By Pat Prince

Later this year, Jason Bonham will embark on a concert tour called “Jason Bonham: The Led-Zeppelin Experience” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the passing of his father, the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Henry Bonham.

“The Led-Zeppelin Experience” will be a complete dedication to the life that Jason had shared with his father, and the band his father championed. Limited-engagement concert dates in North America — a full 30 dates — are planned for this fall.

After attending “Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles” — a celebratory musical production now on Broadway — Jason was inspired to create something extraordinary to celebrate the full Bonham legacy.

Unlike “Rain,” the “Experience” band won’t be dressed in historical garb. The musicians Jason is putting together to represent Zeppelin’s music won’t encompass your ordinary tribute band. They will form into more of a support band to back Jason’s performance into Zeppelin’s well-known catalog.

Behind the drum kit, home movies, photos and other rare footage will be part of the multimedia event. With what promises to be a state-of-the-art sound system and top-notch lighting, the show will be mapped out as a journey into Jason’s personal relationship with his father and Led Zeppelin.

Jason had become upset at some of the initial reaction to the event. Some critics scoffed at the idea, stating that, perhaps, this is an exploitation of a famous musician’s death. But that would be misrepresenting Jason Bonham. His intentions are true. His love for his father is rock solid. He is a pure fan of Led Zeppelin’s music, and he is almost as connected to it as any surviving members of the group.

Recently, we had a chance to chat with Jason Bonham while he was on a press junket in New York City.

DRUMMER JASON BONHAM, shown here drumming during the Led Zeppelin O2 Arena concert in Britain in 2007, will share the legacy of Led Zeppelin with a new generation. The 30-date “Jason Bonham’s Led-Zeppelin Experience” concert series will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of his father, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Photo courtesy Jason Bonham/Ross Halfin

You want to make it clear to the fans that the Led Zeppelin Experience will be more than just another tribute band.
Jason Bonham: Very much so.

How would you then describe the Led Zeppelin Experience, in your own words?
JB: It wasn’t really what I set out to do with my life. I love the music so much, and every now and again, I will play it with a great group of people, but after you play it with them, whenever you decide to do it, it becomes a little bit bigger than it was the time before. And especially after the great success of the O2 show. So now, with the spotlight on, I said, ‘Listen, if I’m really going to do this, it’s gotta be bigger than I want it to be. Let’s do everything we possibly can to make it the best experience they (the fans) can have. And that’s when we said ‘Experience, that’s it.’ And that’s what it’s going to be called “Jason Bonham: The Led-Zeppelin Experience.”

And I started to think, what can I put in a show that no other show can have? And … well, a couple of things: your father was in the band, you played with the band, and I really think the music is so special. I really am a fan. I’m not doing it for the hell of it. I really love playing these songs. And it was very sad when it all came to a close, after doing it once (at O2), and got so close to doing it as a tour. It was great. It was a really wonderful time.

So I was repeatedly asked by Annerin (Annerin Productions), who put on the show “Rain, A Tribute to the Beatles.” I went to see “Rain” and saw a whole other bunch of ways to do it, to make it a personal journey — part storyteller, a little bit more theatre.

I figured you’d sit down at the start of the show and by the end, you’ll be up, rocking out. I want it to be a real cool journey. It’s more my life through the music Led Zeppelin, than any kind of timeline. My first memories. What was the first thing that stood out when I first heard Led Zeppelin. My first jam experience playing with them at Knebworth when I was 13. So it’s personal anecdotes and one hell of a show, too. I want it to be as special as it can be.

The fans are so thirsty right now for anything Zeppelin.
JB: Thirty years on since Dad passed away. Zeppelin has grown and grown — I really do think, the biggest they’ve ever been or the biggest they ever were when they stopped.

Isn’t it amazing? You see teenagers nowadays wearing Zeppelin T-shirts. You don’t get this with any other type of classic rock band, really. This is special.
JB: No. No, you don’t. And to most teenagers, someone of my age of 40 is an old man — and for them to still look highly at Zeppelin. And every time a teenager finds Zeppelin, it’s like they found a new act. They are like ‘Check this out!’ And then someone goes, ‘Dude, have you seen these guys? They’re like 67 years old now.’ And they’re like ‘What?!’ (laughs).

My son is 14, and he’s just getting into that, you know, ‘Yeah, yeah, my grandfather was in Led Zeppelin’ kind of vibe (laughs). And I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, work it, son, work it.’

It’s not like there’s anything really promoting Zeppelin out there, like The Stones or The Who. Those bands are still touring, promoting their brand. Zeppelin has been inactive for so long. And that speaks volumes, that the music is still so popular.
JB: Oh, totally. I think so, and to me, I have been more meticulous, probably, on this show, and more anal than I’ve ever been in my life. The only time I was this intense was when I was doing the O2, about what my performance was going to be like. And that was just my part then. With this, I’ll rehearse and play back the rehearsal and listen to the guitar player, or listen to the bass player, and I’ll say, “You know, I don’t like that. I want you to go more like it was in the ’77 jam version of “Sick Again,” when it goes into the solo. I want you to follow that bass line more than the one in ’75.’ So, I’m picking my favorite bits of all the different tours and kind of tell them all what to do. Like I would ever try to do that to John Paul (laughs).

I’ve just been very lucky. And at the same time, I’ve gotten spoiled. You know, when you’ve played with them (Zeppelin) … ah … Ask any drummer — whether or not it’s the drummer related to the original drummer — you say, ‘You wanna go play with Led Zeppelin for six weeks and get to know them?’ I don’t think there’s one drummer out there that would say, ‘No. I’m just gonna continue on with what I’m doing’ (laughs).

by John Curley—In a recent interview with BBC 6 Music, Jimmy Page revealed that he is recording new music. (Click above to hear the interview.) Page told BBC 6 Music: 

“I’m just looking forward to making some music and surprising people with it. It won’t be just teaming up with lots of people who are [big] names. I’ve got an idea of something which I’ve had for a long time and now’s the time to do it. 

“I have got other ideas that have been nagging at me for a long, long time, I think the way to present music is same picture different frame, and sometimes this frame is quite radical.” 

Page also stated that the material will be available later this year. 

For more on this story, see the article from BBC 6 Music.

Jimmy Page told BBC 6 Music that he is working on some new music.

Jimmy Page rarely sat down for interviews in the late 1970s, a fact that has been attributed to his growing mistrust of the press at that time. One interview with the Led Zeppelin guitarist taped during this successful period for the group will be heard for the first time next week.

This interview of Page was conducted by one of his peers in the musical field, singer Long John Baldry (shown at left), who along with Page had been a member of the Cyril Davies R&B All Stars in 1963. Their recorded conversation takes place during Led Zeppelin’s heyday, looking back on the time both musicians took part in the U.K. blues boom of the early ’60s.

Their interview is both “intimate and revealing,” according to a press release issued by Denny Somach Productions for the nationally syndicated “Get the Led Out” radio show hosted by Carol Miller.

In addition to reflecting on their days performing live with Cyril Davies, Page recalls the formation of Led Zeppelin and discusses their first tour as a new lineup of the Yardbirds. In this exclusive, Web-only audio sample of the interview, Page chats about Led Zeppelin’s earliest American gigs leading up to a supporting role at the Fillmore West in San Francisco in 1969.

“Get the Led Out” airs on about 70 radio markets in the United States, including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas and Indianapolis. Local airdates for this episode vary by station but should take place between Monday, June 14, and Sunday, June 20. Check your local listings or call your local classic rock station for more information.

According to Bret Michaels’ Tour Manager, Janna Elias, in a statement issued today on the singer’s website, “Bret is being treated as an outpatient for the Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO). The condition is operable and treatable and for now he is taking two additional injections daily of a blood thinner.”

The Poison frontman’s staff said they are cautiously optimistic that he will attend the live finale of Celebrity Apprentice this Sunday, May 23.

As most rock fans know, Bret Michaels  suffered a PFO (Patent Forum Ovale) this week, which is in addition to the brain hemorrhage he suffered a few weeks ago.  As his website explains, “Bret Michaels was readmitted to the hospital this week after suffering numbness on the left side of his body, predominately his face and hands which doctors described as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or warning stroke. While MRI and CT scan tests were being conducted, Michaels also received a Doppler Ultrasound of his legs and lower abdomen looking for blood clots and most importantly an Ultrasound Bubble Test of his heart was conducted which proved positive for a Patent Forum Ovale (PFO), a hole in the heart. Dr. Zabramski (Bret’s neurosurgeon), Dr. Becker (who ordered the test), Dr. Cook (who conducted the test) and Dr. Frey (Director, Outpatient Stroke Program) all confirmed the results.”

It is still unknown whether the Celebrity Apprentice star will attend the show’s finale this Sunday.

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U2 front-man  Bono had emergency back surgery on Friday at a hospital in Munich Germany.  Sources say that Bono had undisclosed injury while rehearsing for U2′s 2010 world tour.  Tour dates have been postponed, with the second leg of the band’s “360 Degree” tour was set to begin on June 3rd in Salt Lake City, Utah because of Bono’s surgery. June 3rd, but that date has now been postponed in light of Bono’s operation. According to sources close to the band, postponement of any further dates is not yet known.

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This Sunday, May 23rd,  Rock n’ Roll heavy metal singer Dee Snider of the band Twisted Sister is hosting the 8th Annual Bikers for Babies Ride to benefit the March of Dimes.

The benefit takes place at Point Lookout, Lido Blvd in Point Lookout, NYwith kickstands ready at 11am.

This Run for Babies will take us around Long Island and back to Point Lookout for a post-run party with live entertainment, a custom bike show and contest, vendors and more.

Details here: http://wbab.com/event_guide/bikersforbabies2010.html

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Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham, infamous drummer in Led Zeppelin has put together a series of live shows to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the passing of his father.

The limited engagement of 30 dates in North America are set for Fall.

Jason Bonham  played with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones at Led Zeppelin’s “final” show at London’s O2 Arena in 2007, and in a press release said:     “When I was offered to put this together over a year ago, it wasn’t right,” notes JASON. “This September 25th is the 30th anniversary of my father’s passing–I thought, what better way to celebrate his life than to do 30 shows for the 30 years he’s been gone?”

Bonham and his band will play some of Zeppelin’s extensive catalog of songs with a state of the art sound system and light show in addition to their live onstage performance. Behind them giant screens will display home movies and photos as well.

For more information and tour dates go to: www.JBLZE.com

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Legendary drummer Levon Helm is celebrating his 70th birthday on June 6 at the 6th Annual Mountain Jam Festival in Hunter Mountain, NY. Levon will be joined by festival curator Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule (Mule is headlining the fest on Friday and Saturday) as well as Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Ray LaMontagne, Sam Bush, Steve Earle, Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers and his father David Hood, Jackie Greene, Allison Moorer and more.

Helm is a Rock N Roll Hall of Famer,  and two-time Grammy Award winner and legendary drummer for “The Band.”
Warren Haynes, co-presenter of Mountain Jam, worked with Larry Campbell, long-time Helm musical director, to assemble the star-studded set. Along with Haynes and Campbell, performers will include Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Ray LaMontagne, Sam Bush, Steve Earle, Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers and his father David Hood, Jackie Greene and Allison Moorer, among others.

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“Nightmare,” the new single from Southern California’s Avenged Sevenfold, is the No. 1 Most Added track at Active Rock Radio in the United States this week. It is also the No. 1 Rock Song on iTunes in the United States selling over 23,666 units in its first day.
The song is the title track to the band’s upcoming fifth studio album, which will be released by Warner Bros. Records on July 27th, 2010. Nightmare was produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Eminem). www.avengedsevenfold.com

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Two-time Grammy-nominated electronic act The Crystal Method (TCM) has announced they will lead into summer of 2010 with new single “Sine Language” featuring rappers LMFAO.
From now through June 30, 2010, fans can enter the contest to make the best video for the song.  They will be provided with green screen footage of both The Crystal Method and LMFAO.  The winners  will be announced in mid-July.  The Grand Prize winner will receive Avid Media Composer software and a music package from The Crystal Method including a signed art poster, signed vinyl and CD versions of Divided By Night and a TCM T-shirt; the second place winner will receive  Mbox 2 Factory Pro Tools LE Recording System, a signed vinyl version of Divided By Night and a T-shirt from The Crystal Method; and five runners-up will receive a Pro Tools Recording Studio and a signed CD of Divided By Night. To get more info head over t:  www.thecrystalmethod.com/sinelanguage/

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Dr. John is releasing his album “Tribal” on August 3rd.  It will be the follow-up to his 2008 Grammy winning “The City That Care Forgot” which features some work from Derek Trucks, Allen Toussaint, Donald Harrison and the Late Bobby Charles

“Tribal” was recorded with his band “The Lower 911,” and also includes some of  Dr. John’s tracks recording way back when from his 1968 release “Gris Gris.”

With a mix of rock, funk, Creole voodoo, and Mardi Gras Indian chants, “Tribal” shows his New Orlean roots.  He’s also been a national spokesman for post-Katrina New Orleans and featured on the hit HBO New Orleans drama, “Treme.”

A Grammy winner for an incredible five times over, Dr. John’s previous album, 2008′s “City That Care Forgot,” won the Grammy for “Best Contemporary Blues Album.” Post-Katrina, Dr. John has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for rebuilding his city of New Orleans.

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OZZFest has announced all fans who purchase tickets for this summer’s explosive return of OZZFest, before June 18 at LiveNation.com, will receive a digital copy of Ozzy’s new album, “Scream”  the day before the album comes out in stores. For all six OZZFest dates fans can buy a 4-pack for only $30 per ticket.  Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 22..

All fans who purchase tickets at LiveNation.com through June 18 are going to get an email with one unique download link per ticket for Ozzy’s new album, Scream, on June 21st, the day before the album is available in stores.

The main stage will feature full sets from Ozzy, Mötley Crüe, Rob Halford, DevilDriver and Nonpoint.  Second stage headliners and six-time OZZFest veterans Black Label Society will be joined by Drowning Pool, Kingdom of Sorrow, and Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, Saviours and Kataklysm.

Each OZZFest date will include 13 bands on two stages with music beginning at 1:00 pm.

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Music News compiled by Carol Anne Szel