Whole Lotta Not Very Happy

Jimmy Page tok to the top of a double decker bus at the closing of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to represent his home city of London, host to this years Olympics. He and singer Leona Lewis rang in the transfer of the games to London with Whole Lotta Love.

Apparently, the London Olympic committee is somewhat unappreciative, and Page told Tim Walker at the Telegraph he is feeling unappreciated:

The guitarist is.. very “upset” that he has not been invited to attend, let alone perform at, the opening ceremony of the London Games.

“Of course, I’m feeling rather hurt... We put so much into Beijing, but weren’t helped by the Chinese giving us next-to-no practice time.”

It's one thing to not be invited to perform, even though the geniuses running the show in London did attempt to contact Kieth Moon, who passed away in 1978. But to not even be given an invite to attend  seems rather, well, in line with people who would try to get a drummer who's been dead over 30 years to perform. Considering that late last year, others were publicly saying they wouldn't want to perform at the opening ceremonies and Page came out and said what an honour it was, the organizers of these games seem to not be just incompetent, but somewhat ungrateful as well.

Sensational Space Band of Gold

Sensational Space Shifter front-man, Robert Plant, will lend his vocals to an upcoming tribute album to Fats Domino by the Louisiana "swam-pop" supergroup, Lil' Band o' Gold.

Their upcoming album, Plays Fats, a tribute to Louisiana rock and roll star Fats Domino, will feature a list of guest singers. Plant will sing two songs on Lil' Band o' Gold Plays Fats: It Keeps Raining (video below) and I've Been Around. The album will be released on June 8th.

Previously, Plant appeared on Lil' Band o' Gold's DVD, Promised Land, singing Led Zeppelin classics, cajun style.




Lil' Band o' Gold Plays Fats track listing

1. Blue Monday – Warren Storm


2. It Keep Raining – Robert Plant


3. Let’s Talk It Over (Don’t Lie 2 Me) – CC Adcock


4. I’m Ready – Lucinda Williams w/ Ani DiFranco & Kenny Bill Stinson


5. I’m In Love Again – R. David Egan


6. Going Home – Warren Storm


7. Ain’t That A Shame – Jimmy Barnes


8. What A Price (Grand Prix) – Steve Riley


9. 4 Winds Blow – Warren Storm


10. Poor Me – CC Adcock


11. I’m Walkin’ – Tim Rogers


12. Rosemary – Warren Storm


13. I’ve Been Around – Robert Plant

Bella Zeppelin

Twilight actress Kristen Stewart added to her rock and roll bonafides in London Tuesday when she was spotted promoting Snow White and the Huntsman in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt.

Stewart stars as Bella Swan in the hugely succesful Vampire movies, The Twilight Saga. As well, she played Joan Jett in the 2010 movie Runaways.

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Take a Picture of This

JimmyPage.com, the official website for James Patrick, announced today it os offering 5 photographic prints for sale.

As mentioned on this site two weeks ago, The National Portrait Gallery in London had digitized five photographs of Jimmy Page. The photographs, by five different photographers, were part of a folio.

Now, the guitarists website is making the photographs available as framed fine art prints. The Jimmy Page Fine Art Photographic Print Collection will make the "museum quality" prints available through his website. There will only be 50 of each print available, and each framed print will be numbered and signed by Page himself and the photographer. Cost of each print is £1,000 ($1,600 US). As well, a limited set of 10 deluxe portfolio box-set is available for £7,000 ($11,216 US).

The series contains well known photographs of Page by Jorgen Angel, Dick Barnatt, Neal Preston,Baron Wolman and Ross Halfin.

To order the prints, go to JimmyPage.com and remember, your friendly, but not that rich, blogger of choice thinks the Baron Wolman print would look great in his office.

Jimmy Page at David Bowie Book Launch

Genesis Publication, the makers of the Jimmy Page book, Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page, released last year, threw a release party for their latest release on Tuesday, and Jimmy Page was in attendance.

The party was for the release of Speed of Life a collaboration between David Bowie and photographer Masayoshi Sukita. Jez Coulson was there, and reported on events.

There too, was the BBC, and unlike Coulson, they had a chance to talk to Page.

In the interview, Page says he has "been working on all things musical over the last... couple of years... without necessarily playing." And next up, Page intends to be "getting together with musicians, and just be totally focused... on just that an that alone." He adds that at "my time of life... I much prefer to put all my energies into one thing."

Certainly, Page has talked in the last number of years about new music, playing, touring &tc., but nothing comes about. I'll be sceptical until we hear something more concrete.

The David Bowie book, by the way, retails for £360.00 from Genesis publications.

Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation-al Space Shifters

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Robert Plant introduced his latest project last night at Guildhall in Gloucester last night as the Sensational Space Shifters played to the 400 or so people who were lucky enough to get tickets.

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The Space Shifters lineup consisted of Plant, Patty Griffin (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Juldeh Camara (ritti), Skin Tyson (guitar), Justin Adams (guitar), Billy Fuller (bass), John Baggott (keyboards) and Dave Smith (drums). Minus drummer Clive Deamer, this is virtually the line up for Plant's Strange Sensation when he recorded and toured on Mighty ReArranger.

Here's a setlist, lifted from a picture of the stage setlist:

1. 18 hammers


2. Tin pan valley


3. 44


4. Four sticks


5. Hey joe


6. Bron-y-aur ( perhaps Bron-y-aur stomp)


7. No bad news


8. Standing


9. Black dog


10. Somebody knocking


11. Witch doctor


12. WLL/bury my body


13. Satan or Siren


14. Gallows pole

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They did play Song to the Siren, but it's unclear whether Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down was also played. The setlist consists of old Plant and Zeppelin numbers, some old blues pieces and one number by Patty Griffin (No Bad News). Reports are that the show was "awesome," and the few clips that have made their way online give the impression that Plant was in good form.

Here's Song to the Siren from last night's show to judge for yourself.



Thanks to Wyatt Brake for much of the information on the band and for his work in referencing the songs, and to Dawn Atherton who allowed me to publish her pictures from the evening here.

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The Groove Remains Very Similar

Brian Tichy, drummer for Whitesnake, musical foil to original Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience bassist Michael Devin and originator of the John Bonham tribute shows The Groove Remains The Same, has announced a fourth show in honour of John Bonham.

Called Bonzo's Birthday Bash, Dave Lewis at Tight Bit Loose is today announcing a tribute concert to John Bonham on May 31st at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Like the Groove Remains the Same shows that preceded it, Bonzo's Birthday Bash will feature a number of drummers doing their favourite Zeppelin tunes. "When I first thought of this," Tichy told Lewis, "the idea seemed too simple and cool not to try; get a John Bonham replica drum set... up front, center stage, and have each drummer perform their favourite Zeppelin song with a house band."

Guest drummers include Steven Adler from Guns 'N Roses, Carmine Appice from Vanilla Fudge, Vinny Appice from Black Sabbath and of Course, Tichy himself among others.

The backing band features Tichy in lead guitar, Michael Devin on bass and Stephen Leblanc from Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience on keyboards.

Tickets are $25.00 advance, $30.00 at the door.