2008 tour with The Cult?

It's hard to imagine not wanting to see Zeppelin, but having The Cult on the bill is close to enough reason. Close, but not quite!

According to Cult lead singer Ian Astbury, "we're opening for a band you may have heard of ... the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it."

Maybe more interesting is the response from camp Zeppelin:

Zeppelin's spokesperson added that no decision has been made on any Led Zeppelin tour.

No decision on a tour? I thought, no was firmly led to believe, December 10th was a one off, no questions asked. That's been the official word all along. Suddenly, "no decision has been made"? That's a big change in position, and it can mean only one thing - a tour is closer to happening today than it was yesterday.

Led Zeppelin To Tour In 2008 -- With The Cult?
Cult singer announces that band is opening tour for Zeppelin -- during club show in Cincinnati! -- reps for both bands offer no comment.

CINCINNATI — It was one of those moments where all you can do is look at the guy next to you and wonder, "Did he really just say that?"

Is it possible that Ian Astbury, lead singer of '80s rock powerhouse the Cult, spilled the beans on the biggest secret in rock — during a club show in Cincinnati?

"We'll be back next year," a breathless Astbury said midway through the band's gig at Bogart's nightclub Saturday night. "Because we're opening for a band you may have heard of ... the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it." Stunned looks bounced around the room until one sweat-drenched superfan shouted out the obvious: "Led Zeppelin!" Astbury, his eyes hidden behind dark shades, nodded affirmatively and stuck his hand in the air triumphantly before plowing into one of the band's signature Zeppelinesque rockers.

When asked about Astbury's seeming confirmation of the world tour, spokespeople for the Cult and Zeppelin both declined to comment. Zeppelin's spokesperson added that no decision has been made on any Led Zeppelin tour and the band is focusing on its appearance at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London on December 10; a Cult spokesperson declined to answer questions about Astbury's comment...

2008 tour with The Cult?

It's hard to imagine not wanting to see Zeppelin, but having The Cult on the bill is close to enough reason. Close, but not quite!

According to Cult lead singer Ian Astbury, "we're opening for a band you may have heard of ... the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it."

Maybe more interesting is the response from camp Zeppelin:

Zeppelin's spokesperson added that no decision has been made on any Led Zeppelin tour.

No decision on a tour? I thought, no was firmly led to believe, December 10th was a one off, no questions asked. That's been the official word all along. Suddenly, "no decision has been made"? That's a big change in position, and it can mean only one thing - a tour is closer to happening today than it was yesterday.

Led Zeppelin To Tour In 2008 -- With The Cult?
Cult singer announces that band is opening tour for Zeppelin -- during club show in Cincinnati! -- reps for both bands offer no comment.

CINCINNATI — It was one of those moments where all you can do is look at the guy next to you and wonder, "Did he really just say that?"

Is it possible that Ian Astbury, lead singer of '80s rock powerhouse the Cult, spilled the beans on the biggest secret in rock — during a club show in Cincinnati?

"We'll be back next year," a breathless Astbury said midway through the band's gig at Bogart's nightclub Saturday night. "Because we're opening for a band you may have heard of ... the name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it." Stunned looks bounced around the room until one sweat-drenched superfan shouted out the obvious: "Led Zeppelin!" Astbury, his eyes hidden behind dark shades, nodded affirmatively and stuck his hand in the air triumphantly before plowing into one of the band's signature Zeppelinesque rockers.

When asked about Astbury's seeming confirmation of the world tour, spokespeople for the Cult and Zeppelin both declined to comment. Zeppelin's spokesperson added that no decision has been made on any Led Zeppelin tour and the band is focusing on its appearance at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London on December 10; a Cult spokesperson declined to answer questions about Astbury's comment...

Is a Tour On?

It is being widely reported today that Led Zeppelin is set to do a £250million ($500M) world tour late this year or in 2009. The tour would commemorate the 40th anniversary of Led Zeppelins debut album, Led Zeppelin.

Robert Plant had initially said no to any tour, but has apparently been convinced otherwise by band mates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

The reports, which seem to emanate from Jimmy Page's former collaborator and good friend David Coverdale, suggest Coverdale's band Whitesnake will play the supporting slot. Previously the Cult and Velvet Revolver have been linked to a possible Zeppelin tour. What's unclear is why Led Zeppelin suddenly feels the need for any opening act.

However, this report feels legitimate, with the Daily Mail quoting Coverdale as saying "it looks almost certain." An announcement should be soon.

Velvet Revolver Plan to be Zepplein's Opening Act

The Led Zeppelin rumour mill, which died off completely after reports Robert Plant has emphatically stated he will not tour again with Led Zeppelin, may be reviving as Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan reports that Velvet Revolver is slated to be the opening act for any Zeppelin tour.

I understand that we have it, although I imagine there will be plenty of bands prepared to kick and punch us out of the way for the privilege!" said McKagan. "I would so love to have been at their London gig before Christmas, but we had dates of our own that obviously took precedence."

Readers will recall that it was being reported last November The Cult had announced on stage that they would be opening for Led Zeppelin. We seem to be farther from a tour now than we were then, but it is instructive the number of big-gish acts that seem prepared to open for Led Zeppelin. Now if somebody would explain why they suddenly need an opening act...

Is a Tour On?

It is being widely reported today that Led Zeppelin is set to do a £250million ($500M) world tour late this year or in 2009. The tour would commemorate the 40th anniversary of Led Zeppelins debut album, Led Zeppelin.

Robert Plant had initially said no to any tour, but has apparently been convinced otherwise by band mates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

The reports, which seem to emanate from Jimmy Page's former collaborator and good friend David Coverdale, suggest Coverdale's band Whitesnake will play the supporting slot. Previously the Cult and Velvet Revolver have been linked to a possible Zeppelin tour. What's unclear is why Led Zeppelin suddenly feels the need for any opening act.

However, this report feels legitimate, with the Daily Mail quoting Coverdale as saying "it looks almost certain." An announcement should be soon.

Storm Thorgerson (1944-2013)

Beginning with Pink Floyd's Ummagumma in 1969 right through to 2011's Rival Son's album Pressure and Time, Storm Thorgerson designed many iconic album covers in his career. Working with the London based art design group Hipgnosis with Aubrey Powell and Peter Christopherson, he helped design the most well known album covers of the 70's. Included on the list, Led Zeppelin's Presence and In Through The Out Door.

Thorgerson has had some health issues the past ten years, including a stroke in 2003 and a more recent battle with cancer. He died yesterday of complications from cancer, aged 69.

Rest in Peace Storm Thorgerson.

Here's a partial list of albums Thorgerson designed:

• Genesis - And Them There Where Three


• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon


• Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here


• Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape


• 10cc - Mirror Mirror


• The Cult - Electric


• Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (1977, 1978 and 1980)

The Groove Remains Very Similiar

Whitesnake drummer Brian Tichy put together a tribute concert to John Bonham in September, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his death, called The Groove Remains The Same. The show, featuring Tichy fellow Whitesnaker  and  Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience bassist Michael Devin and Keyboardist/steel guitar/guitarist Stephen LeBlanc, went very well. Now Tichy is putting together two more Groove Remains The Same shows in California: On January 12th at the Key Club in Hollywood and the 13th at the Galaxy Theatre in Anaheim. The star of the show is an Amber Vistalite drumkit with Bonham's 3-ring-logo backdrop, on which a number of feature drummers play Led Zeppelin songs, accompanied by the Moby Dicks:

• Brian Tichy on guitar


• Michael Devin on bass


• Stephen LeBlanc on keyboards.

The September 25th show also featured Keith St. John on Vocals and Brent Woods on Guitar. No word on whether those two will be reprising their roles, but it is a good bet that they do. The scheduled drummers will include:

• Steven Adler - Guns 'N Roses, Adler's Appetite


• Carmine Appice - Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne


• Vinny Appice - Black Sabbath/ DIO/ Heaven And Hell


• Kenny Aronoff - John Cougar, Smashing Pumpkins


• Frankie Banali - Quiet Riot


• Charlie Benante - Anthrax Galaxy show only


• Bobby Blotzer - RATT


• Fred Coury - Cinderella


• Jimmy D'Anda - Bulletboys


• James Kottak - Scorpions


• Abe Laboriel - Paul McCartney, Sting


• Khurt Maier - Salty Dog


• Xavier Muriel - Buckcherry Galaxy show only


• Stephen Perkins - Jane's Addiction Key Club show only


• Chris Slade - AC/DC, The Firm


• Chad Smith - Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot


• Jason Sutter - Foreigner, Chris Cornell Key Club show only


• John Tempesta - White Zombie, The Cult, Testament Key Club show only


• Brian Tichy - Whitesnake, Foreigner, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne


• Joe Travers - Zappa Plays Zappa, Duran Duran


• Simon Wright - AC/DC, DIO

Velvet Revolver Plan to be Zepplein's Opening Act

The Led Zeppelin rumour mill, which died off completely after reports Robert Plant has emphatically stated he will not tour again with Led Zeppelin, may be reviving as Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan reports that Velvet Revolver is slated to be the opening act for any Zeppelin tour.

I understand that we have it, although I imagine there will be plenty of bands prepared to kick and punch us out of the way for the privilege!" said McKagan. "I would so love to have been at their London gig before Christmas, but we had dates of our own that obviously took precedence."

Readers will recall that it was being reported last November The Cult had announced on stage that they would be opening for Led Zeppelin. We seem to be farther from a tour now than we were then, but it is instructive the number of big-gish acts that seem prepared to open for Led Zeppelin. Now if somebody would explain why they suddenly need an opening act...