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TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT OFFERS/TBL 02 REUNION EVENT LATEST/ LZ NEWS/JPJ AT ADORATION TRILOGY UNVEILING / TBL ARCHIVE – LED ZEP IV 46 YEARS GONE /DL DIARY BLOG UPDATE

15 November 2017 1,826 views 4 Comments

TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS:

It’s coming up to that time of year…

Fed up with receiving the same old tired gifts for Christmas each year? Why not give your loved ones a nudge in the direction of the TBL ordering page and get them to invest on your behalf –let them really know what you want for Christmas or you may well end up with novelty socks and boxers yet again. Alternatively just treat yourself!

To coincide with Black Friday, I am running a series of limited edition price offers. So here is a round up of TBL Product on offer this Christmas –all orders will be processed and dispatched as received. Note overseas buyers – order as soon as possible to ensure pre Christmas delivery.

TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 1:

Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979 and Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind Bundle offer:

SPECIAL  LIMITED OFFER!  NOW AT A BARGAIN PRICE!

Buy both books for just £14 plus postage!

For a limited period, I am offering both the Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979 and Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind Over Europe 1980 books at a bargain bundle offer price of both books for just £14 plus postage and packing.

The perfect companion to the latter period of the Led Zeppelin story.

Order link here:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/books-t-shirts/then-as-it-was-at-knebworth-1979-and-feather-in-the-wind-over-europe-1980-book-bundle-offer-buy-both-books-for-just-20-plus-postage/

TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 2:

Led Zeppelin Then As It Was – At Knebworth 1979

SPECIAL  LIMITED OFFER!  NOW AT A BARGAIN PRICE!

The book is now available for a limited period at special bargain price of just £8 plus postage and packing 

Then As It Was explores the Knebworth concerts in the forensic detail one has come to expect from the Zeppelin authority Dave Lewis. Required reading for anyone who was there” Mark Blake Mojo  

Order link here:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/books-t-shirts/knebworth-book/

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TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 3:

Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind – Over Europe 1980

SPECIAL  LIMITED OFFER!  NOW AT A BARGAIN PRICE!

The book is now available for a limited period at a special bargain price of just £8 plus postage and packing 

’A brilliant dissection of the tour that time forgot. What emerges is an intriguing chronicle of the biggest band in the world contemplating their own vastness and legacy. But this is no obituary; instead Dave Lewis has skilfully woven a passionate celebration of a group who may well have been on the verge of an altogether different kind of greatness.’’ Terry Staunton Record Collector

Order link here:

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

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TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 4:

A new fantastic TBL Christmas offer…

TBL Magazine Back Issue Bundle Offer – TBL Issues  38, 39, 40,41 and Collectors Edition 42 …

All for just £9.95 plus postage!

if you are new to TBL, this is a great way of catching up on previous TBL magazines – issues 38,issue 39, issue 40, issue 41 and issue 42  at a bargain price of just £9.95 plus postage and packing!

Note the TBL 42 issue is the limited edition Jimmy Page cover

Every 5 pack back issue bundle offer includes two  free 10×8 individually numbered prints – John Paul Jones on stage in the USA in 1975 and Jimmy Page on stage in Europe in 1980 – perfect for framing!

All in all this is an amazing offer for a limited period.

Order link here:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/tbl-back-issue-bundle-5-tbl-magazines-for-just-5-plus-postage/

TBL CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA 5:

THE NEW TBL ISSUE 43 – OUT NOW!

TBL issue 43 – Another TBL outpouring – the new TBL  issue 43 – 50,000 words of text – not just a magazine – more a mini book.

”Dave Lewis has done it again! Another fabulous issue of Tight But Loose, especially enjoyed the Chris Farlowe interview, the overview of Robert Plant’s solo career and the story of the Bombay sessions.. not just a magazine more a way of life! Led Zeppelin lives on through TBL that’s for sure!” Kevin Hewick

Order link here:

http://www.tightbutloose.co.uk/tbl-issue-43-out-now/

Suffice to say, all these offers will also make for perfect Christmas presents – so prompt your loved ones now to ensure seasonal delight!

 

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”Ahmet We Did it”:

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

Tickets to the event are now on sale – to ensure entry it’s advisable to pre order a ticket – details are below.

Latest addition to the proceedings – legendary Led Zep author Luis Rey will be in attendance talking about his Led Zeppelin Live book 

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.

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 2pm 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.

Please note – there is a ceiling limit on how many we can accommodate, so be sure order your tickets AS SOON AS POSSIBLE  to ensure entry. 

Further details ongoing via

www.tightbut loose.co.uk

Dave Lewis

davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com

Julian walker

julianwalker196@virginmedia.com

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John Paul Jones at The Adoration Trilogy unveiling:

John Paul Jones attended the unveiling of The Adoration Trilogy by Alistair Morrison last night, also joining Donovan on mandolin. The event hosted by Roger Daltrey to benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust included: Alice Cooper, Tom Jones, Peter Frampton & Bill Wyman.

Full report on Led Zep News:

http://ledzepnews.com/2017/11/14/the-adoration-trilogy-robert-plant-john-paul-jones-jimmy-page-donovan-performance-victoria-albert-museum/

More photos on JPJ’s official website:

http://www.johnpauljones.com/news_11-13-2017.html

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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 latest episode of the Heart of Markness podcast discusses the Deus Ex Machina bootleg. Listen to it here.

Jimmy Page

  • Jimmy Page’s website posted a new “On This day” entry to mark the release of “Yardbirds ’68.” The “On This Day” entry has been the same since the album was due to be released on November 5.
  • Former Yardbirds member Chris Dreja posed for a photograph while holding up what appeared to a proof sheet for the packaging design for “Yardbirds ’68.” See the photo here.

Robert Plant

Robert Plant outside a Wolverhampton Wanderers football game recently (Instagram/thehopbine)

  • Robert Plant was recently photographed with a fan outside a Wolverhampton Wanderers football game. See the full photo here.

Upcoming events:

November 16 – Robert Plant will perform in Plymouth.
November 17 – Robert Plant will perform in Bristol.
November 20 – Robert Plant will perform in Wolverhampton.
November 22 – Robert Plant will perform in Llandudno.
November 24 – Robert Plant will perform in Newcastle.
November 25 – Robert Plant will perform in Liverpool.
November 27 – Robert Plant will perform in Glasgow.
November 28 – Robert Plant will perform in Perth.
November 30 – Robert Plant will perform in Manchester.
December 2 – Robert Plant will perform in Belfast.
December 3 – Robert Plant will perform in Dublin.
December 6 – Robert Plant will perform in Sheffield.
December 8 – Robert Plant will perform in London.
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 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 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 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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How the second source of Led Zeppelin’s June 21, 1977 show was released and remastered:

Great interview here by James Cook/Led Zep News on the newly surfaced tape of the famous Listen To This Eddie June 21 1977 LA Forum show :

http://ledzepnews.com/2017/11/13/led-zeppelin-june-21-1977-los-angeles-show-listen-to-this-erik-gary-bauer-interview/

 

 

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TBL Archive Special:

Led Zeppelin IV – 46 years gone…

To mark the 46th anniversary of the release of Led Zeppelin IV here’s a TBL archive feature – first compiled for TBL issue 15 though not used at the time – it eventually appeared in the my Celebration II – The Tight But Loose Files book.

The Making Of Led Zepplin IV:

zep4-12The four symbols that would form the album title were first introduced to the rock media via a series of teaser press ads in the weeks leading to the album’s release, each depicting a particular symbol alongside a previous Zep album sleeve. When the album was released, the wordless title caused much confusion. It appeared in the press under various names including The New Led Zeppelin album, Led Zeppelin IV, Four Symbols, Runes and even Zoso; though some music papers did make the effort to reproduce the actual symbols themselves.

The band’s hectic schedule of that year continued unabated. In August they were back in America for their seventh US tour. Page was in buoyant mood and playing brilliantly. “Once the album was completed and mixed I knew it was really good,” he said. “We actually went on the road in America before the manufacturing process was completed and somebody at Atlantic Records said, ‘This is professional suicide for a band to tour without an album.’ In retrospect that is rather amusing!”

The new material was already making an impact, and Page still recalls with pride the reaction they got to Stairway when they performed it at the Los Angeles Forum for the first time. “We played Stairway’ at the Forum before the album was out and around a third of the audience stood up and gave us a standing ovation. It was then that I thought ‘actually this may be a better number than I’d imagined’.”

Equally successful was a three-city, five-concert first visit to Japan. Here they performed some of the most enjoyable concerts of their career – away from the glare of the press and the intensity of America, they were able to stretch out and extend their set list, throwing in off-the-cuff versions of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Cliff Richards’ Bachelor Boy and The Beatles’ Please Please Me and the only logged love performance of Zep III;s Friends. It’s fair to say there were now two distinct entities to the group – the tight recorded unit as found on record and the improvisational and spontaneous live act that would go on to delight audiences around the globe.

After a short break, to round off a very productive year, Peter Grant booked a 16-date UK tour that nicely coincided with the eventual release of their long delayed, long awaited fourth album. The tour kicked off in Newcastle on 11 November and took in two memorable nights at London’s Wembley Empire Pool.

Despite the delays and the negative reaction to the previous album, it was clear that the band’s popularity had not declined at all. Demand for tickets was overwhelming. All 9,000 seats for their 20 November Empire Pool show sold out in under an hour. A second was added and they could have easily slotted in a third had their schedule allowed it.

Their stage presentation now featured each of their four symbols – on Bonham’s bass drum Jonesy’s organ, Jimmy’s speaker cabinets, and Plant’s feather symbol adorning the PA. Page also took to wearing a specially knitted jumper depicting his Zoso symbol. The set list now included Rock And Roll in the main set (now under its correct title), alongside Black Dog, Stairway and Going To California.

Talking about the album to Chris Welch of Melody Maker, Bonzo was hugely enthusiastic: “My personal view is that it’s the best thing we’ve ever done. It’s the next stage we were at the time of recording. The playing is some of the best we have done and Jimmy is like… mint!”

The culmination of the whole year’s efforts were the two significant five-hour shows in London’s Empire Pool on 20 and 21 November – the largest indoor UK audiences they had played to at that point. Dubbed Electric Magic, they were supported by Maggie Bell’s Stone The Crows plus Bronco on Saturday (whose line-up included future Plant solo era guitarist Robbie Blunt and original Band Of Joy member Kevyn Gammond), and Home on Sunday. Also, on both nights, Grant had booked some novelty circus acts, including performing pigs and plate spinners. The pigs – with huge ruffs around their necks – didn’t really cut it; indeed, their only real contribution was an unpleasant smell in the stage area. Thankfully Zeppelin fared better.

‘’It was an amazing couple of shows’’ recalls Maggie Bell, lead singer of Stone The Crows (co-managed by Peter Grant). ‘’ They were the biggest dates we had played and we went down a storm. Those were great shows for us and it was at a point where we were really taking off, and obviously it was a privilege to share the stage with them all.’’

Sadly, Crows guitarist Leslie Harvey died the following May in an electrocution accident at a gig in Swansea. Maggie would later sign to Zep’s Swan Song label.

Roy Hollingworth Of Melody Maker was unstinting in his praise for the Wembley Saturday show: “This was an English band playing like crazy and enjoying every minute of it. They played just about everything they’ve ever written. Nothing – just nothing was spared. This was no job. This was no gig. It was an event for all.”

A memorable poster was produced for the event and sold for 30p – it now changes hands for over £1,000 on the collectors market – and the newly established Virgin Records set up stalls to sell the just-released fourth album. Here and around the country, much to Atlantic’s relief, fans had no trouble identifying the nameless artwork of the new record as it sailed to the number one album spot.

After the disappointing press reaction to their third album, Led Zeppelin IV was very well received. Even Rolling Stone, never a great supporter of the band’s work, relented. The review by Lenny Kaye, then would be rock journalist and future Patti Smith guitarist, was surprisingly positive. “Out of eight cuts,” wrote Kaye, “there isn’t one that steps on another’s toes, that tries to do too much at once. And [there are] a couple of songs that when all is said and done, will probably be right up there in the gold-starred hierarchy of put ’em on and play ’em again. Describing one of those tracks, When the Levee Breaks, Kaye added “Led Zep have had a lot of imitators over the past few years, but it takes cuts like this to show that most of them have only picked up the style, lacking any real knowledge of the meat underneath.”

Led Zeppelin IV climbed to the number one spot on the UK chart on 4 December 1971, where it stayed for two weeks before being dislodged by Electric Warrior by T Rex… it went on to spend 61 consecutive weeks on the chart.

It was a similar story in America, though it was with some irony that Carole King’s multi-million selling soft rock album Tapestry kept it from reaching number one.

Not that it really mattered – the airplay generated by Stairway To Heaven ensured the album remained in the Billboard top forty album chart for the next six months. Peter Grant steadfastly refused to issue the track as a single, knowing that restricting its availability to the LP alone would inevitably add to its sales.

So from the adversity of the Led Zeppelin III backlash, Zeppelin triumphed.

Some four decades on its influence is still paramount, not least with the three ex-members. Over the years, the three ex-members have repeatedly retuned to the songs. Page and Plant attempted an ambitious remake of The Battle Of Evermore with Indian singer Najma Akhtar on their initial MTV Unledded reunion and also performed versions of When The Levee Breaks and Four Sticks. Robert Plant was still regularly performing Black Dog, Rock And Roll, and Misty Mountain Hop on his Band of Joy tour this year – the latter was also revived when Page linked up for his much acclaimed tour with The Black Crowes. On his solo tours, John Paul Jones has performed instrumental versions of Black Dog and When The Levee Breaks.

As a complete work, Led Zeppelin IV remains one of their most focused statements.

It’s the product of a band on a quest for absolute musical freedom. Working in an environment that encouraged the development of their ability to blend acoustic and electric influences within a rock framework – something Led Zeppelin did more successfully than any other act before or since.

The eight cuts possess an economy and subtly that defines their sound. From Page’s unimpeachable riffs, through Jones’ musical invention, Plant’s clarity of vocal to that titanic John Bonham drum sound – Led Zeppelin IV still emits a freshness that belies its age.

Dave Lewis

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DL Diary Blog Update:

Friday treats at the Vinyl Barn – an absolutely massive result at the brilliant Vinyl Barn last Friday – Led Zep I and II Australian pressings, a Led Zep III Peruvian pressing and Led Zep IV Argentinian pressing -all with sleeve variations etc – you gotta love foreign Zep pressings and boy I do!  This is what record collecting is all about – Thanks Darren Harte – proprietor of probably the greatest record stall in the land!

This pic here was taken at  StudioMix working with designer Mick Lowe on the Evenings With LZ book -we are currently wading through the 1973 Zep touring era – co -author Mike Tremaglio has come through with yet more great images and text. A long way to go yet but we are working ever onwards on it …

I really enjoyed Sunday night’s ITV programme Elton John The Nations Favourite Song. It featured some superb early footage – you forget how much great stuff he has done. One example being Tiny Dancer. I watched Elton’s this performance of that song when it was first aired in 1971 on the Old Grey Whistle Test …just awesome. It was later used in a famous sequence in the Cameron Crowe directed Almost Famous movie.

Talking of which…

Seeing rock journalist/film director Cameron Crowe talking about Elton on last night’s Elton John The Nations Favourite Song reminded me that he once sent me a very complimentary postcard (which had a pic from the Almost Famous movie) after I’d sent him a TBL magazine. The reference to Neal is Neal Preston’s Led Zeppelin photo book A Photographic Collection which I did some text for in 2002.

This very kind gesture only enhanced my admiration for one of my all time journalistic inspirations. I remember being so impressed with his 1975 Rolling Stone cover feature on Led Zep. Avidly reading that back when I was 18, the notion that this esteemed writer may one day send me a personal postcard was beyond my wildest dreams…

A very busy few days ahead – with more work on the Evenings With LZ book and planning the December 10 event – then on Saturday it’s the VIP Music Mania Record Fair at Olympia London. This is the biggest UK Record fair of the year running over Saturday and Sunday. It draws dealers from all over the world – sadly this is the last time the event is being held at Olympia – it’s being replaced next year by a further VIP Fair at the Victoria venue they now use. I aim to be there early to make a full day of it on Saturday. As I flick through many a record box in the fair ,I’ll also be nervously keeping an eye on the score in the Arsenal v Tottenham lunchtime game.

On Monday it’s off to Wolverhampton Civic Hall for the third date of Robert Plant’s UK tour. I am eagerly looking forward to what will be the 118th time I’ve seen him perform live. The first was almost 46 years to the day of next Monday’s gig – November 21,1971. Back then on that cold November night ,the notion that this then 15 year old schoolboy would still be enthralled to be in the company of  the lead singer of Led Zeppelin some 45 years hence –  again beyond my wildest dreams…

To paraphrase John Lennon – ”you may say I’m a dreamer -but I’m not the only one….”

Until next time, have a great weekend

Dave Lewis  – November 15, 2017  

TBL Website updates compiled by Dave Lewis

with thanks to Gary Foy and James Cook

Follow TBL/DL on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/tightbutloose.loose

The TBL/DL Facebook page has regular updates and photos – be sure to check it out.

And follow TBL/DL on Twitter

 

 

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4 Comments »

  • Dave Lewis (author) said:

    thanks Marcus!

  • Marcus said:

    Don’t want to give too much away, as these days one doesn’t get too many surprises at gigs, but there are a few in store for those going to see Robert over the next couple of weeks.

    Suffice to say that the musicianship was jaw-dropping from the band, who are really on fire. A great smattering of Zep tunes played with a good concentration also on the bands recent output.

    Highlights for me we Fixin to Die, Carry Fire, Bluebirds, Satan your Kingdom must come down and all of the Zep tunes really worked with the exception of Misty Mountain Hop which possibly misses the mark for me at least.

    Enjoy the shows, because you really don’t get entertained like this so much these days.

    The man is a legendary performer, and the voice is exceptional, and the band are possibly the best he has assembled around him since the days of long ago!

  • Dave Lewis (author) said:

    I will see what there is that has’nt been used at some point!

  • Dave Parry said:

    Hey Dave, thanks for the reprint of the making of the Led Zeppelin IV album. Always interested reading older articles that I’ve missed – I have A Celebration and Celebration II and reading them again (and again!) is a real blast! One request Dave, would it be possible to reprint (on here of course) some of the older articles that didn’t make it into the two books?

    Thanks again Dave.

    Dave
    PS:

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