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January 4, 2010
Led Zeppelin Speculation Continues Into New Year
2010. Twenty-10. Two-thousand-ten. Two-thousand-and-ten. No matter how you say – or write it – to those of us who have been around a while, it seems a bit unreal. Maybe it’s just me, but it sure seemed to get here a bit too quickly.
Entering a new decade reminds me that some of our favorite classic rocks acts have been in the business for upwards of forty years or more! Although one of the world’s most-recognized rock groups of all time have not been together in almost thirty years, rumors and speculation about their possible reunion persist.
Even though there is no possibility of a “real” Led Zeppelin reunion due to the untimely death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, the much-anticipated reunion performance at London’s O2 arena two years ago demonstrated that the boys can still play rock and roll and electrify an audience.
With John Bonham’s son Jason sitting in for his father at the O2 show, that lineup may be the closest thing to a real Led Zeppelin reunion that could ever possibly take place.
Having left Foreigner in 2008 and most recently traveling with Thunder on their farewell tour, it seems Bonham may have some open dates on his calendar coming up if he’s invited to join his father’s former band mates for another performance, or – dare I say it – a tour.
What brings back the Led Zeppelin talk, you might ask? New rumors have surfaced that have Jimmy Page in talks with Glastonbury organizer Michael Eavis. Page denies that there are plans for a Led Zeppelin reunion at Glastonbury, but when asked about the future of the group, Page says it is up to Robert Plant. An answer that sounds a bit familiar.
“You’d better ask Robert Plant what the future of Led Zeppelin is. Musicians can always play together but I don’t think you can go out with a band called Led Zeppelin if you haven’t got the original vocalist,” the Led Zeppelin guitarist is quoted as saying.
Page is reportedly still open to the idea of a Led Zeppelin reunion, but with bassist John Paul Jones now working with Josh Homme and Dave Grohl as Them Crooked Vultures, another element of uncertainty is now part of the mix. Jones and the Vultures are currently on a break from their tour, which will resume in on January 19th in Australia.
The beat goes on.
Read more at Star Pulse.
November 2, 2009
John Paul Jones Enjoying ‘Vultures’ Gig
The Led Zeppelin rumors came back to life in recent weeks with talk of Robert Plant making plans for an appearance at next year’s Glastonbury Festival. This, as one might expect, set off the usual rumors that Led Zeppelin might be reuniting for the event. Plant reportedly stated that he had no idea who he would be performing which may have been the trigger that sent the rumor mill spinning once again.
Since then, the rumors appear to have died down, and recent word from former Zep bassist John Paul Jones may have poured a bit of cold water on the hopes of a Led Zeppelin reunion – at least for now. There surely will be more of them springing to life if someone happens to spot Robert Plant dining with Jimmy Page in a London restaurant or Jason 
Bonham talks about how much he enjoyed performing with his dad’s former band mates in some interview.
Addressing the group’s experimentation a while back with the idea of touring without Plant, Jones said that he rehearsed a bit with Jimmy Page and Jason Bonham and were unable to come to an agreement on a singer to join the effort. An outcome that does not seem too disappointing to Jones now that he’s signed on with Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl and Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age to form Them Crooked Vultures.
Jones says he’s “really happy” about the way things worked out and acknowledges that it would not have been possible if things had clicked with Page and Bonham. Perhaps the man is tired of all the drama surrounding the whole Led Zeppelin thing. At this point, it would be hard to blame him.
The first album from Them Crooked Vultures is expected to be released on November 17th, and a singe from the album called “New Fang” has already been released.
See Ireland On-Line For more.
November 13, 2008
No Robert Plant Means No Led Zeppelin Tour
With the exception of Robert Plant, the chaps that took the stage at London’s O2 last winter under the Led Zeppelin banner have been sending signals that they are ready to get serious about a tour. Whatever the group comprised of original Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham will be calling themselves on the road, it seems certain that it won’t be Led Zeppelin.
Recent word from a spokesman for Jimmy Page said that the group has no intention of working together and using the name Led Zeppelin unless Robert Plant is involved. The latest word from Plant regarding any reunion tour is that he has no interest in touring at all for at least two years.
So it appears that all the rumors lately about Page, Jones and Bonham rehearsing with potential lead singers like 
Steven Tyler, Chris Cornell, Jack White, Dave Grohl and Myles Kennedy might be an indication that they have indeed decided to tour without Plant.
How fans will respond to a tour by “almost Zeppelin” will be interesting to see if it comes to pass. I certainly agree that their decision to avoid the use of the name Led Zeppelin is a wise choice, and lessens the possibility of diminishing the group’s legendary status.
There are probably a lot of fans that refuse to accept the name Led Zeppelin ever being used again after the passing of original drummer John Bonham, so a potential backlash from fans as a result of using the name Led Zeppelin for a group with only two original members is a real possibility.
Whatever they are up to, it seems that Page, Jones and Bonham are serious about it, and we seem to be inching a bit closer to some type of announcement from the trio. Whatever it ends up being, it is sure to have the rock newswire buzzing with activity.
September 8, 2008
Led Zeppelin Merry-Go-Round Shows No Sign of Slowing Down
It’s beginning to look like we are reaching the point where rumors of a Led Zeppelin reunion or tour start up again when any one of the members of the group sneezes in public.
A week or two ago, Jason Bonham was interviewed on Detroit’s classic rock radio station WCSX. Bonham mentioned 
that he had been to the U.K. on a few occasions since the O2 show back in December and was jamming with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones and working on some new material.
It did not take long for some media outlets to start up with headlines like "Led Zeppelin Back In The Studio!" I guess some people forget that Robert Plant was missing from these sessions and that he’s a rather essential element where any Led Zeppelin recording is concerned.
Now we are hearing that Jimmy Page has made some comments that are being considered by some as discouraging to fans who are hoping to see the group together again. Page pretty much confirmed what Bonham said during the radio interview, and that their jam sessions were not as formal as some have been speculating.
Page then reminded everyone that without Robert Plant, there cannot be a reunion and was quoted as saying, "If you’re going to do a reunion, you need four members."
Personally, I don’t think the chances for a Zeppelin reunion are dead at all. However, as many have pointed out, it all seems like it rests on the shoulders of Robert Plant. The other three chaps seem like they would like to do more together and are possibly just waiting for a final decision from Plant.
August 25, 2008
Jason Bonham Leaving Foreigner At The End of August
Jason Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drumming legend John Bonham, has revealed his intent to leave Foreigner, who he has been with since 2004.
In a recent interview with Detroit classic rock radio station WCSX, Bonham broke the news that he will be leaving Foreigner at the end of the month. The interview took place on the morning of August 22 with WCSX’s JJ & Lynne, while the group was in town for a performance at the Renaissance Center.
Although the interviewers asked about the possibility of further developments on the Led Zeppelin front and whether Bonham’s departure from Foreigner has anything to do that subject, Bonham indicated that it was "too early to tell" whether or not he will be working with them again, although he admitted that he had been over to the U.K. a few times to work with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, and play around with some new material.
Bonham said that his primary reason for leaving Foreigner at this time has more to do with spending time with his family than anything else.
He does still talk about his participation with the other three original members of Led Zeppelin at the O2 show, as well as every other opportunity he has had to play with them as "magical," and is hopeful that he will be working with them at some time in the future.
You can listen to and download the entire audio interview on the WCSX website.
