I was one of the first 50 people to join the Stones' UK fan club in 1964, for 2/6d, and it got me a signed picture. Years later (I kept up my membership) it got me an invitation to the taping of Rock 'n' Roll Circus, but I couldn't go because they said it would end late and it was the night before I had a big exam. Looking back, my favorite periods were those early blues years, and then the Mick Taylor years. For me they went off the boil after that, but I'll always love them.

Gin and tonic, then, please! Though I have to drink and run.

Robert says fuck all the time. Well, not ALL the time, but I mean he often says it on stage and elsewhere. Doesn't seem like a huge deal!

They're both a bit too beautiful for my liking. j/k. They're ugly as sin, really.

Beautiful as always, DBZ.

You do look like her--and it IS great to meet people from here, with and without motorbikes!

That's very true. Better safe than sorry, eh?

Well, there is the occasional exception, come to think . . . But not Pilot! Even if he did break my heart over the motorbike.

C'mon, the two of us together are only half your size! But we're always nice to fellow Zep fans.

Very true. Incidentally, sometimes it can be safe to meet people on the Internet . . .

Wonderful pics, everyone! Zoso13Zeppelin, you have the same shirt as me, except you look better in yours. Little Matt is as beautiful as ever. The oysters look yummy. And Celia and Mr Brspled look so great together . . . 2008 is looking good!

Crikey. You joined the day after I went over to the UK, and you've already got 865 posts!!!!!! That's amazing!!!

Oh, it was. Missing Chicken, and not being about 6 inches taller, are my only complaints!

You and Chicken both look great in those pics. (I'm still annoyed I missed Chicken at the O2, btw. )

Oh, well, thank you (and nine and DBZ). At least I've added to your English vocabulary, not that you needed it!

Thank you very much, nine! Yes, this is my true home, somehow . . .

It's a metal thing you put on your hand so that you hurt people more when you punch them in the face. If you're that kind of person, of course. Which, as you know, I'm not.

Fine work being done on this thread while I've been away. Keep it up, chaps!

It suddenly occurs to me I look like I'm brandishing a knuckleduster.

This one's for Ev (note the shirt)--

You look fab, Ev and Angi! So great to see you. Not so bad yourself, Bonham.

They're from last week's Mail on Sunday newspaper. Knebby posted larger versions in the News section (thread titled ATTENTION, by desirezep). The pics with Carmen are adorable, aren't they.

Jack said he has to beg Meg not to practice--that she plays like a child would, which is exactly what he's after, a real basic, stripped-down approach. That's their whole thing--stripping away excess, returning music to its fundamental elements. I agree that, for the same reason, there's no need for a bassist--a bassist would just just clutter the sound.