Led Zeppelin Reunion Welcomed By Jimmy Page, But Robert Plant Says It Was A ‘Jukebox’ And Won’t Go ‘Back To The Same Old Sh*t’
Led Zeppelin is the British rock band that soared for 12 years, from 1968 to 1980, and ended with the death of drummer John Bonham. Despite being out of the limelight for 35 years, the band has still hung on through the use of their music in soundtracks. The Star reports that the most recent of these is “When the Levee Breaks,” which will be featured in the movie The Big Short. Big Short director, Adam McKay, says that the song is the best.
“It’s not only one of the greatest songs of all time. But it drives you through the trailer.”
Check out the trailer for the movie here.
But what about Led Zeppelin getting back together for real? The band might not have its original drummer, but they have his son, Jason Bonham, who has honed the craft of his father over the years. Bonham spoke with Vanyaland and believes the band will play together again.
“In my heart of hearts… I do believe we will play together again. It remains to be seen if it will be in public or privately, but I do think we will play again.”
This faith in the band reuniting comes after playing together three times in public, including what Bonham felt was the best performance – the O2 performance, which was held in 2007.
“What made the O2 so perfect was the preparation. Every other time we really just got together in an afternoon and gone over a couple songs and that was it. For the O2, we blocked out rehearsals for six weeks; Monday through Friday four hours a day. A lot of it was talking as well about how we wanted it to be. We did the first three songs so it was like clockwork, like a first turn crash in a car race. If we can get past the first turn scot-free, then the rest of the gig will be great. That was very important to all of us to be comfortable on those three songs — and it worked. It really did, and it shows in the show.”
Unfortunately, it won’t be so easy to get a reunion gig or tour going. Jimmy Page has announced he’s doing a solo tour this year, but an even bigger road block is Robert Plant, who backed away from the band after the O2 performance. In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2014, Plant made it clear that he has no intention of getting back with the band.
“You’re going back to the same old sh*t. A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that’s sh*tty about big-time stadium rock. We were surrounded by a circus of people that would have had our souls on the fire. I’m not part of a jukebox!”
Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant holding a dove that flew into his hands during a 1973 concert. pic.twitter.com/2Ggfa8g1r3 the ’70s were THE shit.
— Coralina? (@CarolinaAybar) April 7, 2015
Everyone had been anticipating a world tour after the O2 performance, but Plant walked away from the group before it could happen. While Plant is very negative about the band getting back together, Jimmy Page feels differently.
“There’s bound to be fallout if you just do one show. At the time of the 02 show we were led to believe there were going to be more. You’ll have to ask Robert why he changed his mind. I don’t even know if he considered it. I don’t know what he thinks.”
Plant seemed to think it was a great idea for the band to carry on without him.
“They kept rehearsing after O2 and they had a singer. I don’t know what happened. It seemed like a great idea to me.”
Only time will tell if Led Zeppelin will reunite for a tour. Fans can only hope they do.
[Composite image containing photos by Kevin Mazur, Evening Standard / Getty Images]
