While Led Zeppelin's appearances last year were limited to press conferences and late-night TV interviews, Robert Plant will be going on a tour this year with his new band, The Sensational Space Shifters. That tour kicks off this June in Texas, and after making its way over to the West Coast and back, it culminates in a Celebrate Brooklyn! show at Prospect Park on July 27. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (4/26) at noon with an AmEx and a BRIC presale starting Thursday (4/25) at noon.

In addition to Robert Plant, The Sensational Space Shifters' lineup includes Justin Adams (Tinariwen, SInead O'Connor), John Baggot (Massive Attack, Portishead), Billy Fuller (Beak>, Massive Attack), Liam "Skin" Tyson (of The La's offshoot Cast), Juldeh Camara, and Dave Smith.

All tour dates are listed, along with the tour trailer and a live video of the band from 2012, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters announce US tour, including 'Celebrate Brooklyn!' (dates & video)"

by Bill Pearis

Storm Thorgerson, whose album cover artwork includes Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, has died aged 69, the band's management has confirmed.

A childhood friend of the founding members of the band, he became their designer-in-chief, fashioning a string of eye-catching creations.

Most-famously he designed the prism spreading a spectrum of colour across The Dark Side Of The Moon.

His credits also include albums by Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and Muse.

His family released a statement saying he died peacefully on Thursday surrounded by family and friends.

"He had been ill for some time with cancer though he had made a remarkable recovery from his stroke in 2003," it said.

"He is survived by his mother Vanji, his son Bill, his wife Barbie Antonis and her two children Adam and Georgia."

Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist Dave Gilmour released a statement in which he said the artworks Thorgerson created for the band had been "an inseparable part of our work". - [BBC]

Most of his work with Hipgnosis can be seen here and a couple video interviews with Storm are below.

Continue reading "Legendary album art designer Storm Thorgerson, RIP"

Tickets to see Rodriguez at Barclays Center go on presale today at 10 AM (code: "METRO").

Tickets for the Weezer Cruise go on sale today at noon.

Heart is playing Jones Beach on June 27 and PNC Bank Arts Center on July 2 with Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. Tickets for those shows go on sale Friday (3/22) at 10 AM. A Citi Cardmember presale and Live Nation presale start today at 10 AM for Jones Beach and a Live Nation presale for PNC Bank Arts Center starts today at 10 AM.

Tickets for the Peter Frampton and Robert Cray show at Beacon Theatre go on presale today at 11 AM (anyone know the password)? with a general on-sale starting Friday (3/22) at 11 AM. They also play The Paramount (6/23) in Huntington, NY and tickets for that show go on sale Friday (3/22) at 10 AM.

Joan Baez is playing Central Park Summerstage on June 17 and New Jersey Performing Arts Center on June 19 with Indigo Girls. Tickets go on presale today at 10 AM (anyone know the passwords?) and tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (3/22) at 10 AM.

Talib Kweli is playing Soundcheck Live at the Greene Space on April 24. The show will include a live performance and a conversation with host John Schaefer. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

by Bill Pearis

Hospitality @ Brooklyn Bowl, 8/31/2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

While I haven't revealed by Favorite Albums of 2012 list yet, I'll let it slip that Hospitality's eponymous debut album is pretty high up there. If you've yet to hear it's many guitar pop pleasures, you can stream it below. Wondering what the band have listened to the most in 2012? They've offered up their Top 10 of 2012 which you can peruse below. It's actually nine new albums and then the last slot goes to Led Zeppelin which singer Amber Papini admits she's been gorging on ever since Hurricane Sandy.

Sandy caused the band's headlining show at Bowery Ballroom to be postponed and the make-up date is right around the corner on January 10 with TEEN and Household. Tickets are still available and we're also giving away a pair.

Meanwhile, Hospitality next show after that will be as part of the Kidrockers series at Brooklyn Bowl, happening Sunday, February 10 at 11 AM. Tickets are $8 and on sale now -- kids 2 and under get in free. It's all ages on Sundays at Brooklyn Bowl till 6PM when it becomes 21+ like the rest of the week.

Kidrockers have announced a few other 2013 shows as well: Caveman (who just announced a big tour, including Webster Hall on 4/10) play on January 27 (tix); and Hooray for Earth play on February 3 (tix, they also play Knitting Factory next month). There is also the previously-announced DIIV show on January 13 (they play an "adult" show at BB that same night).

Hospitality's list of Top 10 LPs of 2012 is below.

Continue reading "Hospitality list their Top 10 LPs of 2012, playing Brooklyn Bowl for Kidrockers (as are Caveman and Hooray for Earth)"

Led Zeppelin appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night (12/3), a rare late night TV appearance for the group, but for an interview and unfortunately not to perform. Still, it was only one of few public interviews the band has done this year, after releasing their new concert film/album, Celebration Day. You can watch the videos of the interview below (via The Audio Perv).

Continue reading "watch Led Zeppelin's interview on 'Letterman' (videos)"

Led Zeppelin at MoMA - 10/9/12

Speaking of Led Zeppelin, they (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and the late John Bonham's son, Jason) were also in NYC yesterday (10/9) for a press conference at MoMA, hours before their new film, Celebration Day, made its world premiere in Manhattan's Ziegfeld Theater. Rolling Stone was at the press conference and noted that Robert Plant seemed pretty uncomfortable for much of it (most likely due to dreaded questions of another reunion):

Minutes later, a radio host praised the film but added, "I don't know if it's going to quench the thirst of those who wished to see you in the flesh." Again, the band was silent until Plant said simply: "Sorry!"

Later, Plant clarified himself. "We were so happy we were getting it right and taking it beyond what we thought we were about that night," he said of the O2 gig. "There were moments where we took off ... But the responsibility of doing that four nights a week for the rest of time is a different thing. We're pretty good at what we do but the tail should never wag the dog, really. If we're capable of doing something, in our own time, that will be what will happen. So any inane questions from people who are from syndicated outlets, you should just really think about what it takes to answer a question like that in one second. We know what we've got, you know."

...

Page explained he felt the band still had unfinished business after previous reunions at Live Aid and Atlantic Records' 40th Anniversary concert. "I think if we had the opportunity to get back together again, which is what we had there to do the O2, things had left us a little uncomfortable like Live Aid and the Atlantic 40th, etc. We just really wanted to get it right and go out and play to people who maybe never heard us, who had heard about this reputation and what we were about, and basically stand up and be counted for what we were. That's my feeling, anyway."

After the premiere last night, the members of the band made their way over to Monkey Bar for an afterparty. Other guests at the party included Joan Jett, her producer Kenny Laguna, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, rock photographer Ross Halfin, Patty Griffin, and others. Meanwhile, the actual film screening was attended by Kiss's Paul Stanley and RHCP's Chad Smith.

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is taking their tour to the NYC area for two shows in November.

A video from the Led Zeppelin press conference is below.

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin came to NYC for a press conference, film premiere, and after-party (video)"

Pete Townshend at Barnes & Noble Union Square (via @Griffin Lotz/RollingStone.com)

The Who's Pete Townshend came to NYC this week in support of his new memoir, Who I Am, making appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and NYPL on Monday (10/8), at Barnes & Noble in Union Square yesterday (10/9), and then on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon later that night (the same episode that Jens Lekman was the musical guest on). That's a picture of him performing at Barnes & Noble above, where he played "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Drowned" after a 45-minute interview. He also performed at his NYPL appearance, playing "Drowned" and "I'm One." Rolling Stone attended the B&N show and they report:

Townshend also opened up about the difficulty he's faced continuing the band after John Entwistle's death in 2002. "We feel the ghosts of Keith and John," Townshend said. "The second phase of the Who in a sense was really when we started to tour again around the year 2000, 2001. We were still able to evoke the sound, particularly with Zak Starkey. Now it's much more difficult even though Zak's there. John's sound was very big and rich and organic. When John died, there was a hole in the sound onstage and I was able to grow into that and find space. And I have to say as a guitar player, I prefer working without John. But as a member of the Who creating the incredible, powerful, driving, visceral sound, he's gone. I can't really do that again."

At one point, Wenner asked Townshend why he hasn't made a solo album in 20 years. "I write lots of music, I record lots of music. I probably write a song every couple of days," he said. "I have a very big archive of unfinished material."

Currently, Townshend is working on the musical project Floss, which he said he is about two-thirds finished, which he described as "a story with music, characters, a Aristotelian plot line very different from what I've done in the past. . . . The thesis is we're all terrified. We're living in terror, we're living in anxiety, discomfort and the fear that we have is for the future, the fear for our children's future, we're worried about the planet, we're worried about terrorism, being able to sustain life as we love it, we're afraid we can't guarantee peace."

Townshend said he loves Lady Gaga and constantly listens to music. "I just kind of surf Spotify and last.fm and iTunes and stick it on my iPhone. I listen to a lot of new music." He added that he predicted digital downloads "back in 1985 and before that in 1971. I knew there the digital revolution would change the way art happens and is made and is sold and we're not finished yet."

The Who are taking their Quadrophenia tour to the NYC area for four shows in November and December.

Videos are below.

Continue reading "Pete Townshend interviewed on 'Daily Show, 'Fallon' and at NYPL and Barnes & Noble, where he also performed (videos)"

Led Zeppelin are releasing their new concert film/album, Celebration Day, which documents their show at London's O2 Arena (12/10/07) from their 2007 reunion tour. The film gets its theatrical release on October 17 and comes out on November 19 on CD/DVD/Blu-Ray via Swan Song/Atlantic and there will also be a deluxe edition with bonus material. It will screen in NYC at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM at Sunshine Cinema. Tickets for those screenings are on sale now. A list of all theaters that the film will screen at can be found at Zeppelin's site. The film trailer and tracklist are below.

But you won't have to wait that long to see it because Celebration Day will make its US/world premiere in NYC on October 9 at Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan. There will also be a press conference earlier that day at MoMA with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin -- Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones -- and the late John Bonham's son, Jason Bonham. All premiere dates (London, Berlin, and Tokyo included) are listed below.

In related news, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is going on tour and hitting the NYC area for shows on November 14 at Capitol Theatre and November 15 at Wellmont Theatre. Tickets for the Cap show and the Wellmont show are on sale now.

A list of all dates and the Celebration Day trailer are below, plus some classic videos so you can get the led out.

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin releasing concert film, 'Celebration Day,' giving press conference at MoMA before the film's premiere in NYC"

Them Crooked Vultures at Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

Father of two Robert McIndoe, 52, was unable to sleep for three months after going to a rock concert that left him with a permanent ringing in his ear. He was watching supergroup 'Them Crooked Vultures' at Brixton Academy.
In the coming months Mr McIndoe faced an uphill struggle to to get proper treatment for the condition, Southwark Coroner's Court heard.
His wife eventually received a letter of referral to a hospital ear, nose and throat specialist on November 1 last year - the day after he apparently killed himself.
Shirley McIndoe told the hearing that the day after the gig last July, her husband was "cross with himself" for not taking ear plugs.
She said: "When it first happened he wasn't too bothered about it because he thought it would subside, and the friend he had been with also had ringing in his ears that day.
"But it was a constant irritation.
"He didn't get a night of sleep after that until he went to hospital."-[Telegraph]

photos by Andrew St. Clair

"The doors opened at 7:30 and Robert Plant and the Band of Joy hit the stage just after 9 pm. I stood front row, center stage (my usual spot), but tonight this spot was extra magical. I was inches from where Robert Plant's lyric book was and for the entire show, I was less than 2 feet away from him. During the concert, my brain would suddenly shout out - "you are close enough to reach out and touch the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, a band whose music has shaped your life." Needless to say, I broke into tears many times during the night." [According to G]

Robert Plant's band included vocalist Patty Griffin, guitarist Buddy Miller, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Daryl Scott, bassist-vocalist Byron House, and drummer-percussionist-vocalist Marco Giovino.

"The Band of Joy played songs from their self-titled album, 2 of my favorite tracks off "Raising Sand," Plant's Grammy winning album with Alison Krauss, ("Please Read the Letter" and "Rich Woman,") and they also reinterpreted 4 Led Zeppelin songs ("Misty Mountain Hop," "Houses of the Holy," "Gallows Pole," and "Rock and Roll.")" [According to G]

Continue reading "Robert Plant, Patty Griffin & Band (Of Joy) played Bowery Ballroom (pics, video, setlist) "

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: The Almighty Defenders - Bow Down and Die (MP3)

It's supergroup day on BrooklynVegan. Some of it is catch up news. We have a new MP3 and tour dates from the new Black Keys-related Drummer band, and then there's the signing of Dum Dum Girls whose first live show over the weekend brought together member of four other bands. Jack White's new supergroup The Dead Weather is streaming their new album today, and we finally did a post on the Monsters of Folk album (Bright Eyes+My Morning Jacket+M Ward). Supergroups are not to be confused with side projects which were sort of a theme today too - first with Wolf Parade-related Handsome Furs, and then the Mazzy Star/My Bloody Valentine-related Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions (which I guess could be considered a supergroup too). Next up....

The Almighty Defenders (Black Lips + King Khan + BBQ)

The Almighty Defenders, a meeting of might between Atlanta garage goblins The Black Lips, Berlin-based soul punker King Khan, and Mr. BBQ himself, Mark Sultan. Conceived during the Lips' Berlin exile (after their VBS-documented ejection from India), the band's self-titled debut is a madcap, liquor-drenched revival, a blissfully fucked up realization of one of garage rock's most fitting collaborations. "Bow Down And Die," the "booming, chivalrous third song," is an off kilter, beer-swilling chant-along that borrows just as much from choral church music as it does from skuzzball rock n roll.

No tour dates for the Almighty Defenders yet, but The Black Lips will be at the July 26th Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Party, playing with Health, Grupo Fantasma and Trail of Dead. The Black Lips are actually one of the only artists to play a 'Pool Party' two years in a row. Ironically(?), when they played last year, it was on the same bill as King Khan. Maybe they'll bring him along again, or maybe they should just make an Almighty Defenders show which would be cool.

The Black Lips are also playing a few other festivals this summer, including Pitchfork Fest and Seattle's Capitol Hill Block Party. The band was recently featured on the soundtrack of the Gael Garcia Bernal & Diego Luna film Rudo Y Cursi, which came out in May. That disc includes contributions by Devendra Banhart, Juana Molina (who's playing tonight, July 8th, in Central Park) and even Bernal himself. Album art and tracklist for that below.

Bernal is hardly the only actor getting into music these days. Dead Man's Bones, the combo of actors Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling, is set to release a self-titled album, produced by Tim Anderson of I'm A Robot, October 6th on Anti-. Silverlake Conservatory Children's Choir, who you can see below, also pitched in vocals. Two videos of the band are below.

You can catch a different kind of supergroup in NYC at the Bowery Ballroom on August 1st. Dangerous, an "All Metal Tribute To Michael Jackson," features members of Tragedy (the "Heavy Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees" who are playing the Beach at Governors Island this summer) and the 2 Skinnee Js. Tickets to that are on sale now.

And if that's not enough...

Members of Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age are working together on a new project...The as-yet-unnamed supergroup unites Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, and lead Foo Fighter (né Nirvana drummer) Dave Grohl. The trio are presently in Los Angeles, recording their debut album.[Guardian UK]

Check out Almighty Defenders videos, album art and tracklist, with Rudo Y Cursi album info and Dead Man's Bones videos, below...

Continue reading "Supergroup day continues: Zeppelin/Grohl/QOTSA, Almighty Defenders (Black Lips+King Khan), Dead Man's Bones, more"

photos by Stephanie Berger

"It is not unusual these days to hear Merce Cunningham called the world's greatest living choreographer. I go further: I have long thought that he is the greatest living artist since the death of Samuel Beckett, almost 20 years ago.

His latest world premiere, "Nearly Ninety," presented at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Thursday (his 90th birthday), is not a perfect work of art...

...The music, composed and performed by John Paul Jones, Takehisa Kosugi and Sonic Youth (Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo, Steve Shelley), sounds now like a rock musician's worst hangover, as if the pot and the kettle were calling each other every color under the sun before settling down and breeding a whole tribe of tintinnabulations. One powerful guitar chord out of the blue happened on Thursday to coincide with the most electrifying gear change in the Goggans-Squire duet, but even such moments are mere effects... [NY Times]

Continue reading "Merce Cunningham at 90 - Sonic Youth, John Paul Jones & more @ BAM, Brooklyn - pics"

"April 16 marks the 90th birthday of Merce Cunningham--one of the most important choreographers of our time--whose radical approaches to space, time, and technology continue to redefine the way we experience dance. Over the course of his celebrated career, he has forged a distinctive language of movement, illuminating the body's inherent drama and limitless capacity for change. And as a longtime collaborator of John Cage, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns, he has played a leading role in fostering innovation across art forms.

In celebration of his birthday, Merce Cunningham Dance Company returns to BAM with the world premiere of a dazzling evening-length work created in collaboration with and performed live by underground rock legend Sonic Youth, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, and mixed-media sound composer Takehisa Kosugi. With an intriguing multi-tiered décor by world-renowned architect Benedetta Tagliabue, lighting by Tony and Obie-winning designer Brian MacDevitt, and costumes by Romeo Gigli, this new masterpiece is testament to the boundless imagination of a man who, on the cusp of his ninth decade, still keeps us on our toes."

It's not totally clear to me if Sonic Youth will be playing any of their own songs at the four BAM performances (I'm looking into though). What they'll decide to put on the setlist at the No Fun Fest show they're playing in Brooklyn in May is also somewhat of a mystery.

Sonic Youth's 16th album, 'The Eternal', is out via Matador Records on June 9th. Maybe we'll get a plain old Sonic Youth concert some time around then.

Alison Krauss & Robert Plant @ ACL 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Rounder Records, a venerable independent label based in the Northeast, released "Raising Sand," and it has become one of its biggest hits. Its multiple nominations were old hat for Alison Krauss, who before Sunday had already won 21 Grammy Awards. But none was for a project quite this adventurous.

"We ostensibly come from such different places on the musical map," Robert Plant said in a media conference backstage Sunday. "Alison showed me so much I had never been exposed to."

That Plant is still learning new tricks is a testament to his artistry. That he's not touring with a reunited Led Zeppelin is a sign of enduring integrity. That's a lot of money to be passing up, even if "Raising Sand" did win five Grammys.

But Plant was having none of it. The singer again was confronted with the inevitable question Sunday about his future involvement in any Zeppelin tour.

"How old are you, man?" Plant responded. "Because you look older than me. You try to do 'Communication Breakdown' in these pants." [Chicago Tribune]

by Black Bubblegum

Led Zeppelin in Central Park, 1969

"As you probably know, Jimmy [Page], Jason [Bonham, son of John Bonham] and I are actually rehearsing and we've had the odd singer come in and have a bash. As soon as we know -- which we don't -- we will let you know. But we really hope that something is going to happen soon because we really want to do it and we're having a lot of fun, actually, just rehearsing. Jason is actually tremendous. . . We really wanna do something and Robert doesn't want to do this, at least for the moment. I don't really know what his plans are. He really doesn't want to make loud music anymore. We do. I mean, I love acoustic music, but it doesn't stop me from turning something up . . . And what we've done so far sounds absolutely fantastic. When it does come, it will come, and you'll know about it."

Led Zeppelin, Robert included, reunited in December of 2007 in tribute of Atlantic Records impresario Ahmet Ertegun.

Robert Plant has otherwise been keeping busy with the "acoustic" music he's making with Alison Krauss. Video below...

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin to tour with a new singer? John Jones speaks"

photos by Kyle Dean Reinford

Robert Plant never said yes, and it looks like he won't.

The Led Zeppelin singer has quashed a report last Friday in the British newspaper The Sun that claimed he was rejoining guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham for a 2009 Led Zeppelin world tour. Later Friday, an Australian report said the tour would begin in May.

In a statement released on his behalf yesterday, however, handlers announced that Plant will take some time off from the road following his current trek with Alison Krauss -- in support of their Raising Sand album -- which concludes Sunday in Saratoga, Calif.

"After those dates, Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years," the statement said. "Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets."

Plant himself added his own remarks, stating it was time for everyone to get on with their own plans.

"It's both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward," he said. "I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."
[Winnipeg Sun]

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss played Austin City Limits (pics), Led Zeppelin not touring in 2009 (says Robert)"

photos by Eric M. Townsend

The extroverted Plant and introverted Krauss met halfway on the album, and they did so onstage at the Borgata Sunday night, entering with big smiles from opposite sides as the band kicked into "Rich Woman," the New Orleans hit from the mid-1950s.

What followed was a two-hour, country music-style revue, with the two singing in unison sometimes, but with Plant taking the lead for a few songs, then Krauss, then both stepping aside for Burnett to sing a few. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss @ MSG Theater, NYC - pics"

Bradford Cox (CRED)

Tickets went on sale this morning for the June 10th Robert Plant/Anlison Krauss MSG Theatre show. They are just about sold out. Tickets go on sale Monday March 10th (11am) for a 2nd show at the same venue one day later (June 11th). Learn more about how Robert & Alison got together in the video below....

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 2nd NYC show added, video "

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss are announced their 2008 U.S tour today. That includes Bonnaroo, and a show at the Theater At Madison Square Garden in NYC on June 10th. Tickets ($99.50, $79.50, $59.50 & $39.50) are cheaper (not that they'll be that cheap when and if Robert plays NYC with Led Zeppelin) than tickets to see Kanye West who is playing in the larger stadium next door (where Led Zeppelin will probably play if and when they decide to again). NYC show details, and more dates, below...

Continue reading "Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 2008 Tour Dates "

Lez Zeppelin is playing Bonnaroo

No Led Zeppelin, but there is LEZ Zeppelin, Robert Plant and Metallica. Also Pearl Jam, Kanye West, Sigur Ros, Levon Helm, M.I.A., Mastodon, Sharon Jones, and many, many more.....

Continue reading "Bonnaroo 2008 - Initial Artist Lineup"

Craig Wedren & Nicole Atkins @ Bowery Ballroom, Jan 25, 2008 (music snob)

* Supergrass signs to Astralwerks
* U2's manager says take away your Internet
* Led Zeppelin may tour, but not yet
* Robert Plant talked/stuttered about MSG, at MSG
* Rap mogul "Suge" Knight named in gang crackdown
* Lil Wayne Addresses Drug Charges
* Arctic Monkeys get record seven NME nominations
* Imeem Buys Social Music Service Anywhere.FM
* Sony Ericsson cuts deals with 10 music labels
* Qtrax didn't make a deal with any

Super Furry Animals @ Music Hall, Jan 25, 2008 (Ryan Dombal)

Unlike in their hellraising heyday, singer ROBERT PLANT and guitarist JIMMY PAGE slapped each other on the back and were handed giant mugs of hot drinks. But then the rock fighting talk began and they discussed returning to Madison Square Garden in New York - where they did three sell-out shows in 1973. My source backstage at London’s O2 arena said: “Robert had a couple of bottles of beer before going on stage but afterwards it was just hot mugs of tea and coffee. The band were really fired up and were talking about their late drummer JOHN BONHAM and what he would have thought about it - it was a time for reflection. Then the talk went to, ‘What next? Was this it or would there be something else?’ One of the guys started talking about their three concerts at the Garden. There was a consensus of, ‘Why not?’ It is one of the best live music venues in the world. I have no doubt after their reaction backstage that they will be there next year playing to a sell-out crowd.” [The Sun]

an Ahmet Ertegun Tribute....

continued below....

Continue reading "Led Zeppelin reunion concert photos & setlist"

some Led Zeppelin fans queued overnight or longer even though they have guaranteed tickets for the show tonight

More than one million people applied in a lottery for one of the 20,000 seats. Tickets have been snapped up for over £1,000 on sites such as eBay - but buyers are warned they could be turned away.

All registered ticket holders have to pick up their tickets in person with photo ID and they are then given a sealed wristband that cannot be taken off until after the concert.

Although rumours are abuzz that Led Zeppelin may embark on a full reunion tour, the band have officially declared tonight is a one-off concert and have promised to sing their best known songs including "Stairway To Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love".

The arena's corporate hospitality boxes will include Paul and Stella McCartney, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Dave Grohl and Jeremy Clarkson. [Daily Mail]

the first in a series where we asked comedians to tell us what was good this year....

Dave Hill is a great man. He's a very busy musician, comedian, actor, writer, and taste-maker. He's got his own show on Mojo called King of Miami as well as a recurring live comedy/variety/chat show in NYC called The Dave Hill Explosion. You can also catch Mr. Hill tearing his audience a new one as guitarsmith for the band Children of the Unicorn. Mr. Hill took time out of his insane schedule to give BV readers his list of the best music to come out of 2007. -Klaus

---

It usually takes me a couple years to realize that an album has come out, but here is some of the stuff I managed to discover in a timely fashion this year:

BLACK SABBATH, The Dio Years- No matter what someone might be talking about, if they are able to make reference to “the Dio years” at some point you know it’s got to be pretty magical. In a perfect world, “Heaven and Hell” would just blast repeatedly from loudspeakers everywhere, all the time. Also, people would carry torches.

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, Release the Stars- Rufus is one of few musicians today that people will still listen to in a hundred years and stuff. Plus, he wears lederhosen on stage, which just makes everything sound better if you ask me.

HIGH ON FIRE, Death Is This Communion- There are so many hot riffs on this record that I feel like whipping my dick out or something.

NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, Challengers- There are so many hot melodies on this record that I feel like whipping my dick out or something.

DOWN, Over the Under- This is not the best album by this band. Still, I think it’s important to support evil (and heavy riffs played by men with beards while wearing black sleeveless T-shirts) in all its forms, so I’m standing behind this one.

Continued below....

Continue reading "Best of 2007 by Dave Hill"