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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.

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Tags: jason bonham, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, tour

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.

Tags: jason bonham, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Recording, reunion

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.

Tags: Foreigner, interview, jason bonham, Led Zeppelin, Radio

Latest Led Zeppelin News And Rumors

If ever there was a topic that promises to keep the classic rock news wire buzzing, it would have to be the status of legendary supergroup Led Zeppelin.

It was reported not long ago by U.K. newspaper The Telegraph that Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page made some revealing comments following the Foo Fighters show at Wembley Stadium where both Page and Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones joined the group on stage for a crowd-pleasing encore.

According to the Telegraph, Page was reported to have said that Led Zeppelin was ready to reunite for more future shows. He also stated that it may take until the fall of 2009 before it can happen since the members have current projects and commitments to complete.

For his part, Jason Bonham, son of late Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham seems quite anxious to join his dad’s bandmates for more shows. Having filled his dad’s former place behind the drums during the wildly successful O2 show in London last year, he’s obviously ready to re-join them if they happen to ask him.

"My fingers are crossed and I would do it in a heartbeat," he reports.

On the other end of the spectrum, Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant seems in no hurry to reassemble under the Zeppelin banner anytime soon.

Currently touring with singer Alison Krauss, Plant says, "I’m in no hurry to go anywhere. I want to stay very close. This is a font of knowledge, and I’m sticking as close to it as I can."

Tags: jason bonham, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Shows

Led Zeppelin Meeting May Decide Groups Future

It has been revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that Led Zeppelin has made plans for a band meeting this month. Bassist John Paul Jones said regarding the meeting, that it "it could be fun to do more stuff."

One wonders if this is a meeting that will include just the original members or whether Jason Bonham, son of the groups original drummer, is also invited to attend.

Bonham was certainly not far from Jones’ thoughts however since he was mentioned during his conversation with Rolling Stone, adding that Bonham’s playing was "as fearless as his dad" with regard to trying out his own musical ideas.

This praise for Bonham seems like it may cast some doubt on the  recent rumors about Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl taking over as Led Zeppelin drummer for a reunion tour.

I’m guessing having Bonham "blood" as part of the formula means a lot to the original members. Especially in light of comments that have been made in the past about the group’s reluctance to perform as Led Zeppelin again without their original drummer.

We are undoubtedly closer to a decision about the much anticipated Led Zeppelin reunion world tour, and perhaps the results of this meeting will provide the news so many fans have been waiting for.

For more on this story, check out GigWise.

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Tags: jason bonham, Led Zeppelin, meeting, plans