Neither a tribute act nor a clone band, the show is more of a retrospective of one of the most legendary rock bands ever and features film clips, home movies, atmospheric video and lights as the son of Zeppelin drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham brings it all together for an evening that would do his pop proud. Featuring a band consisting of Tony Catania on guitar and theremin, Stephen LeBlanc on keyboards and pedal steel guitars, Michael Devin on bass and James Dylan on vocals, JBLZE thunders through Zeppelin’s catalog, playing classics such as “When The Levee Breaks, “The Ocean,” Kashmir” and more.
Speaking only days before the Experience began its inaugural tour in October, Bonham told Pollstar that the project wasn’t a tribute or a group of musicians trying to recreate the look and feel of a Zep concert.
“Led Zeppelin was the pinnacle of cool,” Bonham said. “They were mysterious. They were rebels. They swaggered. There was a mystique. They were bombastic, they were loud, they were renegades. You can’t capture that. It’s one reason I said no one was going to dress up, wear wigs or suits. This is all about my experience with Led Zeppelin. Most of the stories are my moments with them. Or a moment with my dad at a certain concert.”
The tour, which begins one month before Bonham joins his Black Country Communion bandmates for a June-July run, launches in Wallingford, Conn, at the Oakdale Theatre May 4. Other stops include Atlantic City (May 6), Montreal (May 12), Indianapolis (May 17), St. Louis (May 18), Denver, (May 20), Sacramento (May 26), Los Angeles (May 27) and Las Vegas (May 28).
Some shows are already on sale. Visit jblze.com for more information.