of 87 years old. Miles Davis In A Silent Way, Paul Weller Hit Parade (enjoyed his Glastonbury set too) and The Yes Album in tribute to Chris Squire.

The next few days will be taken up preparing for the TBL 39 mail out and then once the stock is here shipping it out to over 30 countries across the globe.

Ahead there’s some promotion for the Earls Court book, the usual summer push for TBL books and T -shirts (be seen in the coolest Led Zep t -shirts this summer!), coverage of the three final reissues and I’ll also be turning my attention to the next TBL book project – this is the Evenings With Led Zeppelin in concert performance history which I am working on in collaboration with Mike Tremaglio.

Alongside all that, I’ll be eying up potential contents for the next TBL issue number 40 due at the end of the year which is a bit of a landmark issue. In between all that, the good lady Janet and I really do need a holiday as it’s been full on for some months.

Right… it’s back to sticking labels and stamps on envelopes, there’s a new TBL magazine to get out there and boy does it need to be seen….I think you will love it…

Dave Lewis – July 2, 2015

ouTube Clips:

In Through The Out Door Unboxing:

Robert Plant: Extract from Doreen the Movie…

Chris Squire RIP – XYZ Sessions:

Yes -Survival

One of the greatest tracks recorded by any band, any time, anywhere….RIP Chris Squire …

Until next time…

Have a great weekend

Keep listening, keep reading…

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy –July 2 , 2015 

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