Jimmy Page doesn’t foresee a Led Zeppelin reunion happening again, but the guitarist is leaving the door open by saying the event would only happen if all members agreed – and for the right reasons.
Following drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980, the remaining members of Led Zeppelin reunited for 1985’s Live Aid charity concert – where they were joined by drummer Phil Collins and Tony Thompson – and Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary event in 1988 with Bonham's son, Jason, behind the kit.
The group reconvened for a one-off performance at the December 10, 2007 concert at London’s O2 Arena tribute concert for friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The rare live set was released in 2012 as “Celebration Day.”
“We tried it a few times,” Page tells The Daily Beast. “It always seemed to be done in a hurry and it never worked. That’s why the O2 show was done with such intent. We rehearsed loads so that Jason – John’s son – felt like he was part of the band and not just some novelty. We all needed it to be that way. But I can’t foresee doing it again, because we all have to agree and agree for the right reasons.”
“It was a blend of these four master musicians, and each of us were important to the sum total of what the band was,” hee adds. “I like to think that if it had been me that wasn’t there, the others would have made the same decision not to carry on. Besides, we couldn’t just get somebody in there and say, ‘Do this, this way?’ That wouldn't have been honest or of the same creative nature that we had always striven for. And it’s why we still have only done it properly once."
A UK tabloid report last year claimed Robert Plant had allegedly turned down an $800 million (£500 million) offer from Virgin head Sir Richard Branson for a Led Zeppelin reunion tour.
Both Plant and Branson refuted the story, following which it was pulled from tabloid’s website.
The media outlet published a report claiming Branson offered a contract for 35 dates in three cities – London, Berlin and in New Jersey – with an option to do 45 additional shows in five venues.
Page is currently making the rounds doing media interviews to promote the final installment of a year-long reissues campaign by the band, who just released expanded versions of their final three albums: 1976’s “Presence”, 1979’s “In Through The Out Door” and 1982’s “Coda.”
Led Zeppelin launched the extensive reissues series last June with their first three albums, “Led Zeppelin I”, “Led Zeppelin II” and “Led Zeppelin III”; it continued last October with “Led Zeppelin IV” and “Houses Of The Holy”; and was followed by “1975’s “Physical Graffiti” this past February.
See also:
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin preview expanded Coda deluxe edition reissue
AUDIO: Led Zeppelin premiere rough mix of When The Levee Breaks
VIDEO: Jimmy Page says Led Zeppelin reissues bring closure to band
Robert Plant to perform two unique sets at LockN’ Festival
Search Led Zeppelin at hennemusic
