Robert Plant made a surprise appearance on the popular BBC 1  The One Show last night. It was Robert’s second appearance on the hit show – he appeared as the special guest for host  Adrian Chiles final show – he is leaving the show to move to GMTV  after three years. Adrian, an ardent West Bromwich Albion football fan, who are the local rivals to Roberts beloved Wolves, is a good friend of  Robert. Rather bizarrely, Robert was carried on to the set on a ottoman chair, wearing a crown and sat throughout the show on a throne. He spoke about the Raising Sand project and said that  Alison is not involved but he still goes dancing with her.  There was a brief mention of his new band. A short clip of Gone Gone was shown and Robert recounted a humorous anecdote of  Zeppelin’s Starship plane and a tongue in cheek  story of the recent lost of three of his chickens named Who, What and Where.  There was also a quirky segment filmed in West Bromwich to find out who was more popular in the area -Robert or Adrian. You can watch the whole show via the BBC iPlayer HERE

Jason Bonham has announced plans to to tour the US with a new project titled  Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience;  a multimedia live  event that will reflect the life and times of Led Zeppelin.

Jason said on a posting on his web site www.jasonbonham.net/home.html

“Well, looks like the cat is out of the bag!”
“First off, I would like to correct the news that broke [yesterday] on the web. I read that I would be performing the LED ZEP story! Well, what I will be doing is 30 shows in memory of my father, as its 30 years since he left this world this September 25th, 1980.
“I have always loved playing the music of Led Zeppelin and after such a great night back in 2007 at the 02 Arena, I took an opportunity to do a very special show which would look at my life with the music of Led Zeppelin. Old photos, home movies and videos would help take you on a journey into my life, from my earliest memories right up to the 02 show.
“There is still a lot of work to do on this project and I want to make sure it’s done tastefully and with the detail it deserves!

The tour will reportedly utilize state of the art sound, multi-media video presentation and period specific drum kits — the same ones used by John Bonham. Earlier this year, Jason Bonham perhaps provided a preview of what’s to come when he performed an onstage duet of the Zeppelin classic “Moby Dick” with his father appearing on a video screen behind him. You can check out the end result below.

Despite rumours of unrest in the camp , Jason’s tour is unlikely to affect the Black Country (Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes and keyboardist Derek Sherinian) project.  Glenn Hughes recently confirmed a solo tour of the UK for September this year and Joe Bonamassa is also on tour -this leaves 2011 open for the new band line up to tour in support of the now completed album. A source close to the project told TBL this week that the album ”Sounds amazing”.

Bettye LaVette, one of the finest soul singers around has been invited by Robert Plant to open on selected dates on his his string of dates in July. Bettye LaVette new album, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, released on May 25 by Anti- Records, includes includes LaVette’s rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “All My Love.”  Click here to listen to Bettye LaVette All My Love

Interpretations is a 12-song journey through songs by the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Traffic and Pink Floyd, and an incredible rendition of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” taken from the 2008 Kennedy Centre Honours, which appears as an extended bonus track.  Bettye LaVette is a 100%, pure unadulterated soul singer. … If it’s comparisons you are looking for, just think of the space right between Etta James and Aretha Franklin and that’s right where you will find Bettye LaVette. There is power in this woman’s voice!” With Bettye’s appearances, Roberts 12 date tour in July is really gearing up to be very interesting indeed. (GF)