It was 44 years ago …they could not continue as they were…

44 years ago this week I vividly remember taking a call from the Musician’s Only paper and being asked for a quote regarding the announcement that Led Zeppelin were to disband.
These were sad times indeed – and it was about to get worse. The whole ‘Zep to split’ story would get buried somewhat when just four days later John Lennon was shot dead in New York…
Looking back at my diary entry for 44 years ago for December 4, it …

Mark Bowman RIP…

I am so very sad and shocked to hear the passing of Mark Bowman.

Mark has been incredibly supportive of all my Led Zeppelin books, projects and TBL magazines over many years.

Based in Austin Texas, Mark was a very talented photographer and chronicled both Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in their various solo guises.

He also captured many other acts including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Bono of U2, The Alice Cooper Group, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Pete Townshend …

Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – Back in the USA – 25 years gone…
 
25 years ago this spring , Jimmy Page & Robert Plant were on the first leg of their Unledded No Quarter tour. The tour opened in Pensacola and ran through until Vancouver on May 26 before moving into Europe, going back to America and eventually ending in Australia and Japan in early 1996
Given all that has happened since, not least the 02 reunion, the Celebration Day film and the Zep reissues, it’s easy to forget the impact …

John Paul Jones on the occasion of his 71st Birthday:
John Paul Jones is 71 today (January 3)…
Throughout the past 12 months, John has again moved effortlessly between differing projects and collaborations –  and along the way, there was continued work on his opera project – of which more news will unfold this year.
Here are some extracts from the only interview John conducted with me last year, for publication in TBL issue 41:
DL: So let’s start with the present and your opera project – which I think I am right in saying is partly based on …

The 02 Reunion – Nine Years Gone: Photo by Dave Linwood

Nine years ago on December 10, 2007 , I awoke with the prospect of Led Zeppelin retuning to the stage just a matter of hours away. The previous night I’d spent the evening in the Pilot Inn toasting that fact with fans from all corners of the world. It would be a similar scene a few hours later.
The day itself went by in something of a blur – walking on that cold concourse leading to the O2 complex, conducting various interviews, …

Jimmy Page & Robert Plant at the Alexis Korner benefit show at Buxton Opera House April 17 1994 – 22 years gone:
22 years ago this week, I was lucky enough to be at the Brixton Opera House. The occasion was a tribute show to Alexis Korner – it heralded the beginning of the Page & Plant re- alliance – they would go on to produce the Unledded project in the summer. Watching these old devils run though I Can’t Quite You Baby with Charlie Jones on bass and the late great …

Presence/In Through The Out Door/Coda Olympic Studios Playback Event:
 Tuesday June 16, 2015
Olympic Studios – Barnes, London. 
Hosted by Jimmy Page
Yesterday I attended the Presence/In Through The Out Door/Coda Olympic Studios Playback Event hosted by Jimmy Page at Olympic Studios in Barnes London.
Ten tracks were previewed – superbly edited together by Jimmy.
They were played on the stunning sound system arranged by Olympic’s Chris Kimsey, against a backdrop of equally stunning photos and visuals brilliantly put together by Warner Music’s Jason Morais. Jimmy then conducted a very entertaining  Q and A session hosted …

A Portrait Of John Paul Jones:
John Paul Jones in discussion with Kettle’s Yard New Music Associate Stephen Montague.
Sunday, May 20 2012.
Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge.
We arrived at the Kettle’s Yard Gallery around 11.30. John was setting up inside the gallery – his lap top was lined to various devices and his  i-Pod. His five string Manson bass was upright and waiting. I had a quick word with John before hand – he told me he was currently working on his Ghost Sonanta opera project and added that he had enjoyed his recent …

TBL 31 is ready to go – as you can see there is a revised standard cover.
Having the recent opportunity to feature a rare Led Zeppelin photo from 1971 as the main cover photo for TBL 31, we have decided to produce two runs of the magazine for this issue – the aforementioned Zep design alongside the already previewed Roy Harper & Jimmy Page version.
So for TBL – issue 31, we are also producing a special strictly limited edition Roy Harper & Jimmy Page reunion collector’s cover edition.
This will feature …

John Paul Jones will be performing at the forthcoming Cheltenham Jazz Festival as  part of Spin Marvel, an electronic jazz group. The band  includes  Loose Tubes drummer Martin France, celebrated trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer and Terje Evensen on live elctronics. JPJ completes the line up on bass guitar. The group’s appearance is on Saturday  April 30th at 5:15pm in the main arena.
See link at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Robert Plant and The Band Of Joy commence their US tour tonight in Louisville – if you are attending any of the forthcoming  shows – …