I'm going to quietly hyperventilate over in the corner

Led Zeppelin played a storming show at their first UK in 19 years at the 02 Arena in London tonight (December 10).The long-awaited performance was the headline slot at a tribute show for Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, who died earlier this year and was instrumental in building the band's career in the 1970s. Frontman Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones were joined by Jason Bonham on drums - son of John, the band's original drummer who died in 1980 signalling the end of the original band's 12-year career.

There had been brief reformations before - including Live Aid in 1985 - but tonight was the first full set the group had played since headlining Knebworth in 1979.

An estimated nine million people applied for the 18,000 tickets, and despite the quiet sound there was mass hysteria as the band performed their classics before a crowd including Paul McCartney, Oasis' Noel and Liam Gallagher, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Lulu, Arctic Monkeys, Kate Moss and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.

Led Zeppelin played:
'Good Times Bad Times'
'Ramble On'

'Black Dog'
'In My Time Of Dying'
'For Your Life'
'Trampled Under Foot'
'Nobody's Fault But Mine'
'No Quarter'
'Since I've Been Loving You'
'Dazed And Confused'
'Stairway To Heaven'
'The Song Remains The Same'
'Misty Mountain Hop'
'Kashmir'
'Whole Lotta Love'
'Rock And Roll'

I would be lying my ass off

if I claimed that I didn't squee when reading the following-

According to an industry insider, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck are going to tour as The Yardbirds this fall alongside founding bassist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty. The tour is said to kick off this October. It’s unclear who will be the reformed Yardbirds’ lead singer (original vocalist Keith Relf died of electrocution in 1976).

The start of something good

- to roughly paraphrase Rufus.

You know how sometimes you think, if I would happen to lose one of my senses, which would truly be the worst? I'd have to say, my sense of hearing. (As my vision is already shot to hell). That being said, I truly love music.

So, I'm starting on writing a series on my favorite features of popular music. Dear God, I'm afraid I'm going to sound like either the most insane or most pretentious bitch on the face of the planet, but what the hell.....

I realize that quite a few of these performers may not be the 'best,' but they're my favorite, so bite me....wink;)

My absolute favorite guitar players and their work I love (in a very particular order)-

1. John Squire- The Stone Roses. Fluid, classical structure to his playing. Minimal, yet unbelieveably gorgeous runs and solos. No wanking here, friends.

-essential cuts- the last guitar run in 'This Is the One' off the Roses 1st album. Possibly the most perfect song in pop music. Ever. 'Made Of Stone.' Not far off from perfection. 'Sally Cinnamon,' the song that always brightens my day, if only from residual E vibes from the Roses in Madchester-era Manchester. Squire's guitar parts tend to remind me of a plane taking off. Kind of random, but there you are.

2. Keith Richards- Rolling Stones. He is the Human Riff. A fashion icon. A badass. Captain Jack Sparrow. Allegedly. Total prototype for the romantic working-class Brit guitar slinger.

-essential cuts- 'Brown Sugar' or 'Before They Make Me Run.' Or 'Happy.' My favorite Stones song, evah!

3. Jimmy Page- Led Zeppelin. He's fucking Pagey, man! On my study abroad experience at Iowa State, 'The History Of British Rock and Roll'- my last credits before graduation, God Bless the Cyclones, I got my picture taken in front of Jimmy's house in London (the one with all the stained glass windows). Fucking roll of film was ruined in transport, though. Story of my life.

-essential cuts- 'The Wanton Song' and 'Out On the Tiles.' Ooo, and 'Misty Mountain Hop.'

4. Noel Gallagher- Oasis. Why? As someone who is such a pop culture whore- who has to check themselves when making claim to a particularly clever comment or saying, that I didn't actually crib said particular statement or saying from someone- I truly appreciate someone who wears their influences on their sleeve.

What's so wrong with emulating the Beatles? The Stones? The Jam? The Roses? The Pistols? Uses the Buzzcocks's trick of concealing a sad lyric in a bouncy tune? Nothing, I say. Also, he's quite cute, isn't he?

- essential cuts- 'Whatever'- the strings arrangements are utterly superb, 'Listen Up!,' smooth and haunting guitar part, 'Acquiesce,' "Because we need each other, we believe in one another,
And I know we're going to uncover, what's sleepin' in our soul."