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Editorials

LED ZEPPELIN DENY 2008 TOUR RUMORS + OTHER UPDATES

 Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 11:36am by

Led Zeppelin - Swan SongAccording to an article at MonstersandCritics.com, an aide to Led Zeppelin claims “no decision has been made” as to whether they will follow up their comeback concert at London’s O2 arena on December 10 with a globetrotting series of shows. The rumor mill swirled last week after Cult singer Ian Astbury announced at a show in Cincinnati that The Cult would open a 2008 tour for a band whose name had an “L” and “Z” in it. Jimmy Page himself seems to think a reunion is inevitable; “It’s a bit selfish to do just one show. If that’s it, we probably shouldn’t have taken the genie out of the bottle.”

But Led Zep fans will have to wait at least a little longer to see their heroes, as Robert Plant has announced that he will tour in early 2008 with Alison Kraus to promote the pair’s wildly successful collaborative CD Raising Sand. Even so, we think it’s pretty far-fetched to imagine a full tour wouldn’t happen in these reunion-happy times.

In related news, The UK’s The Sun reports that the band is having to rearrange some classic tracks to accommodate Page and Plant’s physical limitations due to age. The band has been rehearsing some songs in a lower key because 59-year-old Plant’s voice is deeper. Says the sun, “He and guitarist Jimmy Page have had a few heated discussions about the upcoming gig. Jimmy is a bit rusty and Robert has been struggling with the high notes. To avoid any embarrassing vocal wobbles with the world watching, they decided it would be best to transpose the songs in a lower key.”

Jason Bonham was unavailable for comments as to whether he would have to transpose his drum parts.

-VN

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  • Wayne

    I grow weary of all the reunion talk. Shit or get off the pot, guys. Play your gig, make a decision already, and we’ll all go from there.

  • http://thecontrarian@gmail.com The Contrarian

    Plant’s voice changed (for the worse) around 1973, and since then, he’s been stuck with a limited upper register that makes the high parts on most Zep tunes forever out of his reach. And it only got worse with the passage of time.

    Page is one of the sloppiest live guitarists ever, but what he lacks in perfection he makes up for in adventurism and spontaneity.

    I can’t imagine that either gentleman would’ve had any illusions about their ability to perform their catalog like the records. The closest they ever came was ’69-71, before drugs and vocal strain had their way. Of course, Bonham senior was always rock-solid.

    Jason Bonham is a competent drummer, but he lacks the nuance and passion of his father’s playing. The Zep reunion might’ve sounded better with, say, Plant’s regular drummer, but I guess they gotta have a Bonham. Besides, Jason has been waiting for this his entire life.

    Sorry to write such a long comment. If anyone wants to hear live Zep firing on all cylinders, I think the How the West Was Won CD is a great place to start.