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February 12, 2010
Robert Plant Readies New Solo Album
If the tidbits of information that have been revealed about his new solo album are any indication, it appears that Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant has really taken a liking to the kind of music he has been performing with bluegrass star Alison Krauss.
Recording with a small group of musicians before Christmas, Plant chose Nashville veteran Buddy Miller to produce the album, and included renowned session musician and songwriter Darrell Scott among the select few that contributed their talents to the album, which is tentatively entitled It’s Rude to Say No.
Scott, who played mandolin and glockenspiel on the album, says that the two weeks he spent in the studio working with Plant were “some of the most memorable times I’ve ever had in the studio.” He goes on to describe Plant as someone who genuinely loves the music. Something that might not be expected from a hard-rocking veteran like Plant, and a far cry from his high-octave days with Led Zeppelin, but an interesting demonstration of how diverse one’s musical tastes can be.
The new album seems to be taking Plant in the direction he has been headed in recently while working with Krauss. He reportedly covers the traditional bluegrass track “Cindy” on the new album; perhaps giving fans a hint about what the rest of the album sounds like.
I have to admit that I would have thought it was crazy to envision Robert Plant singing bluegrass if someone told me that back around 1973, but here we are in 2010 and that’s exactly what’s happening.
As a die hard rock fan as far back as I can remember, the broadening of Plant’s horizons gives me the feeling that I’m in good company. I’ve become more open to listening to other types of music during the past few years myself, mostly female country artists like LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood.
Country has certainly evolved and branched out a bit since the days of hearing my dad play Glenn Campbell on the living room stereo, and a lot of the country material from the past decade or so has more of a rock feel to it, which is probably what drew me in.
At this point I’ve decided that I have to take a listen to Raising Sand, the Emmy-winning album that Plant and Krauss collaborated on. I’m not very familiar with the bluegrass branch of country, but news that Robert Plant is going to be releasing his own album that features at least some bluegrass material has convinced me that it’s time to check it out.
Plant’s new album is expected to be released sometime later this year.
For more on this story, check out Tennessee’s Bristol Herald Courier.
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 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.
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