Can We Possibly Be Surprised? Robert Plant Denies Tour Rumors
— September 29, 2008 3 56Towards the end of last week, the rock world was buzzing with word that Robert Plant had finally agreed to reunite with his band mates for a tour next summer. As I wrote here on Friday, “Like so many other Led Zeppelin rumors we have heard over the past nine months or so, one has to wonder if this is just another one that will be shot down by way of a statement from a band spokesman in a day or two.”
Well, it appears that is exactly what has happened, although it is said to be Plant himself that is denying the rumors, and referring to them as “frustrating and ridiculous.”
Furthermore, a recent statement says: “Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets.”
It is now being claimed that Plant has no plans to tour with anyone for at last two years once he has finished with his current tour alongside country singer Alison Krauss.
Last week, some rumors claimed that Plant caved in to demands from his band mates, who were said to be auditioning replacement singers, and would tour without him if he would not commit to joining them. I suppose it is easy to understand Plant’s frustration if those rumors were not factual.
The official statement on Plant’s website that addresses these rumors ends with the comment: “I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects.”
Adding more fuel to the non-stop Zeppelin rumors is word that Jason Bonham, the presumed drummer for any future Led Zeppelin reunion, has put his U.K. home up for sale. The seven bedroom home is being offered for approximately $2.4 million, and although his real estate agent says that Bonham loves the home, and does really not want to sell it, it has become impractical, due to all the time he spends overseas.
Bonham currently lives in Florida, and has recently given up his position as drummer for Foreigner, something that has likely added to fan speculation about a up-coming Led Zeppelin tour.
Robert Plant certainly sounds determined about his plans to stay off the road for a couple of years, which makes any Led Zeppelin tours planned for next year, with just two original members, seem a lot less like a Led Zeppelin tour in the minds of a lot of dedicated fans.
3 Comments
What the Hell is up with Robert Plant, anyway? As much as I appreciate his work outside of Zeppelin and his need to create something that defines him as “Robert Plant, solo artist”, rather than “Robert Plant, lead singer of Led Zeppelin”, you would think after all these years he would cave in and give the fans what they obviously want – a Zeppelin reunion. He has proved, along with Jones and Page at last year’s O2 show, that they still have it and that fans want to see more.
Perhaps fans need to start contacting Allison Krauss and have her convince Plant to reconsider doing something large scale with his former Zep-mates. Obviously he respects her as an artist and a friend; he speaks very highly of her and their work together. The talk that there will be another Plant/Krauss album in the future confirms this.
I read one-time before that Allison is a classic rock fan. She needs to speak to him from this perspective; perhaps then he’ll reconsider 😉
I think Plant and David Gilmour are in cahoots to “screw the fans”. I can hear them now – Gilmour (circa 2001)”Hey Robbie – I’m thinking of calling up Nick, Ricky and Rog to see about going out on tour as Floyd; perhaps a 2-year world tour; perhaps record some new material for a future compilation”. Plant: “Dougie, my boy…you would be nuts to do something like that; don’t throw away your credibility as a solo artist. Look at Mick; he has refused to leave the Stones and his solo material gets overlooked and sells shite. No one can see him as anything but a Stone. Poor bugger.” Gilmour: “Yeah…perhaps you’re right, Robbie, boy.” Plant: “You know I’m right. I’ve been doing this since 1980, and have never – and WILL NEVER – look back. Looking back’s for losers. And we’re no losers, Dougie.”
Our chances of seeing a Floyd reunion ever again are now nil given Gimour’s recent comments on the subject and the subsequent and recent passing of poor Rick Wright. While Gimour is awesome and his recent concerts prove that he can still kick ass, he’s not Pink Floyd. And alas, Robert Plant is not Led Zeppelin. And while I guess, without John Bonham, some would argue Zeppelin are not Zeppelin…there is still the hope that we will see Plant, Page, Jones and (a) Bonham on stage together again. If Plant smartens up.
Thanks for stopping by with that entertaining comment, Jeremy.
I got a chuckle out of that Plant/Gilmour dialog.
If the truth be known it’s actually Roger Waters who has always been/always will be the most divisive factor within Floyd, and the biggest impediment to any chance of a full-fledged reunion!
And in my opinion Plant’s denial/refusal is based mainly on the fact that he doesn’t NEED to tour with Zep more than him not WANTING to do it. He has a lot more to lose than he does to gain, especially if his voice can’t hold up for an entire Zep tour…which is a distinct possibility.
Nothing kills my soul more than seeing some aging rockers — like aging athletes — not knowing when to quit. A perfect example: I saw a fairly recent benefit performance by The Who on a TV special just a few weeks ago, and I must say that both Daltry’s and Townshend’s vocals were, frankly, embarrassingly bad.