Jones, Plant and Page, May 2018 (Photo: Dave Brolan, Reel Art Press)
Update (July 14): Another day, another rumor: An article posted on the website of the U.K. publication the Daily Star states definitively that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are “in talks” to reunite Led Zeppelin this fall, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band’s formation.
The article quotes an unnamed “well-placed source” as saying, “Everyone around the band is buzzing. Jimmy and Robert are talking again and discussing how to celebrate the big anniversary. Realistically this will be the last time that the band has a reason to reunite.” It continues: “At the moment there are many things on the table being discussed and obviously playing live is one of them. If they won’t play, then they will get other stars out on stage playing their hits and then they would join in.”
Here is our original report from late June on the speculation surrounding a Zep reunion:
It’s a parlor game for classic rock fans to rationalize why, when and where the surviving members of Led Zeppelin should reunite. But despite the so-called “logic” of the various theories, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones have only performed a handful of times – most notably for 1985’s Live Aid – since the band’s 1980 breakup, following John Bonham’s death.
And occasionally, for credible rumors, one or more of the members has spoken up to dispel them.
They last played together in London in 2007, at the tribute concert for Atlantic Records’ founder Ahmet Ertegun, which ultimately became the 2012 concert film and soundtrack, Celebration Day.
The trio still (very) occasionally appears together – this year, in fact, when they released a 2018 picture on June 8 to pre-promote the publication of the upcoming book, Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin, the first and only official illustrated book to be produced in collaboration with the members of the band. The book arrives Oct 2. It’s available for pre-order in the U.S. here and the U.K. here.
And unless you haven’t been paying attention, that book – and numerous other TBA Zeppelin-related product – is being readied since 2018 marks the band’s 50th anniversary. (On June 21, for instance, they announced a Super Deluxe Edition of their soundtrack for The Song Remains The Same.)
So it should be no surprise, then, that U.K. oddsmakers have made the band – presumably with Bonham’s son, Jason, behind the drum kit – the betting favorites to headline the 2019 edition of the Glastonbury Festival.
The giant festival, which has skipped 2018 as “our fallow year,” has previously featured multiple superstars as headliners. 2016 included Adele, Coldplay and Jeff Lynne’s ELO. 2015 featured The Who, Kanye West and Motorhead. Plant and Metallica played the festival in 2014. The Rolling Stones led the way in 2013. And so on.
Following the 2018 gap year, the organizers would naturally want to make a huge splash for the June 26-30, 2019 festival.
Led Zeppelin are listed as 2-1 favorites. The revamped Fleetwood Mac – who thus far have only revealed the North American dates of what is expected to be a world tour – are listed at 3-1. Other classic rock acts listed by the bookies include the Beach Boys at 4-1, Elton John – who starts his farewell tour this autumn – is at 5-1. The Stones – who played several U.K. dates this year – are listed at 10-1.
[The U.K. tabloid, The Sun, reported on June 22 that Plant is “in secret talks” about a Zeppelin reunion.]
Hey, we’re simply sharing the news, unlikely as it is to becoming a reality… Don’t shoot the messenger.
Watch Led Zeppelin perform in 2007 at London’s O2 Arena
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1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationThere weren’t many like Baker…. 100% emersed in the drums and the vibe. Maybe to a fault, but he was 100% the Beat. Not many humans can have that said about them. Drumming not just a job like it is to most artists. It is the life. Outside influences , even relationships, are mere distractions for the true Jazz (Beat) drummer. And he was One.