Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has been working on new music.
"I play guitar at least once a week," Page tells Rolling Stone, "But now that the Zeppelin project is finished, I'll be playing daily for the foreseeable future. I want to get myself back into playing shape. I'm a bit of a perfectionist about these things."
Due June 2 (June 3 in North America), deluxe editions of "Led Zeppelin", "Led Zeppelin II" and "Led Zeppelin III" are the first releases announced as part of an extensive program that will see all nine of the band’s studio albums reissued in chronological order, each with a bonus disc of previously unreleased material.
The guitarist spent two-and-a-half years combing through the vaults, listening to hundreds of quarter-inch tapes before choosing the best material for the series.
That doesn't mean he hasn't continued to write music.
"I've got lots of material I've written on acoustic guitar," he says. "Lots and lots. And right now I need to get myself up to speed, and that won't take too long. But I don't know what musicians I'd play with. I do have material and a passion for it. I need to work towards it, and now I can without all the other side issues going on."
“I don't know what's going to happen,” Page says of his plans in the short term. “At this moment, it's safe to say that I haven't been playing gigs. I've been doing this Zeppelin project, but now I intend to start getting to a point where I could play some gigs. But what those gigs are going to be, I don't know yet. I have ideas of what I want to do, but they're pretty complex. I would love to play live again. I love playing live. It's wonderful."
Each year since Led Zeppelin teamed up with Jason Bonham (son of their late drummer, John) to perform a special one-off show at London’s 02 Arena in 2007 – which resulted in the “Celebration Day” release – Page has been talking about getting out and playing live, but he’s only managed a few appearances to date
In 2008, Page and Zep bassist John Paul Jones appeared with the Foo Fighters at the band's concert at Wembley Stadium in London, performing "Rock And Roll" and "Ramble On."
The guitarist then performed with Leona Lewis at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Page inducted Jeff Beck into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2009, joining his friend in a live performance of "Beck's Bolero" that included a bit of "Immigrant Song."
The guitar icon played publicly three times in 2011, joining Donovan at the Royal Albert Hall in London, The Black Crowes at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, and with Roy Harper at Harper's 70th-birthday celebratory concert in London's Royal Festival Hall.
photo credit: Ross Halfin
See also:
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page to re-release autobiography
Robert Plant explains why he passed on Led Zeppelin reunion tour
Jimmy Page discusses Led Zeppelin reissues project
Led Zeppelin: Enter sweepstakes to join Jimmy Page in Paris
Search Led Zeppelin at hennemusic
