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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.
December 3, 2009
Supertramp Reunion Unlikely Says Roger Hodgson
Former Supertramp founder, Roger Hodgson is not content to rest on his laurels and bask in the faded glory days of Supertramp. This is a guy who obviously loves to perform, and is currently planning a springtime (which I suppose would be autumn for the Aussies) tour of Australia, keeping the music of Supertramp alive for enduring fans, and perhaps a new generation of fans as well.
We’ve heard tidbits of speculation about a Supertramp reunion from time to time through the years, which no doubt gives rise to hope in the minds of a whole lot of Supertramp fans (myself included), but so far, nothing significant has come of it, and recent comments credited to Hodgson by Undercover make is seem unlikely.
“We’ve looked at it and talked it over. I have looked at it many times. It is hard to reinvent us. I would never say never but Rick (Davies) has pretty much retired right now and I’m in the prime of my life. The reaction I am getting from fans is ‘please don’t reunite’,” Hodgson says.
I’m not sure which fans he’s been hearing from, but I certainly cannot be counted among them. Perhaps I am in the minority, and most fans would just rather remember the greatness of Supertramp as it once was. Hodgson seems confident that he’s keeping the “magic and spirit” of a Supertramp reunion alive with his tour. Check out the video below and decide for yourself.
Despite the popular belief that Hodgson left the group amid a nasty dispute between he and fellow founder Rick Davies, Hodgson says that the real story is not quite that dramatic, insisting that he wanted to refocus his life on raising a family.
Even though these latest comments from Hodgson seem indicative of another nail in the coffin that contains the body of Supertramp, he made a point to include “never say never,” among his comments. With that, I suppose it might be justified to keep just a little measure of hope alive that Supertramp will perform together again some day. At least for those of us who would like to see what that would look, and more importantly, sound like.
December 2, 2009
Planned BTO Reunion Will Only Go Half-way
Randy Bachman and Fred Turner seem anxious to get back to work. While the two rockers have planned a tour sometime next year and have been working together on material for a new album, not everyone is happy about the notion of them teaming up as Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Bachman’s younger brother and former BTO drummer, Rob Bachman, has teamed up with someone himself, although don’t expect any new albums from this duo. He has joined with former BTO guitarist Blair Thornton in a bid to prevent the name Bachman-Turner Overdrive being used. Their side of the argument is that Randy Bachman gave up any right to use that name when he embarked on a solo career way back in 1977.
It’s not often that we hear of brothers facing off in a lawsuit, but there are obviously strong feelings on the part of the younger Bachman and Thornton about resurrecting the BTO name when it involves a guy they might see as someone who walked away from the group over thirty years ago.
Still, Turner and the elder Bachman sound excited about the prospects of their new project, and are talking about some new material that, according to them, sounds like they’re in their 20’s again. That’s a pretty bold statement coming from a 66-year-old, but fans will judge for themselves when their planned album, Rock ‘n’ Roll is the Only Way Out, is released.
The album, which the duo hopes to finish up by next fall, is something that seems to have surprised even Bachman himself. Following the recording of the title track, the recording engineers in the studio were said to have called Bachman and reported that, “We can’t believe this. This is the greatest thing ever.”
When Bachman got to hear the track himself, there was little doubt about his opinion on how it turned out. “Holy cow, no one has heard anything like this since the ’70s. It’s amazing,” he is quoted as saying.
Well, between “This is the greatest thing ever” and “It’s amazing,” this better be one hot album. That’s not to suggest it’s impossible, but capturing that old BTO magic from the 1970’s would be an impressive achievement.
Suggesting that they prefer to steer clear of any lawsuit trouble, Bachman and Turner have been tossing some other names around, including Bachman-Turner or Bachman-Turner United, which is technically true but has kind of a half-way-there feel to it since, after all, there will be a Bachman missing.
Part of the motivation to form up as much of BTO as he could muster seems driven by Randy Bachman’s feeling that he might be missing out. Having been asked on various occasions by contemporaries like Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Mick Jagger over the past six years whether he planned to do anything with BTO again, Bachman has obviously decided the time was right to have a go at turning back the clock and rocking like a twenty-something again.
Billboard has more on this story.
