John Paul Jones and his ties to MerleFest, as told by 'Dr. Banjo,' Pete Wernick

When musician Pete Wernick goes to MerleFest this time each year, it's not just his performances that festival goers look forward to. They also get the opportunity to learn tips from him in "bluegrass jam camps" he convenes. The man nicknamed "Dr. Banjo" holds these workshops focusing on improvisation several times a year, not just at the annual music festival taking place this weekend in North Carolina.

John Paul Jones has attended MerleFest in the past and jammed with Pete Wernick and many others onstage. In this installment of the LedZeppelinNews.com Interview Series, "Dr. Banjo" discusses how his friendship with Jones came about. Also, he reveals why the Led Zeppelin/Them Crooked Vultures bassist seems to fit in so well with the acoustic music crowd.

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James Nash of the Waybacks, always changing it up at MerleFest

Here's another installment of the LedZeppelinNews.com Interview Series, this time with James Nash, singer, guitarist and founding member of the Waybacks.

His group will be performing two sets this weekend as part of MerleFest, held annually in North Carolina. One of those sets, featuring some special onstage guests, will be the Waybacks' yearly Hillside Album Hour.

Continuing a tradition they started in 2008 when they performed Led Zeppelin II in its entirety as a surprise to those gathered, they will play another full-length album set tomorrow afternoon. Its identity is currently unknown but will be revealed in Part Two. So, if you won't be at MerleFest to witness it in person, visit LedZeppelinNews.com again tomorrow at 4:45 p.m. Eastern time to find out what album the Waybacks will perform!

Here's Part One of my three-part conversation with James Nash of the Waybacks. In it, he discusses his musical influences, how the Hillside Album Hour came about, and why Led Zeppelin II was chosen to kick off the tradition. Also, he learns a Led Zeppelin history lesson regarding the famous blues musician performing onstage nearby.

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Jason Bonham to recreate Zep music, tell band history on tour; effect on Bonamassa-Hughes-Sherinian 'supergroup' unknown

Jason Bonham is set to announce very shortly his participation with a concert tour that will essentially tell the story of Led Zeppelin from start to finish from his perspective, LedZeppelinNews.com has learned. The drummer is planning to tour the United States and Canada later this year with a multimedia event dubbed "Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience."

While specific concert dates and locations have yet to be announced, the tour is said to feature Bonham on drums alongside other professional musicians who will replicate the Led Zeppelin sound. As a backdrop to the music, each concert is to feature an elaborate video screen onstage to make the Led Zeppelin story come alive to make Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience come alive.

Update: Edits made above are in line with public comments Bonham made on his Facebook page at the end of the day in response to the numerous reports about the tour. Bonham writes:

"Well looks like the cat is out of the bag ! First off I would like to correct the news that broke today on the world wide web !I read today that I would be performing the Led Zep story ! Well , what I will be doing is 30 shows in memory of my father as its 30 years since he left this world this September 25th 2010 ...  I have always loved playing the music of Led Zeppelin and after such a great night back in 2007 at the 02 Arena I took an opportunity to do a very special show which would look at my life with the music of Led Zeppelin. Old photos,home movies, videos , would help take you on a journey into my life, from my earliest memories right up to the 02 show ."

For Led Zeppelin fans, Bonham's sudden announcement marks a sharp turnaround as the drummer's primary focus so far this year has been readying new music created with a supergroup that was to be called Black Country.

While that band did make one live appearance last month, playing a two-song set during the encores of a show by guitarist Joe Bonamassa, the status of this so-called "supergroup" came into question publicly only last week when the producer of their album wrote online that the band appeared ready to implode before even getting off the ground.