The band is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018
Could Led Zeppelin be reuniting for their 50th anniversary this year? If reports by the UK’s Daily Star are true, Robert Plant is reconsidering his vow to never reunite the group again by “mulling over” the idea with guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones. Like I said… IF the reports are true.
The trio, who would likely be joined by Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham, on drums are apparently in talks about “hosting events in London in October.” The group is releasing its first-ever book, Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin in October, so events would likely correlate around the book release.
“Everyone around the band is buzzing,” states one placed source who was not named.
“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.”
The source claims, “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.”
The band last reunited in December 2007 for Celebration Day, a one-off event that saw the foursome take the stage at London’s O2 Arena to headline a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. The two hour show was later released on multiple formats.
Rumors have been circulating for years that the group would reunite, including billionaire Richard Branson offering $800 million for a tour that Plant ripped up. Plant’s publicist later confirmed the news was “rubbish.” Over the years, Page and Plant have both been outspoken on several occasions about reuniting. Despite Page’s willingness to reunite with his former bandmates, Plant has made it clear that he is “not part of a jukebox” and there is “zero” chance of a reunion.
“You’re going back to the same old shit,” he tells Rolling Stone in 2014. “A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that’s shitty 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!”
However, later in the same interview, Plant contradicted his words by stating, “I don’t think there’s any reason for me to [rule out a reunion]. Otherwise we’ve got nothing to be mystic about…Everything will develop as it develops. All doors are open. All phone lines are open. I don’t hear from anybody. Talk is cheap…But I just think everything has to be new. Then you can incorporate history.”
At one point, Page had given up on the idea. “I was told last year that Robert Plant said he is doing nothing in 2014, and what do the other two guys think? Well, he knows what the other guys think. Everyone would love to play more concerts for the band. He’s just playing games, and I’m fed up with it, to be honest with you. I don’t sing, so I can’t do much about it. It just looks so unlikely, doesn’t it?”
No matter what happens, the group’s label Warner Music Group has “a series of high-profile events” for the group’s 50th anniversary this year. One of the events was a statue of drummer John Bonham being erected in his hometown of Redditch, England on what would have been his 70th birthday on May 31st.
Take the news for what it’s worth, but until it’s official, we will have to wait and see.
