Reunion Goes Cold

Those like myself who watch for evidence of a Led Zeppelin reunion can't help but noticed how the trail seems to be getting very cold these days.

This week an old rumour was shot down when Gerry Toms, Grounds Boss at the Wales' Millennium Stadium, said:

It's dead in the water (not happening). Because the concert was a success there was hope of a tour, but that was a lot of speculation. It would be great if they would, but as far as we know that is dead in the water.

That's not ambiguous or open to interpretation. It also comes on the heels of rumours that Robert Plant is miffed with Jimmy Page after Page gave a lengthy speech, after accepting Led Zeppelin's Best Live Act, at the Mojo Awards last month and failed to mention the absent Plant.

This all comes at the same time as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss extend their tour into the fall. September and October dates in Texas, Missouri and the West Coast make Jimmy Page's "nothing until September," a distant memory.

If you are hoping for a Led Zeppelin tour, July was not your month and it seems farther away than ever.

Reunion Goes Cold

Those like myself who watch for evidence of a Led Zeppelin reunion can't help but noticed how the trail seems to be getting very cold these days.

This week an old rumour was shot down when Gerry Toms, Grounds Boss at the Wales' Millennium Stadium, said:

It's dead in the water (not happening). Because the concert was a success there was hope of a tour, but that was a lot of speculation. It would be great if they would, but as far as we know that is dead in the water.

That's not ambiguous or open to interpretation. It also comes on the heels of rumours that Robert Plant is miffed with Jimmy Page after Page gave a lengthy speech, after accepting Led Zeppelin's Best Live Act, at the Mojo Awards last month and failed to mention the absent Plant.

This all comes at the same time as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss extend their tour into the fall. September and October dates in Texas, Missouri and the West Coast make Jimmy Page's "nothing until September," a distant memory.

If you are hoping for a Led Zeppelin tour, July was not your month and it seems farther away than ever.

No Zeppelin for Toronto

The Toronto Sun has done a bit of digging and it is turning up zero on the Zeppelin to Toronto stories. This never was a very credible story, but the Sun puts it more or less to rest.:

Yesterday, though, two sources in the position to know both said they were unaware of any discussions involving Led Zeppelin playing in Toronto at any venue, with one source completely dismissing the speculation.

Music industry magazine Billboard inquired into the report "at the highest level" and, according to the magazine's news editor Jonathan Cohen, was "fairly confident there's nothing to it."

A spokesperson for the Rogers Centre yesterday said there is nothing to the reports regarding Led Zeppelin, but did not close the door.

Add in a little quick math. The Rogers Centre has other other events booked in August, including Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian Football League's Toronto Argo's and a National Football League Pre-Season game. Only one time in August is there a five day break in the schedule (let's assume for Robert Plant's voice sake there will not be four shows in four nights), during the last week of the month beginning on August 25th. For the record, Foreigner has a show on the 30th, so the shows would literally have to be the 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th. Certainly doable, but it's a tight schedule for such a big event.

Reading into the Sun story and looking at the Rogers Centre schedule, this one, sadly, begins to look like a non-starter.

One final thought, why would hip-hop TV be breaking this story? And notice on that story, they reference the discredited Ian Astbury "we're opening for a band you may have heard of. The name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it" story. Astbury himself has denied this one, but hip-hop TV is reliably sourcing it as proof "that Led Zeppelin had plans to go on tour sometime in 2008."

This story makes less sense the more you think about it.

No Zeppelin for Toronto

The Toronto Sun has done a bit of digging and it is turning up zero on the Zeppelin to Toronto stories. This never was a very credible story, but the Sun puts it more or less to rest.:

Yesterday, though, two sources in the position to know both said they were unaware of any discussions involving Led Zeppelin playing in Toronto at any venue, with one source completely dismissing the speculation.

Music industry magazine Billboard inquired into the report "at the highest level" and, according to the magazine's news editor Jonathan Cohen, was "fairly confident there's nothing to it."

A spokesperson for the Rogers Centre yesterday said there is nothing to the reports regarding Led Zeppelin, but did not close the door.

Add in a little quick math. The Rogers Centre has other other events booked in August, including Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays, Canadian Football League's Toronto Argo's and a National Football League Pre-Season game. Only one time in August is there a five day break in the schedule (let's assume for Robert Plant's voice sake there will not be four shows in four nights), during the last week of the month beginning on August 25th. For the record, Foreigner has a show on the 30th, so the shows would literally have to be the 25th, 26th, 28th and 29th. Certainly doable, but it's a tight schedule for such a big event.

Reading into the Sun story and looking at the Rogers Centre schedule, this one, sadly, begins to look like a non-starter.

One final thought, why would hip-hop TV be breaking this story? And notice on that story, they reference the discredited Ian Astbury "we're opening for a band you may have heard of. The name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it" story. Astbury himself has denied this one, but hip-hop TV is reliably sourcing it as proof "that Led Zeppelin had plans to go on tour sometime in 2008."

This story makes less sense the more you think about it.

Led Zeppelin to play Toronto in August?

Now that David Coverdale has denied ever claiming Zeppelin will tour this fall and Whitesnake will be there, comes a report of four shows scheduled for Toronto in August.

I have read another report that suggested four shows between Aug 20 and 27th, two at the Skydome/Rogers Centre and two the the Air Canada Centre.

This rumour, I confess, doesn't pass the sniff test. As no reason for the shows are given (i.e., a charity event), and Zeppelin has minimal history in Toronto, it sounds like a pipe dream. However, as this blog is written about 50 miles from the Skydome/Rogers Centre, I like this one. No borders to cross, no trouble getting to the show, no currency conversions to consider. Just like any other concert, except better! So while Ramble On considers this rumour probably false, it is my favourite so far.

Led Zeppelin to play Toronto in August?

Now that David Coverdale has denied ever claiming Zeppelin will tour this fall and Whitesnake will be there, comes a report of four shows scheduled for Toronto in August.

I have read another report that suggested four shows between Aug 20 and 27th, two at the Skydome/Rogers Centre and two the the Air Canada Centre.

This rumour, I confess, doesn't pass the sniff test. As no reason for the shows are given (i.e., a charity event), and Zeppelin has minimal history in Toronto, it sounds like a pipe dream. However, as this blog is written about 50 miles from the Skydome/Rogers Centre, I like this one. No borders to cross, no trouble getting to the show, no currency conversions to consider. Just like any other concert, except better! So while Ramble On considers this rumour probably false, it is my favourite so far.

Is a Tour On?

It is being widely reported today that Led Zeppelin is set to do a £250million ($500M) world tour late this year or in 2009. The tour would commemorate the 40th anniversary of Led Zeppelins debut album, Led Zeppelin.

Robert Plant had initially said no to any tour, but has apparently been convinced otherwise by band mates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

The reports, which seem to emanate from Jimmy Page's former collaborator and good friend David Coverdale, suggest Coverdale's band Whitesnake will play the supporting slot. Previously the Cult and Velvet Revolver have been linked to a possible Zeppelin tour. What's unclear is why Led Zeppelin suddenly feels the need for any opening act.

However, this report feels legitimate, with the Daily Mail quoting Coverdale as saying "it looks almost certain." An announcement should be soon.

Is a Tour On?

It is being widely reported today that Led Zeppelin is set to do a £250million ($500M) world tour late this year or in 2009. The tour would commemorate the 40th anniversary of Led Zeppelins debut album, Led Zeppelin.

Robert Plant had initially said no to any tour, but has apparently been convinced otherwise by band mates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

The reports, which seem to emanate from Jimmy Page's former collaborator and good friend David Coverdale, suggest Coverdale's band Whitesnake will play the supporting slot. Previously the Cult and Velvet Revolver have been linked to a possible Zeppelin tour. What's unclear is why Led Zeppelin suddenly feels the need for any opening act.

However, this report feels legitimate, with the Daily Mail quoting Coverdale as saying "it looks almost certain." An announcement should be soon.

One More Time

Update: I have been receiving media releases all morning about the upcoming Led Zeppelin concert at Bonnaro. A more than cursory look at the Bonnaroo line-up, however, will tell you that Lez Zeppelin, the all girl tribute band, and not Led Zeppelin will be playing in Tennessee this June. My apologies for reporting this erroneous story.

Led Zeppelin will do at least one more concert together, as the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee has announced that Led Zeppelin will be performing there this June.

The festival also features Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, which allows Plant to throw in a Led Zeppelin performance while keeping up his tour commitments with Krauss.

The question is, can a tour really be that far behind? Will the band again put all that work into one performance, and not keep the train rolling? A tour seems, in my opinion, more likely today than it did yesterday.

Tickets for Bonnaroo go on sale Saturday Dec 16th.

One More Time

Update: I have been receiving media releases all morning about the upcoming Led Zeppelin concert at Bonnaro. A more than cursory look at the Bonnaroo line-up, however, will tell you that Lez Zeppelin, the all girl tribute band, and not Led Zeppelin will be playing in Tennessee this June. My apologies for reporting this erroneous story.

Led Zeppelin will do at least one more concert together, as the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee has announced that Led Zeppelin will be performing there this June.

The festival also features Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, which allows Plant to throw in a Led Zeppelin performance while keeping up his tour commitments with Krauss.

The question is, can a tour really be that far behind? Will the band again put all that work into one performance, and not keep the train rolling? A tour seems, in my opinion, more likely today than it did yesterday.

Tickets for Bonnaroo go on sale Saturday Dec 16th.

John Paul Jones: No Idea About Future Plans.

Gigwise is today reporting that John Paul Jones told the BBC regarding future Led Zeppelin plans:

I am obliged to say we have and we have absolutely no idea of what we are going to be doing.

Lets run this down: In the past ten days we have had Robert Plant say "You never know what's around the corner... Right now my whole energy is on another project."

We had Jimmy Page say "Robert Plant also had a parallel project running and he's really busy with that project, certainly until September, so I can't give you any news."

Now we have John Paul Jones' cryptic "obliged to say... no idea of what we are... doing."

Expect Jason Bonham to report, Scrooge like, that he "never did know anything, but now I know that I don't know anything," by Saturday.

Is it just me, or doth these guys protest too much? Then again, maybe we should read between the lines and assume they are waiting to see what Robert Plant wants to do, just like the last thirty years.

John Paul Jones: No Idea About Future Plans.

Gigwise is today reporting that John Paul Jones told the BBC regarding future Led Zeppelin plans:

I am obliged to say we have and we have absolutely no idea of what we are going to be doing.

Lets run this down: In the past ten days we have had Robert Plant say "You never know what's around the corner... Right now my whole energy is on another project."

We had Jimmy Page say "Robert Plant also had a parallel project running and he's really busy with that project, certainly until September, so I can't give you any news."

Now we have John Paul Jones' cryptic "obliged to say... no idea of what we are... doing."

Expect Jason Bonham to report, Scrooge like, that he "never did know anything, but now I know that I don't know anything," by Saturday.

Is it just me, or doth these guys protest too much? Then again, maybe we should read between the lines and assume they are waiting to see what Robert Plant wants to do, just like the last thirty years.

Jimmy Page: See You In September?

Well, not quite what he said. What Jimmy Page seems to have said at his press conference this morning in Tokyo, ostensibly to announce the Japanese release of Mothership, was that Zeppelin may tour, Zeppelin could tour, but not until September at the earliest.

Those ineternets are full of headlines today such as: Jimmy Page: Zeppelin world tour is on. But fans will have to wait!; Led Zepp plan world tour, says Page; Led Zeppelin Guitarist Wants World Tour; Led Zeppelin concert off until at least September. The last is the most accurate, but here's what is being reported that Jimmy Page actually said on the subject:

"I can assure you the amount of work that we put into the O2 (concert), for ourselves rehearsing and the staging of it, was probably what you put into a world tour."

"Robert Plant also had a parallel project running and he's really busy with that project, certainly until September, so I can't give you any news."

"It was exhilarating, fantastic, every week was a week to look forward to. We did the show and it was great. That is what was so thrilling really -- to come together after all this time and find that there was so much chemistry and so much electricity involved in these four characters."

"We wanted people who might not have even been alive in 1980 when we finished to understand what we were."

"But we did the show, and it was great. It was instant in terms of chemistry."

To add further to the speculation Chris Goodman from The Outside Organisation, Led Zeppelin's PR firm, said: “Jimmy has said that the band will be meeting up in August to talk about it.

“The band meet all the time.

“There is something in it but I can’t give you any more news at the moment.”

Jimmy Page: See You In September?

Well, not quite what he said. What Jimmy Page seems to have said at his press conference this morning in Tokyo, ostensibly to announce the Japanese release of Mothership, was that Zeppelin may tour, Zeppelin could tour, but not until September at the earliest.

Those ineternets are full of headlines today such as: Jimmy Page: Zeppelin world tour is on. But fans will have to wait!; Led Zepp plan world tour, says Page; Led Zeppelin Guitarist Wants World Tour; Led Zeppelin concert off until at least September. The last is the most accurate, but here's what is being reported that Jimmy Page actually said on the subject:

"I can assure you the amount of work that we put into the O2 (concert), for ourselves rehearsing and the staging of it, was probably what you put into a world tour."

"Robert Plant also had a parallel project running and he's really busy with that project, certainly until September, so I can't give you any news."

"It was exhilarating, fantastic, every week was a week to look forward to. We did the show and it was great. That is what was so thrilling really -- to come together after all this time and find that there was so much chemistry and so much electricity involved in these four characters."

"We wanted people who might not have even been alive in 1980 when we finished to understand what we were."

"But we did the show, and it was great. It was instant in terms of chemistry."

To add further to the speculation Chris Goodman from The Outside Organisation, Led Zeppelin's PR firm, said: “Jimmy has said that the band will be meeting up in August to talk about it.

“The band meet all the time.

“There is something in it but I can’t give you any more news at the moment.”

Music Dot Biz: "Led Zeppelin Will Tour."

I tend to agree:

Prediction: the Led Zeppelin tour will happen, and it will happen in 2008.

Nevermind the rumour mill with all its uncertainties... As sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, Led Zeppelin will go on tour.

It might not be a very extensive tour. They will probably limit it to a small handful of large population centres (who knows about a Canadian appearance), but it will happen. Led Zeppelin will set foot on this continent.

We can take that for granted because in the music industry, anything that makes money tends to happen, and such a tour would make more money than Microsoft. No other tour, recent or upcoming, is even in the same ballpark... In the rock world, at least in terms of sheer bankability, Led Zeppelin has no peer. Only a reunited Pink Floyd (or the Beatles, which is most unlikely) would even be remotely comparable to the cash cow unleashed.

We’ve seen a sample of it already. Last year, when the Zeps hit the O2 Arena in London, about a million people applied for 7000 tickets. Some fans paid up to £7,525 online.

That’s $14 742 US ladies and gentlemen!

Granted, part of the demand comes from perceived scarcity. That’s why they will probably keep the tour small. It adds to the mystique... Led Zeppelin have wisely stayed aloof, cultivating an almost supernatural aura with the help of the relentless classic rock radio hype machine.

The time to do it is certainly now, while the demand is there and while they’re still healthy enough to do it...

Get ready.

Music Dot Biz: "Led Zeppelin Will Tour."

I tend to agree:

Prediction: the Led Zeppelin tour will happen, and it will happen in 2008.

Nevermind the rumour mill with all its uncertainties... As sure as the sun comes up tomorrow, Led Zeppelin will go on tour.

It might not be a very extensive tour. They will probably limit it to a small handful of large population centres (who knows about a Canadian appearance), but it will happen. Led Zeppelin will set foot on this continent.

We can take that for granted because in the music industry, anything that makes money tends to happen, and such a tour would make more money than Microsoft. No other tour, recent or upcoming, is even in the same ballpark... In the rock world, at least in terms of sheer bankability, Led Zeppelin has no peer. Only a reunited Pink Floyd (or the Beatles, which is most unlikely) would even be remotely comparable to the cash cow unleashed.

We’ve seen a sample of it already. Last year, when the Zeps hit the O2 Arena in London, about a million people applied for 7000 tickets. Some fans paid up to £7,525 online.

That’s $14 742 US ladies and gentlemen!

Granted, part of the demand comes from perceived scarcity. That’s why they will probably keep the tour small. It adds to the mystique... Led Zeppelin have wisely stayed aloof, cultivating an almost supernatural aura with the help of the relentless classic rock radio hype machine.

The time to do it is certainly now, while the demand is there and while they’re still healthy enough to do it...

Get ready.

Led Zeppelin 2008 Tour Advertisement

You have to wonder what this Israeli ticketing web site knows that the rest of us don't.

h/t Product Shop NYC and Rolling Stone

Led Zeppelin 2008 Tour Advertisement

You have to wonder what this Israeli ticketing web site knows that the rest of us don't.

h/t Product Shop NYC and Rolling Stone