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March 16, 2010
Led Zeppelin Far From Deflated
As one of the most influential rock groups of all time, Led Zeppelin will likely be listened to and talked about for decades to come. Sometimes it seems as if they might be as popular today as they were back in the 1970’s – even though they are no longer together!
Beyond the reunion rumors that flare up every so often, the name Led Zeppelin manages to stay in the news on a pretty regular basis these days. Most recently, the discovery of an alleged unknown recording of a Zeppelin show from 1971 is making headlines.
Vic Kemp is the lucky fan in the U.K. who made the discovery while attending what’s described as a “car boot sale,” an event which those of us in the U.S. would likely call a flea market. Kemp was browsing through some CDs at the event when the fellow who was selling them said he might have something that Kemp would be interested in.
The item in question was a CD that was marked with a felt-tipped pen and dated 1972. As it turned out, the date was a bit off, but that probably doesn’t matter much to Kemp. For just two or three pounds (somewhere between $3 and $5) Kemp took home a recording of a 1971 concert by Led Zeppelin at a location known as St. Matthews Baths Hall.
Although some fans are underwhelmed by this news, and say this bootleg CD has been around for years, some media outlets have been touting this as a major discovery. Whether or not it is, it’s got Led Zeppelin in the headlines again.
We’ve also recently heard some surprising news that R&B singer Mary J. Blige is a Led Zeppelin fan. She even recorded her own versions of two Led Zeppelin classic recently, “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love.” Blige said that she has been a fan since she was a kid, and that the group’s music has always moved her. The two tracks are on the international version of her album, Stronger with Each Tear.
Another celebrity talking about Zeppelin these days is former pro wrestling star Jesse Ventura. These days the former Minnesota governor is keeping busy with his TruTV show Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, and promoting his new book, but he took some time recently to sit down for an interview, during which he was asked whether he preferred the Beatles or Led Zeppelin.
Ventura’s answer, apparently delivered without hesitation was Led Zeppelin. “Led Zeppelin of course! Led Zeppelin is my favorite band of all time and the Rolling Stones are a close second,” Ventura reportedly responded.
February 9, 2010
Led Zeppelin And The Super Bowl
The headline may seem a bit disjointed – okay, maybe very disjointed, but the whole Super Bowl thing featuring what’s left of The Who got me thinking about some of our favorite aging rockers and whether or not they should still be rocking, or in the case of The Who, attempting to rock.
Before I continue, let me pay homage to The Who. Yeah, I may have ripped on their Super Bowl gig, but despite any protestations from dedicated “Whooligans,” it really was a lackluster performance, and may just be the wakeup call that the NFL needed.
Yeah, you bet your ass I’m a classic rock fan, but the NFL should stick with the ones that can still put on a decent show for a high profile gig like the Super Bowl. That’s one seriously large audience.
Anyway, having already stated that I’ve never been a fan of The Who, there is no denying their legacy and their place among the most influential classic rock groups. I never cared much for their songwriting, but the boys could play. Their shows were probably some of the most dynamic and energetic of their era. And that’s exactly why they should not have tried to recapture their past by agreeing to perform at the Super Bowl.
There simply are some things you can no longer pull off at the age of 65 (note for nitpickers: I know Townshend is not quite 65 yet, but give him about 3 months), and as a performer, you should be aware of that. How can one possibly capture the energy that was poured into the kind of show that The Who was known for when one is eligible for Social Security, or in this case, considered a “pensioner.” Obviously, one cannot.
That brings me to Led Zeppelin. More specifically to Robert Plant. There was a lot of anticipation prior to their show at the O2 in London at the end of 2007. Many fans wondered if it would be the start if something big. Would the remaining members of the group reunite for a world tour? Would they record again? Was this it?
Following the O2 show — which by most accounts was a great success — the rumors and speculation intensified. Stories of Led Zeppelin products being cranked out at manufacturing facilities in Asia, and media reports indicating that the band was preparing for a tour had many people convinced that we were on the brink of the long-awaited Led Zeppelin reunion.
Looking back, it appears that Robert Plant may simply be too smart to play along. As much as guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones may want to relive their past, they would not be facing the same kind of pressure Plant would be dealing with.
Sure, it may not be a cake walk to tour when you are in your sixties, but it’s got to be much less physically demanding to stand on stage and play guitar or bass than it would be to belt out “Heartbreaker” for the world to see.
Although many felt that the success of the O2 show may have signaled a green light for a Led Zeppelin reunion, it may have signaled something entirely different for Robert Plant. Perhaps something along the lines of, “Good Lord, I’m glad I don’t have to do that every day.”
We’re all in the same boat, I’m afraid. While we may be able to stay up and party all night when we are in our teens, twenties or thirties, for the vast majority of us, that becomes less possible as we start easing into out fifties and sixties. We age and there’s no way to stop it, save for one, but few of us care to entertain that option.
What’s been preventing Robert Plant from agreeing to a reunion? Probably common sense, and a good understanding of his own physical limitations. He’s obviously enjoyed working with Alison Krauss, and they have had great success, even earning themselves five Grammy Awards.
He’s having a good time, he’s still singing, and he probably doesn’t need the money that he’d take in from a Led Zeppelin tour. He’s still Robert Plant – front man for one of the world’s best-known rock bands of all time. Why risk tarnishing his reputation by hitting the road and trying to recapture his youth?
I think there’s a good chance that Plant has made up his mind that he’s not willing to take that risk. And if he saw the Super Bowl half time show, he’s probably more convinced than ever.
January 12, 2010
Jimmy Page Rocks on With or Without Led Zeppelin
Much like his former band mate John Paul Jones, who seems to be having a good time with his new group Them Crooked Vultures, guitarist Jimmy Page seems determined to keep on making music one way or another.
As the doubts about a Led Zeppelin reunion remain, Page has apparently decided to quit waiting around and get back to work. After their famed reunion show at London’s O2 arena a couple of years ago, reports indicated that both Page and Jones were open to the idea of a Led Zeppelin reunion, but Robert Plant has remained firmly noncommittal.
Page has begun talking about the new solo album he has started working on that he states will be “radical.” There is also talk of doing some touring, with Page possibly forming up a hard rock trio. It appears that Page is still kicking ideas around and has not yet made any firm plans regarding a new band or tour dates.
Page is the last of the surviving members of Led Zeppelin to get back into the music business – at least as far as recording and performing live are concerned. Robert Plant’s collaboration with Alison Krauss and John Paul Jones’ signing on as part of Them Crooked Vultures proves that the legendary rockers still have plenty of music in them, and are not quite ready to fade away into the annals of music history.
Page says that he has no negative feelings towards Plant for failing to agree to a Led Zeppelin reunion, and says that he and Plant actually get along quite well, adding that he believes that the album that Plant and Krauss recorded is “really good.”
There are bound to be a significant number of fans who would like to see Page, Plant and Jones team up and try to capture some of that old Zep magic, as well as others who would much rather leave well enough alone and let the memory of the group live on as it is.
Former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash seems to fall within the latter category, and has recently weighed in with his thoughts on the topic of a Led Zeppelin reunion.
Despite the rave reviews, and magic of the O2 show, Slash feels that forming up the remaining members of the group would diminish the significance of that performance. He told Britain’s GQ magazine, “When Robert Plant said he didn’t want to tour after the comeback show, I thought that was the right thing. It was a special night, so why ruin it?”
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 25, 2009
A Sign of The Apocalypse: Led Zeppelin And Aerosmith Rumors Merge
Although this “superrumor” has been declared unfounded, the rock world was buzzing for a bit over the past couple of days over rumors of a new supergroup that would include members of Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith. Throw Eric Clapton into the mix and you’ve got the makings of a white hot rock rumor.
It appears it all started when some comments by recording engineer Kevin Shirley were misinterpreted. Shirley, talking about some of the legendary guitar players he has worked with, mentioned Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Joe 
Perry, and Brad Whitford. That’s one hell of a lot of axe men in a single band!
I suppose one could understand how a renowned recording engineer mentioning those three names in the same sentence might prompt speculation about a new supergroup. After all, the formation of supergroups seems to be all the rage these days.
In addition to the guitar gods he has worked with, Shirley also made a comment regarding secret projects that are in the works that were referred to as “high profile.” It was this combination that may have set off the spark that erupted into the rumors about the new super-duper supergroup.
The rumor seems to have originated on LedZeppelinNews.com, which has since posted a retraction stating that the error was regrettable. But hell, it’s kind of fun to see how things like this spread like wildfire across the internet.
It appears that even Kevin Shirley, a.k.a. “The Caveman,” was somewhat amused himself, and posted a response on Mog.com which reads, “And Michael Schumacher will drive the bus… Gordon Ramsey will cater and Spielberg will do the video!!! It’s pretty silly to read between the lines, but I guess it adds hits to the page.”
It’s a relief to hear that this rumor is baseless since it would surely be a sign that something big is upon us. Since there was no mention of supergroups in any of Nostradamus’ writings that I am aware of, perhaps fear of the apocalypse would be a bit over-the-top however.
