The new opera Anna Nicole with John Paul Jones’ on stage involvement, begins it’s run of six performances at the Royal Opera House London tonight. Written by Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thoms (whose previous credits include Jerry Springer: The Opera, and Shoes), it charts the eventful life of Anna Nicole Smith, the Playboy model who married an elderly billionaire and died of  an overdose of sleeping pills.

John Paul Jones will be performing as part of the onstage trio along with guitarist John Parricelli and drummer Pete Erskine.

John Parricelli was one of the founding members of the band Loose Tubes and has worked with a host of musicians including Kenny Wheeler, Andy Shepard and Maynard Ferguson. Peter Erskine is a hugely respected jazz drummer having worked with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Weather Report Diana Krall and many others.

Anna Nicole opens tonight (Feb 17th) and runs for six performances (Feb 17th, Feb 21,st Feb 23rd, Feb 26th, March 1st, March 4th) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.

For further details and ticket availability visit The Royal Opera House

Robert Plant is due to appear on the Friday February 18th edition of the  Chris Evans Breakfast show on BBC Radio Two. He is due on after 8 am. Robert was nominated in the Best British Male category at The Brit Awards which took palce at the 02 Arena London on Tuesday night – however he lost out to winner Plan B.

Robert Plant releases ‘Harms Swift Way’, his latest single from The Band Of Joy album on February 28th on Decca Records. A digital bundle with a live version of ‘Harm’s Swift Way’ and ‘Band of Joy’ album track, Low’s ‘Monkey’ – both taken from Plant’s show at London’s Forum last autumn – will also be available.

Check out Robert and The Band Of Joys appearance on the Letterman Show.

Black Country Communion have posted on their Youtube page footage of the band  running through an unnamed number with Jason in the forefront with a very Bonzo like drum pattern and Bonamassa with a Gibson twin-necked guitar. The new Black Country Communion album is due out in June.

Finely Jason Bonham will take up the drum stool for a short UK tour with former Free/Bad Company and Firm singer Paul Rodgers. Completing the band line up with with Bonham on drums will be Heart guitarist Howard Leese and bassist Lynn Sorensen. The dates are as follows.

April 15: Blackpool – Opera House

April 16: Sheffield – City Hall

April 18: Newcastle – Metro Radio Arena

April 19: Glasgow – Clyde Auditorium

April 21: Manchester – O2 Apollo

April 22: Nottingham – Royal Centre

April 24: Bournemouth – International Centre

April 25: Southend – Cliff Pavilions

April 27: London – Royal Albert Hall

April 28: Birmingham – National Indoor Arena

Thanks to www.ledzeppelinnews.com for the info.