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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.
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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.
December 27, 2008
Robert Plant Won’t Tour But Says He Is Still Friends With Old Band Mates
Each statement that we hear from Robert Plant seems to diminish the chances that he will ever tour with his old Led Zeppelin band mates again. Recently, Plant was quoted as saying that all the speculation about the group’s future is “frustrating and ridiculous.”
In a recent chat with the BBC, Plant says there is no truth to the rumors regarding a rift between him and his old band mates. “I still see Jimmy quite a lot and he’s very complimentary and supportive of what I’m doing,” he said.
Although it is easy to understand how fans could become excited about the possibility of a Led Zeppelin reunion — or 
as some fans might want to point out, an “almost” Led Zeppelin reunion considering that the late John Bonham’s son Jason is filling in for him on drums – when rumors about bad blood between himself and the rest of the group start surfacing, it is easy to understand his frustration.
Assuming Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones are reasonable guys, there is no reason for them to be upset with Plant just because he does not want to attempt to relive the Led Zeppelin years. Apparently, he is quite satisfied with the more low-key work he has been doing with Alison Krauss and may just be feeling a bit too over-the-hill to be on stage belting out “Whole Lotta Love” over and over again.
It’s hard to speculate about how the remaining group members will be received if they do decide to take their act on the road with a replacement for Plant. The last word on that possibility indicates that they are planning to do just that, but it still appears to be up in the air where their choice of replacement frontman is concerned.
[Real Rock News was unceremoniously knocked out of action by an ice storm here in New Hampshire that is being described as the worst the state has ever experienced. No power for 11 days and lack of internet access until yesterday made it a bit tough to keep the news flowing from RRN Headquarters, but everything is back to normal – at least for now. We’ll be hoping for Mother Nature’s mercy for the remainder of the winter season here in the northeastern U.S.]
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.
October 31, 2008
Current Status of Led Zeppelin May Have Fans Dazed And Confused
Back in the news again are our favorite on-again-off-again classic rock supergroup, Led Zeppelin. Although some devoted fans may feel ill when they hear that name in association with the group without the presence of late drummer John Bonham, Led Zeppelin is the name that everyone is still using to refer to these guys, and I’m certainly not going to start calling them something like “Chickenfoot.”
After the recent revelation that Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler had been jamming with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham, there were rumors of Tyler filling in for Plant on a Led Zeppelin tour. Frankly, I’m a little afraid to hear what those devoted Led Zeppelin fans might say if that came to pass. There have been reports of fan outrage being vented in various online forums regarding any tours hitting the road and using the name Led Zeppelin without Robert 
Plant planted in front of his microphone.
Veteran promoter Harvey Goldsmith seems to be in agreement with many fans and says he does not see the point of a Led Zeppelin tour without Robert Plant. “I doubt it will be called Led Zeppelin. I just think it’s a lot of talk, I think it’s wishful thinking. Whether they all come together and do something in the future, they may,” Goldsmith said.
Anyway, dedicated Zep fans may be able to breathe a little easier after it was announced that Tyler’s recent jam sessions with the boys in the U.K. was nothing serious. According to Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, who was heard on the syndicated Todd n Tyler Radio Empire, the sessions were just for fun.
Whitford also said the whole idea might have been an effort to “light a fire under Robert [Plant],” which is the same rumor we heard a while back when it was reported that some other singers had been auditioning for Plant’s spot on a possible Led Zeppelin tour. Hooking up with Tyler may have been an effort to bring the big guns to bear on Plant, since Whitford agreed when asked if Steven Tyler was one of the most intimidating singers that could have been brought in to help motivate Plant.
Recent comments from John Paul Jones suggest that he, Page and Bonham have been having a great time rehearsing, and are very anxious to get out and play. A comment by Robert Plant saying that he would not be ready to take part in a Led Zeppelin tour for at least two years does not make the reality of a Led Zeppelin tour, or as close as we’ll ever see to one, appear to be coming to a venue near you in the near future.
There’s happier news for Led Zeppelin fans whose album collection may be a bit lacking, and who also subscribe to Sirius or XM satellite radio. The recently-merged broadcasters are launching a brand-new Led Zeppelin channel tomorrow at 6:00 PM Eastern Time, which will feature all Zeppelin all the time until December 31. There are plans to play just about every songs from the group’s catalog as well as interviews with band members from the archives. The Led Zeppelin channel will occupy channel 12 on Sirius and channel 39 on XM.
