Peace in Ireland, Sure, but Reuniting Led Zeppelin...

Back on Dec 24th I recorded Episode 26 of the Ramble on Radio Podcast. In that podcast, I alluded to, what I considered to be, the possibility that Led Zeppelin could have reunited for the Hurricane Sandy Relief concert:

... If there's ever going to be a reunion, it's going to be in the next little while. I say that not because I think it will happen, but because the guys actually look like their enjoying each others company when they're together these days. Robert looks like he's enjoying their company very much... They're in a good place, personally it seems, with each other. So if it's ever going to happen, it's going to happen in the next little while... I actually thought it could have happened on Letterman. It also could have happened at the big concert they did for the Hurricane Sandy relief, because ... the band could have hidden inside that lineup. They could have done that fairly comfortably...

Turns out, I wasn't the only one with the thought. The organizers of the Dec 12 benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Sandy at Madison Square Garden thought it as well:

Harvey Weinstein had this great idea that we could enlist Bill Clinton to convince Led Zeppelin to reunite... The president was terrific - 'I really wanna do this, this will be a fantastic thing. I love Led Zeppelin.' And Bill Clinton himself asked Led Zeppelin to reunite...

Clinton, the president who helped broker peace in Northern Ireland, approached the band when they were DC for the Kennedy Centre Honors in early December. Turns out peace in Ireland was the easy one.

As I noted at the time, the band seemed to enjoy spending time with each other and on the set of David Letterman the Monday after the Kennedy Center Honors. One wonders if Clinton had waited until after Letterman if they would have given the idea more consideration.

Zeppelin's Tribal Council

All three surviving members of Led Zeppelin were in London this week. While Jimmy Page still lives in London, John Paul Jones was in town to do a few performances with Seasick Steve - on the Jools Holland show and at the Roundhouse. Robert Plant has also made his way into London from his current residence in Austin, Texas, and it appears he will be spending the month.

Plant has a couple of appearances of his own lined up - again on Live with Jools Holland and at Rough Trade East record store - to help promote Patty Griffin's new album, American Kid. Plant was also in the audience at the Seasick Steve/John Paul Jones Roundhouse show on Wednesday.

But the big news may have been the reported, but unconfirmed, meeting of the three Zeppeliners to discuss the upcoming boxset reissues of the Led Zeppelin catalogue. It is no secret that Page has been working on a remaster of the 9 studio albums, including Coda, and that he has been "rooting around in the Led Zeppelin archives," for previously unreleased material.

However, considering Robert Plant's suggestions that he has "nothing on for 2014," offering a hint of a suggestion of a possibility that he may be open to doing some work with his old band mates, discussion about any possibly Led Zeppelin reunion seems likely to have been brought up. Whether any such discussion lasted any more than 30-seconds, or whether any kind of decision was made, will be unknown for a while. But it will be worth keeping ear open for any hints that start coming from the three gentlemen.

That they seem to have met, however, is good news and that progress seems to have been made on the reissues is as well. Hopefully the reissues are coming soon, in real time, not "Led Zeppelin time."

But Will They Do a Rap Version of Achilles Last Stand?

Back in August 1968, the Jeff Beck Band released their first album, Truth. Featuring Beck’s guitar playing, including a traditional solo arrangement of Greensleeves, and Willie Dixon’s You Shook Me, the three piece band plus big voiced, wild blond-haired singer, Rod Stewart, looked ready to take on the world.

Six months later in January 1969, Beck’s childhood friend and former Yardbird playing partner, Jimmy Page, released the first album with his new band, Led Zeppelin. It featured a solo guitar piece and You Shook Me, and the three piece band was fronted by a big voiced wild blond singer. Jeff Beck, it has been reported, was not pleased.

Is Beck about to turn the tables?

Planet Rock today reports that Beck told them in an interview that there’s the possibility of a project involving him and Robert Plant:

There's whispers about Robert Plant.

I met him recently. He came into my dressing room. I was playing in the New Orleans Jazz Rock Blues Festival... And then I hear 'Alright. How you doin'?' and it was Robert Plant!

We had a lovely chat. I think maybe he saw the act; I put on a pretty good show. And I think that there may be something there. Who knows?

I think that the common denominator would be the Eastern, you know, the kind of Arabic... I love that. That's prevalent in Zeppelin's music. The quarter tone scale, I just love that. There's more mileage in that... the exciting rhythms that he likes.

We're both pretty busy at the moment but if the desire's there you make it happen.

As Jimmy Page sits at home playing X-Box, writing “on this day’s,” watching The X-Factor and waiting for Plant to phone and say  "Alright. How you doin'?", Plant may be working with the other greatest guitar player, Beck.

All in, Beck didn’t really say much, a few maybe’s here, a “there’s whisper’s,” there. He may have been pulling the interviewers leg, and it reads like he probably was. But it’s exciting to think about: Robert Plant singing along side a great blues-rock guitarist.

It’s enough to get a guy up off the couch, if only because he just fell off it.

Stephen Tyler Rejected Led Zeppelin...

So says Stephen Tyler, anyway. On an interview on Shock Jock Howard Stern's radio show yesterday, Tyler admitted he played with the Zeppelin's, minus Robert Plant, in October 2008 as had been reported at the time.

The reason the pairing never happened? Not that the audition was "shambolic," as Page contended at the time, but Tyler turned them down. They will, however, do dates in the future if you believe Tyler.

What's not to believe form a guy who sold his artistic credibility down the American Idol hole?

Steve Sauer has more, much more.

Led Zeppelin to Fill Michael Jackson's Glove?

When Michael Jackson died, he left a variety of assets, most of which will be dealt with in his will.

[caption id="attachment_121" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The 02 Marquis"][/caption]

One that will not be is his 50 dates at London's 02 arena. Promoters AEG Live have 50 dates booked at the London site that recently held Led Zeppelin's reunion show, and nobody to fill them.

Many media sources are now reporting that Abba and Led Zeppelin have been approached to share those spots. Abba's Benny Andersson has already denied being approached, and has also stated that if approached the Swedish quartet would decline. That leaves Led Zeppelin.

To be sure, it seems doubtful in the extreme that Robert Plant would agree to such a thing. However, no word, denial or otherwise, has emerged from the Zeppelin camp. Abba was denying this rumour three days ago. It must be a considered possibility that Led Zeppelin is considering the idea, although by considering it I really mean Jimmy Page and Jason Bonham have tied Robert Plant to a chair and are forcing him to watch Brett Michaels Rock of Love re-runs until he says yes. None the less, the silence is interesting.

Maybe for this series of shows, the Zeppeliners will play something from In Through the Out Door, which was recorded at Abba's Polar Studios.

Reunion in Australia?

Led Zeppelin's relationship with Australia go back to the early days when the band had a hugely successful Australian tour in 1972. Gold coast.com is today reporting that Zeppelin is rumoured to be returning to Australia with a show at the Gold Coast Parklands. While this is one rumour in one town, the report, and common sense, suggests that if Led Zeppelin were to play the Gold Coast it would be as part of a larger tour:

THE Gold Coast could be climbing a stairway to heaven with rumours rife that British rockers Led Zeppelin are heading our way.

It is believed Parklands has been approached to host the concert that would be one of the biggest and best the city has ever seen.

"I know there's been inquiries about it," said Parklands trustee John Howe.

"But you'll have to speak with (Parklands Trust CEO) Richard Murphy.

"I don't know what the latest is but I know there has been an inquiry about it."

However, Mr Murphy was not so forthcoming.

He simply said 'no' to every question put to him by The Bulletin.

When asked if 'no' meant that Led Zeppelin weren't coming or that he could not talk about it, he simple replied: 'No.'

"If I knew anymore I would tell you," he eventually said.

Last year false rumours emerged of a Toronto show, and there's been long standing rumours of something in New York, none of which have come to be. Frankly any reunion hope has died recently as the three members interested in the project seem to be going their own way.

None the less, if your in Australia, as false as this rumour likely is, at least you have a rumour.

New Replacement for Robert Plant Rumour

I concede all these rumours get a bit ridiculous and that furthermore most are trash. A few weeks ago The Toronto Sun pondered some possible replacements, serious and silly, and a week later Jack White was officially denying he was replacing Robert Plant. However, this is a rumour site, so it behoves me to report the rumours, serious or silly:

It is still not yet confirmed whether former lead singer Robert Plant will join Led Zeppelin on their next tour, which may go some way to explaining why the band have been having secret rehearsals with Aerosmith singer Steve Tyler.

I’m told the rock star spent several days in a recording studio in Putney ‘jamming’ with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham.

‘Steve was jamming with Zep. They had a great time but Steve kept fluffing his lines. He got quite flustered about it,’ says a source.

Perhaps that’s why singer Myles Kennedy has also been hanging out with the band?

I know that Tyler and bandmate Joe Perry are long time Zeppelin fans, but somehow I suspect this falls in the silly category none the less.

New Replacement for Robert Plant Rumour

I concede all these rumours get a bit ridiculous and that furthermore most are trash. A few weeks ago The Toronto Sun pondered some possible replacements, serious and silly, and a week later Jack White was officially denying he was replacing Robert Plant. However, this is a rumour site, so it behoves me to report the rumours, serious or silly:

It is still not yet confirmed whether former lead singer Robert Plant will join Led Zeppelin on their next tour, which may go some way to explaining why the band have been having secret rehearsals with Aerosmith singer Steve Tyler.

I’m told the rock star spent several days in a recording studio in Putney ‘jamming’ with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham.

‘Steve was jamming with Zep. They had a great time but Steve kept fluffing his lines. He got quite flustered about it,’ says a source.

Perhaps that’s why singer Myles Kennedy has also been hanging out with the band?

I know that Tyler and bandmate Joe Perry are long time Zeppelin fans, but somehow I suspect this falls in the silly category none the less.

Bonnaroo 2009?

Here we go again. This site is based on passing Led Zeppelin information, rumours &tc. along, and that is what I will do. Sometimes, however, the rumour just feels old and silly. None the less, here it is, from antiMusic and Gigwise:

Led Zeppelin will be reuniting at Bonnaroo 2009, June 12 - 15 2009. On drums may be the Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl, who is apparently waiting patently for the phone to ring.

This just seems like environmentalism in the name of journalism, recycling old rumours as new, but it's out there. Perhaps if Robert Plant is still uninterested Taylor Hawkins could fill in for him.

Bonnaroo 2009?

Here we go again. This site is based on passing Led Zeppelin information, rumours &tc. along, and that is what I will do. Sometimes, however, the rumour just feels old and silly. None the less, here it is, from antiMusic and Gigwise:

Led Zeppelin will be reuniting at Bonnaroo 2009, June 12 - 15 2009. On drums may be the Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl, who is apparently waiting patently for the phone to ring.

This just seems like environmentalism in the name of journalism, recycling old rumours as new, but it's out there. Perhaps if Robert Plant is still uninterested Taylor Hawkins could fill in for him.

Page and Plant presser next week?

Hidden Grok is reporting, via their newsletter, that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant will be holding "a press interview" next week. Here's what they say:

Plant and Krauss are tearing it up everywhere they play......much to the dismay of the other three members of Zepp. With Plant touring this summer with Krauss and Bonham spending the summer and fall with Foreigner, we can only hope that news of a few more reunion shows will surface in the winter or spring of 09. Indeed, Page himself is saying that the other members are busy working on other projects til next year. Oddly, a press interview is expected from Page and Plant next week. We will see what comes of that.

We'll see indeed. This seems to be a single sourced rumour, I cannot find anywhere else that is reporting a coming press conference. While I have a few ideas what such a press conference/interview could be about, it would be pure speculation. I'll save that for another day.

Page and Plant presser next week?

Hidden Grok is reporting, via their newsletter, that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant will be holding "a press interview" next week. Here's what they say:

Plant and Krauss are tearing it up everywhere they play......much to the dismay of the other three members of Zepp. With Plant touring this summer with Krauss and Bonham spending the summer and fall with Foreigner, we can only hope that news of a few more reunion shows will surface in the winter or spring of 09. Indeed, Page himself is saying that the other members are busy working on other projects til next year. Oddly, a press interview is expected from Page and Plant next week. We will see what comes of that.

We'll see indeed. This seems to be a single sourced rumour, I cannot find anywhere else that is reporting a coming press conference. While I have a few ideas what such a press conference/interview could be about, it would be pure speculation. I'll save that for another day.

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.