Bonham explains the reasoning on The Howard Stern Show

Jason Bonham is putting to rest why Robert Plant won’t reunite Led Zeppelin for a tour. Rumors have been rampant since the band reunited for a one off benefit concert in 2007 to commemorate the life of music executive Ahmet Ertegun at London’s O2 Arena. The concert, released in a variety of formats in 2012 as Celebration Day, was the first time Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones had played a full concert since drummer John Bonham’s accidental death in 1980. Bonham’s son Jason accompanied the group on drums and backing vocals for the show, and rumors of a reunion tour have been speculated ever since.

Earlier this week, Bonham appeared on SiriusXM’s The Howard Stern Show with his band The Circle, featuring Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson, to promote their upcoming album and tour. Stern spoke to Bonham about a potential Zeppelin reunion and discussed his relationship with Plant.

“[Plant] said, at the time, it was literally a few months after [the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012]. You know, in my mind, people were going, ‘It’s gonna happen. It’s gonna happen.’ So I was like, ‘Can I get this out of the way?’ I said, ‘Is it going to happen?’ He said, ‘Listen, no disrespect to you — what you know of your father is amazing.’ He goes, ‘but what we said all those years ago, we would be idiotic to continue on and not stand with what we said. We’ve done this, we did the [London O2] show. We don’t have to do it again, let’s just leave it at that. Your father was such a huge part of the band, you know?'”

Zeppelin is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In January 1969, the group was unleashed on the world with the release of their trailblazing debut album, followed by its equally groundbreaking Led Zeppelin II, ten months later. Fifty years later, Led Zeppelin remains one of the most important bands in music history whose songs continue to be discovered and embraced by each new generation.

Last October, the band released their first ever book, the illustrated Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin, by Reel Art Press. Last summer, a statue of drummer John Bonham was erected in his hometown of Redditch, England on what would have been his 70th birthday on May 31st.

Three digital compilations followed last fall to coincide with the group’s formation and recording of Led Zeppelin I, including the career-spanning digital album Led Zeppelin x Led Zeppelin. In February, the band kicked off a new playlist program that gives fans and fellow artists access to assemble their own, personalized Led Zeppelin playlists using the Led Zeppelin Playlist Generator where they can create their name in the famous Zeppelin font. The program launched with playlists curated by Jack White and Royal Blood, both of whom cite the group as a cultural influence on their music.

Last year, Page confirmed he’s planning to release unheard Zeppelin music, although he didn’t elaborate to what extent or when fans could expect it. Last year, the group concluded its catalog reissue campaign with The Song Remains The Same soundtrack to the concert film of the same name, featuring four additional tracks not included in the original 1976 release.

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