Warwick and Cheltenham reviews of  Saving Grace by Richard Grubb and Jonathan Taylor…
Above pic from the Cheltenham gig by Jules Herrick Cooper

Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian

Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre

Warwick May 3 2024

On the spot report and pics from last nights gig by Richard Grubb for TBL…many thanks to Richard for sending this one over so quickly…

What superlatives remain to describe this unique band of troubadours as they continue their trek across the country, spreading “songs and smiles” (to quote the singer)?

The illness that resulted in two …

New Robert Plant Photo Book via Rufus Publishing…

Portraits Of Robert Plant – Through The Eighties

Edited by Dave Lewis – Introduction by Mark Blake 
I’m very excited to be overseeing and editing this project with Rufus Publications – there’s some great images lined up.

This is something I am in the process of editing now – a pictorial record of Robert Plant during the 1980s with many previously unpublished photos.
I’ll also be contributing an essay of my experiences of seeing Robert Plant live during this captivating post Zep era.

So here’s what this book …

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 …

My thoughts on the Speedy 8mm cine film of Led Zeppelin at Knebworth August 4 1979 premiered last Sunday on YouTube…

Let’s cut to the chase – this is right up there with the the likes of the Bath Festival and LA Forum 1970 finds as one of the most important pieces of Led Zeppelin footage to emerge in recent years…

It’s important as from the ultimate fan vantage point, it vividly illustrates that for all the layoffs, the tragedies, the negative press, the punk and new wave movement, Led Zeppelin were …

Photo image via Speedy’s cine flim…
My thoughts on the Led Zeppelin Montreal Forum February 6 1975 newly discovered 8mm cine film…

I’ve had the double album bootleg Led Zeppelin World Tour 1975 which covers this show for decades and it’s always been a favourite.

Now we have moving pictures from that esteemed night back in February 1975.

This is another incredible cine film find – 51 minutes of footage. It is dark in places but when it closes up on to the stage, it’s just fantastic.

Over The Hills and Far Away is right …

TBL Archive Special 1:

BBC Radio One John Peel In Concert  – It was 53 years ago…
Reeling in the year: Capturing the sounds of BBC Radio One on a Sunday night in April – The Wonder of Devotion…
Led Zeppelin BBC Radio One In Concert – It was 53 years ago this week:
53 years ago, on Sunday April 4 1971, I first heard the music of Led Zeppelin performed live and the effect was pretty shattering to the ears of a young 14 year old – not to mention rather lasting…
The occasion …

Pic Instagram/randallmbrown

John Paul Jones back on stage…

These reports via Led Zep News…

John Paul Jones played a rare solo show on March 22 in Knoxville, Tennessee as part of the Big Ears music festival.
Jones began the performance by playing a Wurlitzer pipe organ, rising from the organ’s pit wearing a pair of metallic silver shoes and performing “Your Time Is Gonna Come” from Led Zeppelin’s debut album on the instrument that was originally installed in the theatre in 1928.
“It was such fun, I couldn’t resist it,” Jones said of playing the organ …

Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian –  Never Ending Spring 2024…
My thoughts on Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian

London Palladium Sunday March 17 2024:

To the esteemed London Palladium for Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace Featuring Suzi Dian.

Sunday night at the London palladium was a long running variety show screened by ITV and was a big event in many a household including ours when I was young.

Reputations were made and broken – it was the making of a young comedian name of Jimmy Tarbuck, The Beatles took the …

Robert Plant Presents Saving Grace featuring Suzi Dian –  Never Ending Spring 2024…up and running 
Here’s a reminder of the tour dates in the coming weeks this month…

March 13 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Bristol, UK.
March 14 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Ipswich, UK.
March 17 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in London, UK.
March 18 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Tunbridge Wells, UK.
March 20 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving Grace in Peterborough, UK.
March 21 – Robert Plant will perform with Saving …

London Gibson Garage visit..

My thoughts on the London Gibson Garage…

On Tuesday I paid a visit to the recently opened London Gibson Garage. This is a an exclusive instrument shop specializing in all forms of Gibson guitars. This is the second Gibson Garage – there’s a a similar flagship store in Nashville.

The London location is just off Oxford Street at 61-62 Eastcastle St W1W 8NQ

It was launched in grand style on February 22 with Jimmy Page, Brian May and Tony Iommi in attendance. Jimmy cut the tape to officially open the …