TBL Issue 41 – Out On The Streets – initial feedback:

TBL 41 mail out update: I counted them all in and I counted them all out…TBL 41 is out on the streets –  as of  last Tuesday, every subscriber copy and pre order was in transit. The pic below shows the scene at the main Bedford Royal Mail sorting office as I dropped the bulk of them off.

TBL 41 is on the way to over 30 counties including England, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland , Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Portugal, Spain, Russia, Malta, Indonesia, Taiwan, Israel, Ecuador, China, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, , USA and Canada.

The TBL global phenomenon for Led Zep fans everywhere…it’s coming your way soon – let me know what you think…

Looking over the contents, I’m well pleased with how it has turned out – particularly as it was edited and completed during some very difficult times here  My thanks goes out once again to Mick Lowe for another TBL design classic – and to the contributors to this issue namely Nick Anderson, BP Fallon, Larry Bergmann Jr, Richard Grubb, Cliff Hilliard, Stephen Humphries, Suzanne McElyea, Paul Sheppard and Scott Heck. Big thanks too as ever to Mike Tremaglio and Gary Foy. Plus Markus Thorsen for the JPJ front cover shot and to Laurance Ratner for the JPJ Chicago Stadium pic on the 10x 8 limited edition print.

Here’s some initial feedback:

This review via the Underground Uprising website:

Issue 41 of the longest running and easily the finest Led Zeppelin fan magazine has just been released. And it is yet again a model of the very best quality in articles, interviews and reviews. And of course the print quality is really outstanding. This issue has excellent coverage of John Paul Jones, who with John Bonham was the driving rhythm section of Led Zeppellin. An incredibly talented and intelligent musician, this is excellent news for all fans. This starts with a great colour photo of the man on the front cover, playing bass guitar. And there is also an A4 poster insert of him from Chicago in January 1975, taken by the great photographer Laurance Ratner.

However the highlight for me is the interview that Dave Lewis conducted with him. As always Dave asks intelligent and revealing questions that Jonesy answers extremely well. Robert Plant’s current touring information is also covered, and where he can be seen in 2016. There is also a feature about him joining Deborah Bonham at her show in Hereford earlier this year. That must have been a real treat for the fans and his performance can be seen on YouTube.

Larry Bergmann Jr gives us his detailed thoughts on the rerelease of “Coda”, This is followed by another excellent interview, with the band’s publicist, BP Fallon, most enjoyable. There is then a very interesting feature called TBL Collector Focus, which looks at some very rare and desirable releases from Jimmy and Robert. Noted Led Zeppelin collector Cliff Hilliard follows with a few of the many gems from his collection reproduced beautifully in the magazine. Cliff is a great person, and very kind and generous in sharing his knowledge and items that he has winkled out to add to his collection. After this there is a feature spanning from 2006 to 2016 where Dave Lewis also talks about his great collection and mentions the idea put forward about a Led Zeppelin museum. Considering the vast knowledge that Dave has about the band, he can be considered as a living museum in his own right!

Nick Anderson follows with a superbly illustrated article about “Presence”,which has lots of rare and unusual releases shown. Then my good friend Paul Sheppard has the first part on his detailed coverage of the legendary CD label Tarantura, with photos and information about some of their finest releases. I concur with his opinion about their box set “The Campaign”, covering the band’s 1972 Japan tour, this remains a stunningly beautiful production.

This issue finishes off with a review of the latest Underground CD releases, and also feedback from readers and reviewers of the last issue of TBL. Quite rightly so, The praise that Dave receives is well justified and earned, he puts his incredible and vast knowledge of all things Led Zeppelin into every issue, and on the TBL website as well.
Those wise enough to have a TBL subscription will be getting their copies in the next few weeks. However if you want to order a copy then this can be done via the TBL website here:
http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/tbl-41-pre-order-now/
(Jules McTrainspotter, June 2016)

Chris Charlesworth Just Backdated blog on TBL 41:

A very perceptive piece on TBL 41 can be seen on Chris Charlesworth’s excellent blog Just Backdated:

Perhaps because fame wasn’t to his taste, perhaps because – as the consummate professional – he regarded his employment between 1968 and 1980 as just another gig (albeit a very lucrative one) or perhaps because he thinks he has less to lose than Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, John Paul Jones has kept himself largely to himself since Led Zeppelin called it a day in 1980. Truth is he’s the kind of rock star I’d like to have been, acclaimed for his musicianship, richly rewarded yet unrecognised on the street. When I worked at Music Sales John Paul would come into our offices from time to time to meet with his publisher on the 5th floor, usually dressed in jeans and a scuffed jacket, and tell me whether or not the tube was crowded. The tube? Page and Plant are less likely to be seen on the tube than senior members of the Royal Family, unless of course they’re opening a new line named after them.
So it’s nice to see the eternally modest John Paul on the cover of the latest Tight But Loose, Dave Lewis’ superior Led Zeppelin fanzine which arrived this week. Inside he talks about what he’s up to (with a brief mention of his work for Dave Rawlings, musical partner of the very wonderful Gillian Welch) and a bit about his past and his thoughts on his legacy. No one ever seemed to want to interview John Paul in my Melody Maker days and he didn’t seem to mind one iota, happy as he was to do his job properly like the craftsman he is, and go home afterwards. Nevertheless, when he does decide to talk he’s forthcoming, friendly and comes across as the Mr Nice Guy he always has been.

Of equal interest, at least to me because I used to know him well, is an interview with BP Fallon, the impish Irish PR who took on the Led Zeppelin brief around 1973 and hung around doing the same job on and off until 1980. Having previously worked for EG management (King Crimson, ELP, Roxy Music) and Marc Bolan, BP’s arrival in the Zep camp took most of us by surprise, not least because he didn’t share the aggressive tendencies associated with their management. In the event this was a bonus. Already well liked by the press for his laid-back otherworldliness, BP was ideal for easing the rather touchy relationship between band and media that had existed since the merits of Led Zeppelin III came under scrutiny in 1970.

Read the full blog at;

http://justbackdated.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/tight-but-loose-jpj-bp-fallons-story.html

And finally…

…this one via Krys Jantzen..

TBL 41…

“Tight But Loose magazine delivers a print experience every Led Zeppelin fan would love. The latest news, collectors info, bootleg recommendations and more.

Plus, what Led Zeppelin concert first comes to mind when John Paul Jones is asked to name the highlights of his career? Hint, it’s not New York, LA or London. A 5 CD fan-created version of Coda includes the lost track Swan Song, but what else? Who highly rates Jimmy’s guitar solo on Bye Bye Blackbird? What’s the story behind the first time Robert Plant wrote back to one lucky fan? And what really annoys John Paul Jones about the YouTube video of Battle Of Evermore from Seattle 1977?

The answers are all in the latest issue of the Tight But Loose magazine”.

“Who doesn’t love a Led Zeppelin magazine delivered to their door?!”

I can ensure delivery to your door  by subscribing at the following link…

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/subscribe-to-the-201617-tbl-magazines-free-10-x-8-print-with-every-subscription-a-subscription-makes-a-great-christmas-gift/

Many thanks for all your support.

DL

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LZ News:

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
•Led Zeppelin’s lawyers have signalled that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant plan to attend every single day of the “Stairway To Heaven” trial, which starts in Los Angeles on June 14. A new court filing, which we have uploaded here, shows Led Zeppelin’s lawyer fighting back against the plaintiff’s claims and says the band, including John Paul Jones, will be there for the trial.

John Paul Jones
•John Paul Jones has given an interview to Tight But Loose magazine where he talked about his future plans as well as his career. Jones told Dave Lewis that one of the singers in his opera was “up and coming” when he joined the project but is now “a big star.” He also said that he intends for his opera to travel around the world next year. Elsewhere in the interview Jones says he sees Dave Grohl “now and again” and says he wants to work with him again.

Upcoming events:
June 14 – The “Stairway To Heaven” trial will start in Los Angeles.
July 1 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at the Rock Werchter music festival in Belgium.
July 2 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at the Beauregard Music Festival in France.
July 4 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at Le festival des Nuits d’Istres in France.
July 7 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at the NOS Alive Music Festival in Portugal.
July 14 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at Festival Noches del Botánico in Spain.
July 20 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at the Street Music Art Festival in Italy.
July 22 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in Italy.
July 24 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in Italy.
July 27 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in the Czech Republic.
July 28 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in Austria.
July 30 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in Croatia.
August 2 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform in Germany.
August 4/5/6/7 – Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters will perform at the Wilderness Festival in the UK.

The Led Zeppelin News email goes out every weekend. To receive it each week sign up here: https://t.co/yp9fGJMSGH

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TBL Archive Retro: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Paris 21 years gone: 

21 years ago this week – on June 6 ,1995, I was at the Omnisports, Bercy in Paris for an awesome performance by Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – one of the best gigs of that era. Therefore this one was on the player this week.

Here’s an extract from TBL 12 – which carried an overview of the tour -this singles out one performance sequence of that memorable night all of 21 years ago.

Dancing Days’/’Down By The Seaside’ sequence:

Page was on blistering form on the opening night of the European trek, in turn inspiring Robert to lift his performance to new heights. Two selections form the Bercy date: ‘Dancing Days’ had been included in the set in an all electric arrangement early on the US tour and then in an alternate arrangement with the Egyptians from mid May. It’s the latter version that Plant introduced in both French and English on this opening night in Europe. A wonderfully relaxed affair with the shrill Egyptian violins merging with Jimmy’s powerful riffing.

‘Down By The Seaside’ was a regular insert into the ‘Calling To You’ medley. It was presented in the new slower arrangement Plant had used to record the version with Tori Amos that appeared on the then just released Encomium tribute album. Plant’s vocal delivery in Paris was sheer perfection, adding all the original nuances (“Yes she will, yes she will”) to a song that was enjoying renewed recognition during this period.

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Betty Squire 1926 -2016:

We laid our beloved Betty to rest on a sunny  day in Shefford nearby where she was born nearly 90 years ago – the sort of beautiful day she would have loved.

Our precious family and friends packed the Shefford church to hear the service, a celebration of  life conducted by the Minster Dave Haseldine with such dignity and grace. They heard our children, well not children anymore as they gained in stature with every word they spoke as they paid tribute to their Nan.

Adam reflected on how Nan was a very special lady who cared deeply about those around her with a wonderfully calm nature,  always happy and smiling and never complained about anything.

Sam spoke of how Nan’s added passing has left an irreplaceable hole in our lives but how we felt at peace because Grandad was waiting for her and now they are together again.

We left the church to the gently strains of a string quartet version of Thank You – Betty would have smiled at that as she had her own collection of Led Zeppelin books and magazines..

And when it was over, we went into the sunny green and pleasant fields of rural Bedfordshire, where Betty would now be reunited with her beloved Ken. Together forever…

DL Diary Blog Update:

Many thanks to everyone who shared in the beautiful send off for our dear Betty yesterday –and for the many lovely supportive comments we have received – every one of them means a lot to us.

It’s been an incredibly emotional few weeks here – we are all pretty drained by it all…

We need a few days to take stock and then it will be a deep breath and right back into the TBL fray as it’s ever onward with various initiatives ongoing – plans ahead include:

TBL T- Shirt 2016:

A newly designed  TBL T shirt for the summer.

Evenings With Led Zeppelin by Dave Lewis & Mike Tremaglio:

Ongoing work on our book project – the in concert performance history of Led Zeppelin 1958 – 1980. The complete story as told from the place they functioned best – live on stage.

Detailed and accurate concert to concert logs.

Packed with historical reviews and commentary that captures the true spirt of the era.

To include many rarely seen concert adverts/posters/flyers/venue photos and images

The heritage of Led Zeppelin on stage as never before chronicled in one volume

As can be seen above, it’s a massive project that will on- go well into next year -that will be keeping us well busy.

TBL 42: Further along the line the next issue will develop and there’s already some great stuff lined up for the next outpouring due at the end of the year.

There’s also one or two other exciting initiatives developing – more details to follow.

So there’s a lot to get focused on in the coming weeks.

I’ll also be celebrating by 60th birthday in early September (5th)- I’ve singled out The VIP Victoria Record Fair on Saturday September 10th as a date where it would be great to have a birthday meet at a nearby pub. More on that to follow.

It’s ever onward…as it needs to be…

There was yet another iconic passing last week – that of Muhummad Ali -anyone like me who was lucky enough to live through his incredible impact will know the effect this remarkable man had on boxing and the world. Legend does not even come close to describing his incredible status over many years.it was also sad to hear the passing of Dave Swarbrick – the great folk/rock violinist who lit up so much of Fairport Convention’s best work.

On the player in the light of the latter news, History of Fairport Convention – a superb double album plus Creedence Clearwater Revival Pendulum album – an original pressing on Liberty, this was an inspired find at the Vinyl barn last Friday (thanks Darren). There was another great find namely Blodwyn Pig – Ahead Rings Out, an original pressing on Island Records acquired at Hackney Market when we visited Sam in London on Saturday.

There’s also a backlog of albums and singles purchased recently that I am going to wade through in the next few days.

The Euros are upon us and all attention will be on England this Saturday night when they open their campaign with an encounter with Russia. Here’s hoping for a good start for Roy’s Boys…

Dave Lewis, June 9, 2016. 

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Until next time…

Have a great weekend,

Dave Lewis/Gary Foy – June 9,  2016.

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