Led Zeppelin when they ruled rock n' roll in the 1970s.
Left to right; John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.
The most saddening news in the rock world in recent months has been vocalist Robert Plant's announcement that he no longer wishes to record an album or tour with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin--guitarist Jimmy Page, basssist John Paul Jones, and also the replacement drummer Jason Bonham, who is original Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's son.
The story took a turn when John Paul Jones announced to Rolling Stone that the remaining members would try to find a new singer to replace Plant but would no longer call the band Led Zeppelin since it would now only have Jones and Page as original members. After an audition with Aerosmith's Steven Tyler as the possible replacement vocalist didn't go well, the remaining members did what they probably should have done when Plant announced he was unwilling to tour or record with Led Zep because of his commitments to recording and touring with folk artist Alison Krauss... they threw in the towel.
Jimmy Page's manager Peter Mensch made the announcement that the reunion minus Robert Plant is now officially off by stating bluntly, "Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 you missed them. It's done, I can't be any clearer than that." This is saddening to those die-hard Led Zeppelin fans like myself, who were willing to wait two years or more for Plant to finish his commitment of working with Alison Krauss and possibly reconsider opening one final chapter in Led Zeppelin's legendery musical vault. If just once I'm sure many of us wish we could witness one of those killer live performances Led Zeppelin would have with Jimmy Page smacking his violin bow into his guitar on "Dazed and Confused" or hear Robert Plant ponder those words, "It makes me wonder" in "Stairway To Heaven." Now it seems our nostalgia will only grow to see Led Zeppelin playing like the hammer of the gods they were.
If only the best bands in the world could just get along better. After witnessing reunions with Cream and Pink Floyd end in the bitter remorse between band members that originally drove them apart, it is all too familiar to see it happen with Led Zeppelin. The problem with bands this talented is that the members all seem to have such big egos that they can't communicate and remain a cohesive unit. Who knows, though, as David Gilmour guitarist of Pink Floyd said, he is not even considering a reunion, since he already has more money that he even knows what to do with.
Robert Plant and Jimmy Page: Have they already performed together for the last time as Led Zeppelin?
I like the idea of this Blog. I'm hoping it will keep me more in tune with what is going on in the Rock and Roll world. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI recently read Here There & Everywhere by Geoff Emerick, who was the recording engineer behind several Beatles albums, including Sgt. Pepper. I'm not sure if it's only the egos that splits bands up. There is so much expectation on these folks to play the old hits. or do what other people expect them to do. It's almost as if they are imprisoned by their success and the only way to be free is to not play together again.
ReplyDeleteThat said, i wouldn't be so certain that Zep won't play together again. Sometimes folks say never, and then...
Tip: Go see the Fab Faux - great Beatles cover band. Down to the instrument played on each song. Really incredible stuff!
Probably best to just be thankful for the outstanding recordings they left us with. Not to mention the countless bands they have influenced throughout the ages.
ReplyDeleteWhy re-heat a great souffle? Led Zep has gratefully left us countless mostly brilliant recordings (& films)! Let it be!
ReplyDeleteHow about finding a great new band that deserves attention? there's so much great new music out there.
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