Idolator: LED ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin Manager: "Uh, About That Reunion? Never Mind"

Maura Johnston — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Changing course from an earlier tirade in which he said that a reunion of Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Jason Bonham, and an unidentified lead singer would happen and be good for the economy, Led Zeppelin manager Peter Mensch is now saying that all plans for any sort of cash-in tour or album are completely off the table: "Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 [when they played a one-off reunion at London's O2 Arena], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."

Mensch confirmed that last fall, when singer Robert Plant made it known he was continuing his partnership with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss and had no intention of returning to Led Zeppelin, replacement vocalists were auditioned to possibly record and tour with Page, Jones and Bonham.

"They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," says Mensch. "That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero. Frankly, I wish everybody would stop talking about it."

When asked what new projects Jimmy Page was going to be involved with in 2009, Mensch said, "Fuck if I know. I'm waiting to hear."

Well hey, now that it seems Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy isn't heading out for more classic pastures, I can think of one guy who's probably aching to step in for David Coverdale on a performance of "Pride & Joy."

"Led Zeppelin are over!" says Jimmy Page's manager [MusicRadar via RS]

The Led Zeppelin Sorta-Reunion Creeps Ever Closer, Because Even Jimmy Page Needs A Job

Maura Johnston — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Led Zeppelin manager Peter Mensch talked to the BBC about the possibility of the band reuniting without lead singer Robert Plant (and maybe without the name Led Zeppelin), and told the Beeb that the probability of a tour, as well as an album, is pretty high should the remaining members find an appropriate lead singer. And if you have a problem with that, well, you're nothing more than a Scrooge McDuck who is looking to deprive others of income during a global economic downturn.

“People don’t really understand it,” Mensch told 6 Music, “Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old. Jimmy Page likes being a musician. That’s what he does! He doesn’t want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.

“So they [Page, Jones, Bonham] did the show with Robert Plant; they had a really good time rehearsing, the three of them, before Robert showed up.

“And they decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill – whatever their bill was at this stage in their career – that they’d make a record and go on tour.

“And I support that because, why not? That’s what Jimmy Page does. That’s his job, his hobby, his vocation.”

"They decided if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill... that they’d make a record and go on tour."

No official word on who that lead singer would be, despite persistent rumors that Page et al are going to pluck Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy from the clutches of Mark Tremonti and facilitate the hotly demanded Creed reunion. “It’s gonna be a long and difficult process. And we’re not soliciting people! So don’t call me about it!” he griped to the Beeb. Time to delete his digits from my phone!

Zep without Plant [6music]

One More List Before We Go: The Top 12 Idolator Posts Of 2008

Maura Johnston — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST

As you may have gathered, I'm raring to close the book on 2008, but I'd be remiss if I didn't run down some of the site's highlights during what was a pretty dreary year overall. After the jump, behold a pretty subjective top 12 of the year (thanks to our technological limbo I can't run any sort of numbers, but I think this list accurately captures the best moments we've had during a long slog of a year). And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't thank all of you for coming back, reading, commenting, and pointing out when I get shit wrong (which is too often). If you think I got this list wrong, feel free to abuse me with compliments in the comments section!

1. Your favorite albums from each year you were alive, July 3 / your favorite singles from each year you were alive, Aug. 29. The comments on these were so much fun. Plus: Demographic studies!

2. Jess' illustrated guide to horrorcore, Oct. 30. It didn't make me want to listen to the Insane Clown Posse, but it was still awesome. As was Jess' tale of just how Chinese Democracy came to be.

3. Chris Molanphy breaks down just how much the major labels loathe singles, Aug. 28. I wonder often if we're just entering a redux of the "rockers as new Zeppelins" phase, if only because so many "good" rock bands these days are so damn self-serious.

4. Butch Walker and Patrick Stump interview each other, Dec. 16. Smart, funny, candid, and slightly juicy! Plus it's nice to know that band geeks being cliquey and weird is a phenomenon that wasn't restricted to my high school.

5. Sonseed: Were they for real?, Sept. 9. Our look at whether or not the "Jesus Is My Friend" viral video was legit, or just a concoction of a well-financed CollegeHumor competitor, sure fired up one former member of the band.

6. The two types of "bromance": An investigation, Aug. 4. This clearly needs a sequel on why certain dudes act like sugar-fueled Jonas Brothers fans when confronted with music by Animal Collective.

7. TV On The Radio give copyeditors conniption fits, Oct. 2. Speaking of investigations...

8. Al wonders if any blog favorites will cross over to the world of mainstream rock radio, Aug. 29. Someone should try and drop a Fleet Foxes track into a classic rock station's playlist and see if anyone notices!

9. Kate gets horrified by the Clique Girlz, June 5. On the bright side, their abject awfulness will sound even worse during the global economic collapse, so we'll never have to hear of them again maybe.

10. Ten artists who should be very glad they're not Axl Rose, June 30. Should give you the shivers.

11. Mario Paint music: A look back, Feb. 22. Finally, we bring together "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Yakety Sax," and adorable mushrooms!

12. Chad Kroeger's hidden talents that should have stayed hidden, March 10. Lede of the year, for sure.

The Creed Reunion Is Almost A Go!

Mike Barthel — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Scott Stapp! Scott Stapp! The name like music to the ears of any red-blooded American. And now, it looks like that Creed reunion is actually going to happen!

Scott Stapp: wife abuser, sex tape maker, drunken lawsuit loser, and fake-date victim. (Remember that? When a bunch of kids in Florida tricked Stapp into coming to a Denny's in Gainesville in hopes of getting laid? Classic.) Anyway, the point is, Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy might be singing for something that won't be called Led Zeppelin but will involve John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page, so "there are 'significant dollars' on the table for a Creed trek, according to sources close to the situation," according to Billboard—even though we're now officially in a recession. And "following a recent USO tour performing for American servicemen oversees, Stapp is said to be in prime physical and mental condition," which means he got a haircut maybe? Of course, this will all probably be very profitable and well-attended and that will be really depressing. Anyway, congratulations Scott, I'm sure you couldn't be happier.

Creed Hammering Out Reunion Details [Billboard]

Jimmy Page Rep: "No Robert Plant, No 'Led Zeppelin' "

Maura Johnston — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

Just in case you were getting worried about the possibility of the guy from Alter Bridge fronting something called Led Zeppelin next year, a rep for Zep guitarist Jimmy Page has told Rolling Stone that if Robert Plant doesn't hit the road with the band next year, a name change will be in order: "Whatever this is, it is not Led Zeppelin... Not without the involvement of Robert Plant." Whether or not "Page/Jones/Bonham/Kennedy"—or anything with a similarly unwieldy name—will get butts into seats is, of course, another story, what with people wanting to hang on to their pennies these days. Especially if they have to budget for a Creed reunion tour, too... [RS]

Looks Like Chris Cornell Didn't Get Offered The Led Zeppelin Fill-In Gig

Maura Johnston — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:45:00 EST

Last month, the former Soundgarden wailer Chris Cornell was making noise about maybe being invited to tour with the sorta-reformed Led Zeppelin, but judging by this quote, he apparently just wanted to be invited for the sole purpose of turning Page, Jones, and Bonham down: "It just doesn't make any sense to me at all. I would not want to go see me performing Led Zeppelin songs with the two other guys that used to be in a band called Led Zeppelin while Robert Plant is out somewhere touring. That's not a ticket I would buy. God bless 'em, but that's not Led Zeppelin. I find it completely depressing. I'd never do anything like that. I mean just out of respect to the legacy of the band." Unfortunately, the interviewer didn't follow up with a question on whether or not Cornell was OK with filling in for Plant when he stops touring with Alison Krauss. [Edmonton Sun; HT Reed Fischer]

Jimmy Page May Not Be As Convinced About Led Zep's Robert Plant-Free Song Remaining The Same

Maura Johnston — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:30:05 EST

Speculation over whether or not Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and son-of-John Bonham Jason would tour as Led Zeppelin with another lead singer has been hot and heavy these past few weeks, with Jones even telling various audiences that the tour would go on, even if Robert Plant decided to not call off his upcoming two-year sabbatical. But Jones might have wanted to wait a while before shooting off his mouth, according to today's issue of the British gossip newsletter Popbitch, which reported that "Page hasn't quite been singing from the same songsheet. He got talking to a fan last week and said that he'd never tour without Robert Plant." Who to believe? Either way, I'm sure Chris Cornell is still checking his voicemail, like, constantly. [Popbitch]

Chris Cornell Tries To Ride The Coattails Of Led Zeppelin's Google News Alerts

Maura Johnston — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:30:00 EDT

"I have not been approached so far to fill in for Robert Plant on the upcoming Zeppelin tour, but that isn't to say I won't be," the former Soundgarden singer told MTV News. "I've heard that from about 200 people now, and it might be one of those situations where it's just an online rumor or it might be true. But if you see anyone from Led Zeppelin around, let me know. I think I should actually fill in for Jimmy Page on the Robert Plant/ Alison Krauss tour." Well, we should all be thankful he's not angling for Scott Stapp's spot on the inevitable Creed reunion... yet. [MTV]

The Scariest Piece Of Music News You Will Hear All Halloween (And Maybe All Year)

Maura Johnston — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:45:00 EDT

Billboard finally got wind of the rumor that Alter Bridge lead singer Myles Kennedy would be filling in for Robert Plant on the "half of Led Zeppelin plus the dead drummer's son" tour that'll bill itself as a Led Zep reunion to overly credulous classic rock fans next year, with anonymous "sources" feeding their reporters the same bits of speculation that Dee Snider was more than willing to blab about a few weeks ago. But buried at the very end of the piece is another reunion-related revelation that should chill your bones:

There may be one unintended side effect should Kennedy bolt Alter Bridge, which has released an album each for Wind-Up and Universal. That band features the non-singing members of Creed, who split with frontman Scott Stapp in 2004. But sources indicate there would be big bucks in a Creed reunion tour and that the band may indeed rise again.

The point about there being money in that tour is right on the, uh, money: Did you know that Creed's Greatest Hits collection sold nearly 3,000 copies last week? And by "last week," I mean "a week during October 2008"? And that total was actually down 11% from the previous chart? Creed's 3,000 sales give them a higher one-week sales total than those enjoyed by the following albums:

Amy Winehouse, Back To Black (OK, the sales difference is six copies, but still)
Alvin & The Chipmunks (2,900)
Neil Diamond, Home Before Dark (2,800)
Mariah Carey, E=MC² (2,300)
Pretty much any CMJ-feted band you could think of (trust me on this)

And the Gavin Rossdale solo album only outsold it by 150-ish copies. Creed/Bush '09? Hey, it could happen!

Has Led Zeppelin Found Its New Singer? [Billboard]

Remaining Members Of Led Zeppelin Will Not Let Robert Plant Get In The Way Of Their Big Payday

Maura Johnston — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EDT

A few weeks ago, Robert Plant informed the world that he would not be hitting the road with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and son-of-John Bonham in an attempt to squeeze money out of fans of Led Zeppelin, because he was pretty happy performing bluegrass with Alison Krauss and he really needed a two-year vacation or so. This led to many rumors of Page, Jones, and Bonham auditioning other lead singers—including the dude from Alter Bridge—although they were never confirmed. Until this weekend, when Jones took the stage at a guitar show in the UK and told the crowd that a) yes, there may actually be a Led Zeppelin reunion tour in the works (provided that the global economy doesn't completely crater and people don't have to start taking shelter in the arenas that would play host to the shows) and b) Robert Plant is basically a wuss these days:

"I'm afraid, there's no final answer yet. As you probably know, Jimmy, Jason and I are actually rehearsing and we've had the odd singer come in and have a bash. As soon as we know — which we don't — we will let you know. But we really hope that something is going to happen soon because we really want to do it and we're having a lot of fun, actually, just rehearsing. Jason is actually tremendous. . . We really wanna do something and Robert doesn't want to do this, at least for the moment. I don't really know what his plans are. He really doesn't want to make loud music anymore. We do. I mean, I love acoustic music, but it doesn't stop me from turning something up . . . And what we've done so far sounds absolutely fantastic. When it does come, it will come, and you'll know about it."

"Don't really know what his plans are"? Sounds like someone isn't keeping up with his ex-bandmate's blogging!

LED ZEPPELIN's JOHN PAUL JONES Confirms Plans To Hit Road Without ROBERT PLANT [Blabbermouth]

The Peart Paradox: What Happens When "Love" And "Respect" Part Ways?

Mike Barthel — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 13:45:00 EDT

One of the things you find yourself saying about music when you're a teenager, along with "I like everything except country," is "I respect them, but I don't like them." You say this partially to not look like the sort of ignoramus who doesn't appreciate Yngwie Malmsteen's tapping technique, and partially because you don't want to piss off your friends. But it turns out this simple formulation stands in for an entire complex relationship between bands and their audience. Kevin Roberts, CEO of marketing giant Saatchi & Saatchi, calls the sweet spot where loving and respecting come together a "lovemark." And there's a graph!

Roberts' argument is that many brands attain respect, either by consistently putting out high-quality products or by cultivating an image of being high-quality through marketing. But if a respected brand goes away, it can easily be replaced by another. Brands that have achieved "lovemark" status, however, are irreplaceable, because consumers have developed a kind of personal relationship with them; the best example for this sort of thing would be Apple. It takes a long time to get to this point, but once you do, you've secured a good, long run for yourself.

We probably need to wave our hands at an issue at this point: there's an extra "r" in the object under discussion, and that might make the kind of people who have personal relationships with bands uncomfortable. We don't like to think of bands as being commercial entities, despite the evidence that money is essential for the realization of artistic vision. But this discomfort is also a fact of life, something that bands have to skillfully avoid if they want to become respected and/or loved—to pretend not to be commercial entities while staying ruthless in their business dealings. Still, the music industry could always use a little advice on its marketing techniques.

For those of us that just talk about music, the graph is a useful conception. For instance, it explains the angry disconnect between dedicated fans of particular popstars and everyone else. Clay Aiken fans, to take an example entirely at random, rate Clay highly on the Love axis, and even if the rest of us don't, we can at least understand how people would. But because Claymates go further and insist that he should be rated highly on the Respect axis too, it causes a disconnect. Even if there's no rational basis for the feeling, everyone who's not a Clay Aiken fan would agree that he doesn't really seem worthy of respect, no matter how much you like him. Claymates' conviction that their love for Clay comes along with a sort of logically consistent respect makes them seem, well, a little unhinged, or at least like rubes. Of course, you can say this about dedicated fans of anything you yourself see as worthless.

Roberts' specific tips for how to achieve lovemark status contain some useful pointers for up-and-coming bands, and a handy description of how that sort of fandom works for the rest of us:

A Lovemark’s high Love is infused with these three intangible, yet very real, ingredients: Mystery, Sensuality and Intimacy.

Mystery draws together stories, metaphors, dreams and symbols. It is where past, present and future become one. Mystery adds to the complexity of relationships and experiences because people are drawn to what they don’t know. After all, if we knew everything, there would be nothing left to learn or to wonder at.

Sensuality keeps the five senses on constant alert for new textures, intriguing scents and tastes, wonderful music. Sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste. Our senses work together to alert us, lift us, transport us. When they are stimulated at the same time, the results are unforgettable. It is through the five senses we experience the world and create our memories.

Intimacy means empathy, commitment and passion. The close connections that win intense loyalty as well as the small perfect gesture. These are often remembered long after functions and benefits have faded away. Without Intimacy people cannot feel they own a brand, and without that conviction a brand can never become a Lovemark.

Now, of course, the way he's putting this involves a lot of cringeworthy marketing-speak, but the essential point remains valid. In Hammer of the Gods, it's made very clear how Led Zeppelin intentionally cultivated an aura of mystery and how effective this was in securing a rabid fanbase. As frustrating (and seductive) as mystery can be for critics, it's what keeps fans coming back for more. Bands today know well the value of intimacy, certainly. If you communicate with fans through the usual channels, it seems impersonal, but if you do it through YouTube and social networking sites, it seems more personal somehow, and fans like that. Intimacy allows you to control your own image. If there's anyone who's hit the lovemark sweet spot in these regards, it's Bob Dylan. After a period in the woods, he's become such a figure of sensual, intimate mystery (introducing long-lost tracks on a radio program where he talks directly to you) that he's essentially the Apple of music: respectable, classy, a little edgy but also a link to the past. And the fact that he's doing it intentionally is somehow part of the appeal.

A final word about respect and Yngwie Malmsteen: it's been fashionable for a long time now to decry virtuosoism, and perhaps rightly so. But one of the interesting things about the new rhythm games is that it turns virtuosity, seemingly a fixture of the Respect axis, into a form of pleasure: intricate, masterful performances make for challenging, rewarding gameplay experiences. Maybe we'll get to the point where we love a band for their Rock Band tracks, but can't really respect someone who doesn't seem very relevant outside of video games.

About Lovemarks [Lovemarks]
Archived version [archive.org]

Is Jimmy Page Planning To Replace Robert Plant With The Guy Who Replaced Scott Stapp?

Maura Johnston — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:45:00 EDT

According to Dee Snider, yes! Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham are itching to ~~rake in oodles of cash~~ play the music of Led Zeppelin all around the world, even though lead singer Robert Plant has decided that he's all about things like "bluegrass" and "taking two years off" these days. So they're going to do something drastic—something that will definitely divide fans of the band in two even more than Coverdale/Page did. They're going to get the guy from Alter Bridge—you know, the band that Creed eventually became once Scott Stapp sweated his way out of that particular spotlight—to take Plant's place! Let's hand it over to the Twisted Sister frontman, who was shooting off his mouth on the Canadian music-video station MuchMoreMusic:

"They're saying [to Robert], 'We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go, here's a gazillion dollars on the table," Snider told MuchMoreMusic. "If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid. And he can sing the sh— out of Zeppelin.' And they're gonna, like, hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK,' and step in, before having the lead singer of Alter Bridge out with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Jason Bonham."

Hmm, this sounds more like a threat than a viable plan to these ears, but rock and roll can be a vicious business. Anyway, so you can get ready, here is Alter Bridge's most recent single, which is, coincidentally, promoting Celebrity Rehab 2 on VH1:

When I watched the trailer for Rehab earlier today, I thought this was a more-tolerable single from the new Chris Cornell album. Hey, wait a second. What about Chris? At least it would get him away from Timbaland...

Led Zeppelin Members To Tour With Alter Bridge Singer? [Nightwatchers House Of Rock via antiMUSIC]
Alter Bridge - Watch Over You [YouTube]

Robert Plant Does Not Have A Whole Lotta Love For Whoever's Fueling These Led Zep Reunion Rumors

Maura Johnston — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:45:00 EDT

Robert Plant has taken to his personal Web site to denounce rumors that he's getting back together with the other guys in his old band, Led Zeppelin, for any reason other than a nice meal or a night of drinking: "Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin," the statement, er, states. Not only that, once Plant's done with this Alison Krauss tour, he's taking the next two years off from doing anything music-related! Which I guess means that the "no, really, this time Led Zep is definitely getting back together for real" speculation will begin anew come October 2010. Plant's full statement after the jump.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are currently touring the USA on the last leg of their 'Raising Sand' tour. They played a benefit concert in Oklahoma City for victims of Hurricane Ike last Friday; Austin,Texas last Saturday and tomorrow they play Portland, Oregon before finishing the tour in Saratoga, California on October 5th.

After those dates, Robert has no intention whatsoever of touring with anyone for at least the next two years. Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin. Anyone buying tickets online to any such event will be buying bogus tickets.

“It‘s both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to
rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward,” Robert Plant said.

“I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects,” he added.

Robert Plant: Official Statement [RobertPlant.com via TDS]

Led Zeppelin To Play Coachella And/Or Bonnaroo*

Dan Gibson — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EDT

How do you get Robert Plant to agree to a full-scale Led Zeppelin reunion when he's reluctant to leave his project with Alison Krauss behind just so he can play decades-old music every night and rake in a lot of cash? Apparently, you tell him the band's moving on without him.

According to England's Sun newspaper, the band was auditioning singers (hopefully none named David Coverdale) to hit the road without Plant. Perhaps chilled by the thought of being the new Steve Perry (or Jon Anderson), Plant has allegedly reconsidered his previous stance against an extensive reunion tour.

“He realised he couldn’t face the thought of not being involved. The band were over the moon when he told them the news. They are now forging ahead with the tour plans and they can’t wait to get on the road.”

Then again, is an unnamed source in a British newspaper enough verification to really get excited for? Haven't we been burned by this sort of thing before? We're leaving it in your hands... how excited should we be for the prospect of rocking out to "Black Dog" live, instead of in the comforts of your own home?

Led Yep [The Sun]

^* This is probably not true (at all), but someone has to be the first to say it.

The Vodafone Live Music Awards: A Possible Sign Of A World Gone Mad

Dan Gibson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EDT

OK, listen, residents of the British Isles. When I, in my post about the UK's Vodafone Live Music Awards last month, wrote "I don't want to ask for too much, but if the Spice Girls could beat out Led Zeppelin [in the Best Live Return category] somehow, I'd be rather pleased." last month, I wasn't entirely being serious. Still, I appreciate that somehow, you all managed to pick up my joke and run with it for long enough to make Spice Girls greater than Led Zeppelin, at least in the world of British awards shows of dubious necessity. I can only imagine the disappointment Jimmy Page is feeling right now.

Thank you, Vodafone Live Music Awards, for doing what no American awards show has the guts to do: Give a bunch of awards to Primal Scream. I have no idea what they've done to merit an award for "Outstanding Contribution To Live Music" (well, besides being awesome), but they certainly appeared to be excited by the honor last night, with bassist Mani asking "What's this one for again?" upon accepting it.

The complete list of winners:

Best Live Male: Mark Ronson
Best Live Female: Kate Nash
Best Live Act: Primal Scream
Best Live Return: Spice Girls
XFM Live Breakthrough Act: The Ting Tings
4Music Festival Of the Year: T In The Park
Live And Unsigned Awards: Kiddo360
Best International Live Act: Kings Of Leon
Sony Ericsson Tour Of The Year: Take That Arena Tour
Outstanding Contribution To Live Music: Primal Scream

Primal Scream triumph at Vodafone Live Music Awards [NME]

Leona Lewis: Almost As Competent As David Coverdale

Maura Johnston — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EDT

I'm guessing Robert Plant got a bit of a chuckle from the Olympics' closing ceremony yesterday, which featured his former bandmate Jimmy Page performing "Whole Lotta Love" with British semi-superstar Leona Lewis in honor of China handing off ownership of the Summer Games to the UK. While Lewis' Aguilera-like run through the song was decent, if fairly predictable, one commenter on a fake YouTube clip of the event pointed out that "You have to admire the subtle genius of choosing a song about the size of Robert Plant's dick as the theme for the handover to London 2012." Although given all the speculation about Michael Phelps this year, maybe the song choice was super-appropriate? Anyway, for the fashion-conscious among you who are wondering just what on earth Lewis is wearing at the outset of the song, I've posted a better-resolution shot after the jump.

I was hoping she'd get to move around while wearing that big mess of ruffles—it would have looked like an animatronic wedding cake!—but alas, she was merely standing in a structure that was designed to look like her outfit. Oh honey, Mariah would have absolutely figured out a way to make the skirt walk with her.

Leona Lewis & Jimmy Page. Live. [Dailymotion]

Are You At A Led Zeppelin Reunion Show? A Handy Guide

Maura Johnston — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EDT

Hey, did you hear that Led Zeppelin reunited this weekend? Well, it was just John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page, who took the stage with the Foo Fighters at Wembley Stadium for "Rock and Roll" and (as seen above) "Ramble On," but that's not stopping the NME from running with the headline "Led Zeppelin reunite at Foo Fighters show." To celebrate this momentous occasion, let's play a game of "Are You Really At A Led Zeppelin Reunion Show"!

Before we begin, another piece of evidence:

1. ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU'RE NOT SEEING LEZ ZEPPELIN?
Hey, it's confused people before.

2. IS JOHN PAUL JONES PLAYING BASS?
If your answer is "yes," then go to question three. If your answer is no, then skip to question seven.

3. IS JIMMY PAGE PLAYING GUITAR?
If your answer is "yes," then go to question four. If your answer is no, then skip to question seven.

4. IS THE REANIMATED CORPSE OF JOHN BONHAM OR HIS SON PLAYING DRUMS?
If your answer is "yes," then go to question six. If your answer is no, then go to question five.

5. IS THE GUY PLAYING DRUMS A REASONABLY WELL-KNOWN DRUMMER LIKE, SAY, DAVE GROHL?
If your answer is "yes," then go to question six. If your answer is no, the skip to question seven.

6. IS ROBERT PLANT SINGING?
If your answer is "yes," then you were probably at the O2 arena last winter. If you weren't, go to question seven.

7. SO WAIT, WHO'S FILLING IN? DAVID COVERDALE? EVEN THAT DOESN'T COUNT. SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE, I KNOW THE TERM "LED ZEPPELIN REUNION" GETS THE GOOGLE HITS, AND I'M HAPPY THAT DAVE GROHL WAS REALLY PSYCHED ABOUT SINGING WITH HIS FAVORITE LEGENDS—BUT HONESTLY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO OUT-AND-OUT LIE TO PEOPLE IN ORDER TO GET TRAFFIC TO YOUR PIDDLING WEB SITE.
Just saying.

Led Zeppelin reunite at Foo Fighters show [NME]
Foo Fighters Wembley Rock'N Roll Led Zeppelin [YouTube]
Foo Fighters — Led Zeppelin Ramble On [YouTube]

David Coverdale Shoots Down Led Zep Rumors, Swears A Lot

Anthony Miccio — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:30:00 EDT

We should have assumed the quote attributed to David Coverdale by The Mirror about Led Zep's tour plans was less than legit. Where was the jovial swearing and whimsical wordplay? The true (and truly profame) Coverdale contacted Classic Rock magazine to clarify. "What fucking world tour, we ask ourselves? We're already out on our Good To Be Bad world tour, thank you very much!" More from the bastard child of Rod Stewart and David St. Hubbins below.

"I have no idea where this started, Geoffers. But, with the wildfire of the internet, my poor ol' German publicist is fighting them off with her rusty, but trusty, Luger.

"I assure you there is no... (of course there fucking isn't) ...any foundation in this.

"Why, after all the charming back-and-forths between one Monsieur Plant and oneself through the years, who could imagine such a premise possible? Not me, squire!

"Besides, I've got a hit record and a sold-out tour, and I'm currently pretty fucking busy playing nightly, and joyfully, with my Fab Musical Serpents, ol' chum! No complaints here..."

It's the life of Riley with these fab musical serpents, it is.

David Coverdale responds to Led Zeppelin tour-support 'shitstorm' [Classic Rock]
Whitesnake - Making Of 1987 Videos [YouTube]
Rare 1987 via portable television! [YouTube]

Led Zeppelin Reunion Tour Rumors Re-Re-Re-Resurface

Maura Johnston — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:30:00 EDT

And this time, the person fanning the rumor flames is none other than former Robert Plant fill-in and self-proclaimed "long-time pal" of Jimmy Page David Coverdale, who told the UK's Mirror "I'm expecting a call from Jimmy any day asking my band Whitesnake to support them on their world tour. Am I on board? You bet. Probably worth billions!" Well, more like £250 million, according to the Mirror. The alleged tour, which is now rumored to start in late 2008 or early '09, will supposedly mark the band's 40th anniversary. And hey, if it doesn't work out, perhaps some forward-thinking promoter can book a tour of bands who have claimed to be the Led Zeppelin reunion tour's opening act? I count the Cult, Velvet Revolver, and Whitesnake—surely that could fill at least a thousand seats at an arena. (You could even have Lez Zeppelin open, just to confuse the NME all over again.) [Mirror]

Is Riding A Led Zeppelin-Themed Roller Coaster Really Worth Four Bucks A Second?

Maura Johnston — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:20:00 EDT

You might not think so, and I definitely don't think so, but South Carolina resident Cindy Ennis apparently has the money to show that she disagrees with us, spending $1,829 for four seats on the inaugural run of Led Zeppelin: The Ride, which will be one of the big attractions at the music-themed amusement park Hard Rock Park. (Yes, it's still opening, stone-hewn Jimi Hendrix and all.) The ride will make its first run—set to the strains of "Whole Lotta Love," and just under three minutes long—next Tuesday, and Cindy will be right up front!

"I'm not a roller coaster enthusiast," she said. "But it was just the idea of being so close [to the front of the ride], and being the first of something - that's really what did it."

Plus, she said, the money would go to charity. ...

Park spokeswoman Megan Winnett said she could not confirm the winners until later this week. Ennis said she has already paid her tab, and the name of her real estate and property management business - Ennis Properties - was the name of the winning bidder on eBay.

Though Ennis doesn't consider herself an experienced eBay user, she had a strategy: Watch the tickets closely, and bid right before the auction closes.

"I [bid] probably 10 seconds before it was actually going to expire," she said. "Luckily, it held."

Ennis had already bought annual passes and taken a behind-the-scenes tour.

Real estate and property management business, eh? Well, I guess it's a good idea to spend money while you're making it.

Woman pays $1,829 for 4 seats on Hard Rock Park roller coaster [Myrtle Beach Online via Blabbermouth]

"NME" Still Trying To Make Up For That "Led Zeppelin Playing Bonnaroo" Gaffe

Maura Johnston — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Back when the Bonnaroo lineup was announced, the NME plastered its Web site with announcements that Led Zeppelin would be playing the Tennessee festival—an announcement that was occasioned by the press release noting that the all-female Zep tribute band Lez Zeppelin was on the bill. Such are the perils of being the world's fastest music news service, right? Well, the breathless British tabloid is still convinced that the band will, in fact, play again, despite Robert Plant reportedly turning down a huge reunion-tour payday. And it's not afraid to take out-of-context quotes from a Led Zeppelin story running in its sister publication Uncut and place them in front of fun-house mirrors for not one story, but two, in order to prove its point.

First, the John Paul Jones statement that occasioned the headline "Led Zeppelin may release new album":

Asked specifically about the possibility of a new album, he said, "I'm not sure. I'm not too certain about anything right at the moment. I've got no idea what's going to happen. But I'd certainly like to play with Jimmy [Page] again."

Wow, NME! You're right, they may release a new album. And hey, I'd certainly like to go on a date with Prince that ends in a show of his—and now that I've said that, I can also, by your logic, go around telling my friends that said date may happen! Optimism reigns!

Then there's the story headlined "Robert Plant: 'Led Zeppelin May Play Live Again'," which pulls these quotes from the Uncut piece:

"Hopefully, one day, we could do it again for another really, really good reason," he said. "Because there's unfinished business, definitely.

"I don't think there's any need for it to be finished. As long as he's [guitarist Jimmy Page] got a bit of creative electricity going through his nut, then there's going to be something to do sometime.

"It's just in what form and how much of a compromise it would be to the real root of what we had as Zeppelin. Everybody wants to have some fun."

Including the editors of the NME, who are no doubt popping champagne corks in honor of the traffic that they're getting from their teasing headlines showing up on Google News. Yay, journa... oh, forget it.

Led Zeppelin may release new album [NME]
Robert Plant: "Led Zeppelin May Play Live Again" [NME]
[Photo: Getty]

Concert Organizers Hoping That Led Zeppelin Will Re-Reunite In The Name Of World Peace

Maura Johnston — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:50:52 EST

Does the world really need another benefit concert series? Especially one with the sorta-vague, probably-not-gonna-be-solved-by-a-will.i.am-set goal of "ending all war at the end of our 10-year period"? World Peace One, a group that already has the endorsement of a member of the Nobel family, thinks so, and they're going to enlist quite the roster of artists to play their series of concerts around the world, which is set to begin May 17. While Jack Johnson somehow isn't on the promoters' wishlist yet, Led Zeppelin is, and so are U2 (understandable), Madonna (sure), Caetano Veloso (ooh), and INXS (what?). Click through for the full wishlist of people who World Peace One hopes will be pressured into saying "yes" by being asked "So, what you're saying is that you support war, then, right?"

U2
Madonna
Led Zeppelin
Aerosmith
ZZ Top
Lionel Richie
Celine Dion
INXS
Velvet Revolver
will.i.am
Justin Timberlake
Timbaland
Reyna Reyna
Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso
Ivan Lins
Sergio Mendes
Linox
Jane Zhang
The Trollmates
Tarkan in Turkey
Saer
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Tamara Day

Top Artists Sought For World Peace Concerts [Billboard]
[Photo: Getty]

Robert Plant on Radiohead: "What is this ...

Maura Johnston — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:15:28 EST

Robert Plant on Radiohead: "What is this rhyming crap?" Robert Plant on the Red Hot Chili Peppers: "[like a] nursery rhyme." The Sun writer who got this tip is outraged at the thought of anyone comparing the Red Hot Chili Peppers to something as trivial as a poem for a sleepy child, but I actually think Plant's being kinda generous! [The Sun via ONTD / Photo: Getty]

Idolator Becomes The 8,001st "Person" To Officially Request That Led Zeppelin Just Do A Goddamn Reunion Tour Already

Jess Harvell — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:30:20 EST

Yes, that's how many people have supposedly signed this online petition in the hopes that their !!!-laden entreaties will cause three zillionaires to rethink their vacation plans this summer because apparently "it wasn't fair that UK fans got to see Led Zeppelin at their reunion concert at London's O2 Arena on December 10 last year, and that the band should, as a consequence, tour the globe." Yet even in the midst of this latest outbreak of mass Zeppelin-entitlement hysteria, lone voices of reason can still be faintly heard:

Submitted by Chris G. on Fri, 02/08/2008 - 17:44
I wud kill to see Zeppelin, but can it be the last reunion please. its great to have Rage back, Zep, Pixies...but wheres our generations great band?

Led Zeppelin World Tour [YouChoose via NME]

Are The Bonnaroo Organizers Trying To Fake Out Led Zeppelin Fans?

Maura Johnston — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:00:30 EST

We all got some late-night roffles when multiple news outlets ran with the fake news that Led Zeppelin would be playing Bonnaroo this year, even though the official lineup announcement said that all-~~lesbian~~ lady Led Zep tribute band Lez Zeppelin would be playing. But what if the announcement of the not-real thing was a way to throw Led Zeppelin diehards off, and make sure that true Bonnaroo fans get their tickets first? One of our commenters, A Roach, thinks this might be the case! He explains: "For argument's sake, lets say [Led Zeppelin] really ARE headling. No way could Superfly announce it before tickets go on sale—the thing would sell out instantly with people who don't usually go to Bonnaroo. The "real" Roo fans would largely be shut out (or at least left to the luck of the draw). This would be a disaster for Superfly: the loyalty/brand would be damaged, and the fans who have gone every year would crucify them. But Superfly knows this."

More conspiracizing after the jump!

So instead, they wait until tickets are already on sale to announce Zeppelin— but they also float the idea out there informally, as a "wink wink, nudge nudge" to the fans that follow live music closely. Even better, they book LEZ Zeppelin so that they can point to a specific point that's causing all the confusion.

I also think that if this is the case, it was genius to announce the lineup at midnight. The drama/confusion plays out overnight, rather than during the day when everyone is at work checking the internet. By the morning, they knew all this would be cleared up— and tickets will go on sale with a normal health demand.

Bonnaroo tickets will sell out regardless, like they have the past few years. They don't need to announce Zeppelin on day 1.

I know it's a long shot, I know it's a crazy complicated conspiracy theory. But it's also EXACTLY the way to work the situation if it's true.

Hmm. Hmmmm! It sounds crazy enough to be sorta... plausible?

Earlier: A Roach's comment
[Photo: AP]

AP Editors Get A Little Too Excited About The Prospect Of Led Zeppelin Playing Bonnaroo

Maura Johnston — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:50:36 EST

The above screengrab comes from the AP's story on the Bonnaroo lineup, which clearly suffered from having a night copyeditor who wasn't up on her "funny" lesbian cock-rock cover bands that are almost named after icons of said genre and are, ahem, billed way, way too low to be considered "headliners." (Well, at least she's as good at figuring out in-joke-laden riddles as we are.) According to my sources who weren't out on the town during this whole kerfuffle, we can blame the NME for the foul-up. Tsk tsk, NME. You should have run with the "surprise Baltimora show" angle instead!

Led (sic!!!!) Zeppelin Heads Bonnaroo Lineup [AP]

Led Zeppelin May Reunite In Time For The Fall 2008 Semester

Jess Harvell — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:52:02 EST

Continuing to jerk fans around with the tease of a possible reunion tour/one-off performance at yr local Krispy Kreme following their December reunion gig in London, Led Zeppelin have occasioned another story where the hopeful headline is dashed (or at least brought down to Earth) within the first three paragraphs. This time around Reuters
got the "scoop" from Jimmy Page in Tokyo, hinting at... well, we're not sure actually. A second gig? A tour? Something in time for the beginning of the '08/'09 school year. Maybe. But at least they have a reason for the delay: obsessive perfectionism, the hallmark of all great rock and roll.

"I can assure you the amount of work that we put into the O2 (concert), for ourselves rehearsing and the staging of it, was probably what you put into a world tour," Page said.

But, "Robert Plant also had a parallel project running and he's really busy with that project, certainly until September, so I can't give you any news."

Before adding: "But don't let this stop you from padding this four line non-update into a several-hundred-word 'story' that's once again mostly a recap of our career plus a buncha quotes about how awesome the O2 reunion concert was for everyone involved. 'Cuz no one's sick of that yet."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKT9054520080128>Led Zeppelin Concert Off Until At Least September [Reuters]

Coachella: The Rumormongering Rages On!

mjohnston — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:49:50 EST

Kevin Bronson at the Los Angeles Times has a sort of update on the heatstroke-inducing desert jam that is Coachella Festival, the lineup of which is being announced next week. According to Bronson, not only is the above poster totally off, My Bloody Valentine will not be one of the "surprising veteran act[s]" on the show's roster—but who cares, because apparently Portishead is going to be there! Maybe I should brave the desert, although I'd need to stock up on some SPF 150 and a gigantic floppy hat before doing so. A list of bands who are, so far, totally definitely 100% rumored to be appearing according to the Internets and blog boards and such after the jump. Can you say "yay, '90s"?

Death Cab for Cutie
The Breeders
Justice
Jens Lekman
Junkie XL
The Verve
UNKLE
Cold War Kids
Chromeo
Autolux
Spiritualized
Portishead
VHS or Beta
Dan Deacon
Brett Dennen
The Cinematic Orchestra
Battles
Kid Sister
Crystal Castles
Louis XIV

Also, some commenter at Brooklyn Vegan is claiming that Led Zeppelin is playing but how many times have we heard that old song and dance lately.

Coachella roster slowly takes shape (and getting misshapen) [Buzz Bands via BV]

What Would You Do With A Spare $14,654.72?

mjohnston — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:15:02 EST

Hole up at a hotel for a month and pay the staff to disable your room's Internet access? Give new meaning to the term "bulk candy"? Distribute gold dollars on street corners until you got mugged? The possibilities are endless, really! And yet there were some people who decided that they could use that money to buy a single ticket to Led Zeppelin's reunion gig at the O2 Arena in London last month, according to the UK ticket-resale site Seatwave.

The average price of a resold ticket for the show was £7,425, with the highest price going for a mere hundred pounds more. (Well, it's mere if you don't think about the fact that a hundred pounds is 80% of the ticket's original face value of £125.) No word on where the low end of the curve bottomed out, but I am wondering if those £7,525 tickets skewed Seatwave's curve a bit, if only because they neglected to release just how many tickets they sold at auction. But the fact that there was even one person out there willing to pay the equivalent of £470.31 a song is worthy of note. If only I could try to get his or her number, since clearly this person has a lot of spare cash on hand.

Led Zep tickets fetch £7,425 as online 'touts' strike gold in £200m bonanza [Guardian]
[Photo: Getty Images]

Led Zeppelin Rumors To Continue Running Amok In 2008

mjohnston — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:30:28 EST

Scuttlebutt that Led Zeppelin was going to headline the Bonnaroo festival this June started back in December—only to be subsequently denied by the festival's management shortly after. But the Mirror is claiming that Led Zep's headlining gig is back on, thanks to Robert Plant having a "change of heart." (Maybe the Bonnaroo organizers enticed him with the prospect of playing a bluegrass set as well? Or maybe this isn't true at all and just filled a ginormous New Year's-induced news hole within the Mirror's pages? It's so hard to tell!) Anyway, not to be outdone by its not-even-music-centric UK tabloid rivals, the scrappy site Gigwise has a Led Zep-related rumor of its own, and it's kind of a doozy if you read it straight:

Dave Grohl is reportedly waiting on a very important phone call, an invitation to go drum on the rumoured Led Zeppelin reunion tour.

Apparently the Foo Fighters man is desperate to take control of the skins for anymore shows the band might play despite the fact that he praised Jason Bonham's performance at the O2 Arena show.

According to one of those people that seem to know everything - the insider - Grohl was also in the running to take Bonham's role at the London gig.

Gigwise's rumor was reprinted from the Daily Star, which we've covered in this space before and which has since then actually put its stories online in non-PDF form. To welcome the fine folks over there to 1997, let's see what their original piece said:

SPOTTED a certain Dave Grohl at the recent Led Zeppelin reunion gig at the 02.

That's the same Dave Grohl who sports a series of tattoos in honour of Zep's late drummer John Bonham.

This got me thinking that should the Zep reform for the tour that's being talked about in 2008, they should give Uncle Dave a call. It seems that Grohl would jump at the chance to play with his heroes.

My man in the know says: "Dave flew in especially for the shows and played air guitar and air drums throughout the gig.

"He was in the running to take over from John Bonham a few years ago and he's still gagging to get on stage with the Zep.

"While he loves playing with Foo Fighters, Dave would drop anything to be part of Zep's shows."

So get on the phone Mr Page, as your campaign begins here. The Zep need him I reckon.

See? From a Livejournaly ramble about Dave Grohl being totally awesome to a picture of him waiting by the phone, desperate for contact from his heroes, all because of a few words being rearranged and misinterpreted. This, my friends, is how your ~~sausage~~ bangers get made!

Led Zep for festival [Mirror]
Grohl will add zip to the Zep [Daily Star]
Dave Grohl To Drum On Led Zeppelin Reunion Tour? [Gigwise]
[Photo: Getty]

Led Zeppelin Rumors Now Being Started By People Who Are Obviously Tripping

mjohnston — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:30:07 EST

First we had Ian Astbury dropping not-so-subtle hints that Led Zeppelin would be touring, and that their openers would be his band the Cult. And now, even though Robert Plant appears to be booking 2008 with anything but Led Zep dates as fast as he can, it seems crazed fans of Polyphonic Spree/Tripping Daisy main man Tim DeLaughter are claiming that both of their hero's bands would be opening the tour. Ian, can you come out and at least try to help quell this misinformation? Because people are apparently falling for this. And they're also thinking that the tour will be renamed in honor of the reformed Daisies:

The rumor got its legs on the Polyphonic Spree message board where one commenter said that a radio station in Boston quoted an anonymous "Boston area concert promoter" who said that there is a possibility for "Daised and Confused" tour that would join together Led Zeppelin, a reformed Tripping Daisy (with new guitarist) and the Polyphonic Spree. Some fans then recalled that during the Spree's holiday show Tim mentioned taking Tripping Daisy on the road again, though it's unsure if his comment was serious or not.

Well, sure, a Tripping Daisy show or two would be fun. But as for the rest... seriously, Internet. Seriously. "Daised and Confused"? You're gonna fall for that? Because if you're gonna be that gullible, then whoever started this rumor missed a grand opportunity for LOLz when he didn't say that the tour would be called "The Houses Of The Hol-Spree Jaunt 2008."

Polyphonic Spree To Open For Led Zep In '08? [You Ain't No Picasso]

Arenas All Over The UK Line Up To Beg Led Zeppelin For A Show

mjohnston — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:30:28 EST

So now that Led Zeppelin has broken the seal on its reunion—and made a lot of money for a lot of people in the process—and stoked rumors of stints at Madison Square Garden, other venues around the United Kingdom have started floating the idea of the reunited rockers playing follow-up shows (once Robert Plant gets the whole bluegrass thing out of his system, anyway). Two such stories popped up on Blabbermouth today, and even though both are pretty much boilerplate "we've contacted the promoters, and we'll have them if they ever head out on the road" stores, one headline writer seems to be a bit less... optimistic about the chances of Led Zeppelin gracing his local rugby and soccer field.

From the Belfast Telegraph:
"Whole lotta talk about Zeppelin returning to Belfast"
Hopeful, yet speculative. Also uses "whole lotta" wordplay, which indicates at least a passing knowledge of the band's catalog on the copyeditor's part.

From icwales.co.uk:
"Millennium Stadium desperate to attract Led Zep"
And this paper uses "desperate" in the lede, too! Looks like someone isn't quite convinced that Plant's flirtation with Alison Krauss is a passing fancy.

[Photo: Getty]

Mojochronic Slaps A Santa Hat On Led Zeppelin

mjohnston — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:00:55 EST

The efforts of Clear Channel's programmers have probably helped you already get sick of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and that damned Don Henley holiday track, but there are quite a few seasonally appropriate songs worthy of your time out there. To help cut through the clutter we've asked Jon Solomon, whose 20th annual 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show on WPRB kicks off at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, to offer up some seasonal cheer in MP3 form. Today, he brings us a holiday-themed mash-up that incorporates music by this week's biggest classic-rock reunion:

DJ BC has recently unveiled his third Santasic mix of Christmas mashups. All three volumes in this incredibly entertaining series are available as free downloads on his web site. The following pairing of sounds is the sort of lowbrow genius I have a high appreciation for, and to say any more would spoil half the fun.

Mojochronic - Yuletide Zeppelin [MP3]
DJ BC [MySpace]

Meet The Company That's Trying To Make YouTube A No "Stairway" Zone

mjohnston — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:30:19 EST

After much speculation over who, exactly, was trying to get clips from Led Zeppelin's Monday show at the O2 arena removed from YouTube, the culprit has come forth. And it's not anyone at Warner Music Group, or even Jimmy Page himself. Instead, it's the Brooklyn-based outfit GrayZone, which calls itself "the 'bootbusters' of the entertainment industry." (Yes, really.) And it turns out that the mass removal being attributed to WMG was the result of a glitch, or at least what the company claimed as it explained itself to Silicon Alley Insider:

Grayzone regrets that it erroneously issued takedown notices to YouTube regarding footage of Led Zeppelin's December 10th concert. The error is ours alone. We acted without authorization from the band or Warner Music Group. Unfortunately, an automated system mistakenly attributed the removal of the content to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group. That was inaccurate. We have informed YouTube of the error and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

"Inconvenience"? Hey, guys, you helped news-thirsty bloggers like me get a bunch of posts out of this "mystery" during one of the slowest times of the year! I'm actually kind of grateful, even if I'm a little hurt that I didn't get an explanatory e-mail as well. Maybe next time?

Led Zeppelin YouTube Culprit: Overeager "Bootbusters" [Silicon Alley Insider]
GrayZone [Official site]

Monday's Led Zeppelin show, thanks to its ...

mjohnston — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:50:39 EST

Monday's Led Zeppelin show, thanks to its semi-historic import and the widespread availability of cell phone cameras, may have been the most shakily videotaped show ever. And as expected, with the many YouTube clips that were posted shortly after the show's closing note rung came the many DMCA takedown notices from Warner Music Group. But who at WMG sent the cease-and-desist letters? And why are they going about the takedowns so haphazardly, at least if YouTube's top videos page—which features quite a few cameraphone videos with six-figure view counts—is to be believed? [Silicon Alley Insider]

The Led Zeppelin Reviews: The Songs Remained (Sort Of) The Same

mjohnston — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 08:18:44 EST

Above, Led Zeppelin performs "Kashmir" at the O2 Arena last night, and some dude with a cell phone is there for sharing his ticket bounty on YouTube. It doesn't sound bad, although this pitched-down, singalong version of "Black Dog" is a little... meh. Excerpts from a few reviews by people who were actually there after the jump.

• "There was a kind of loud serenity about Led Zeppelin's set. It was well-rehearsed, for one thing: planning and rehearsals have been underway since May. The band wore mostly black clothes, instead of its old candy-colored wardrobe. Unlike Mick Jagger, Mr. Plant — the youngest of the original members, at 59 — doesn't walk and gesture like an excited woman anymore. Some of the top of his voice has gone, but except for one attempted and failed high note in 'Stairway to Heaven' ('there walks a la-dy we all know'), he found other melodic routes to suit him. He was authoritative; he was dignified." [NYT]
• "For Your Life (a grinding blues from the Presence album), played in public for the first time, the rolling and tumbling Trampled Underfoot, a trio of long, cascading set-pieces in Nobody's Fault But Mine (another of the underrated Presence's reclaimed gems), No Quarter and Since I've Been Loving You - through them all, the Led Zeppelin of contemporary vintage grow in confidence and stature. In doing so, they roll back the years, bringing so much of their inherent iconography back into focus." [Q]
• "How much better could it get? Here's how much: In My Time of Dying, driven by such a dark, filthy, shivery blues riff, the electrifying change of pace, drums and guitar locked into a sensational groove. It scarcely seemed possible that a group could be this good. Trampled Underfoot was a reminder that Zeppelin were fusing funk and rock 20 years before the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that John Paul Jones is a great keyboard player. And Nobody's Fault But Mine was a reminder that, contrary to myth, Zeppelin were - are - not a heavy metal band, not a prog-rock band, but a band who played and loved the blues, were electrified by it, and in turn electrified it." [Telegraph]
• "Whether Plant is won round in the long term remains to be seen, but for last night at least, it seems to do the trick. His between song-patter remains self-deprecating: 'this is a song we first heard in about 1932,' but at particularly intense moments, the three of them huddle together before Jason Bonham's drum riser. There's even an argument to suggest that the reformed Led Zeppelin might be slightly leaner. The kind of excesses that once sent Hornby scuttling off in search of a nearby solo-free hostelry have been trimmed out of necessity: as Page has pointed out, it's almost physically impossible for men in their 60s to play three and a half hour sets. Depending on your perspective, that's a pity or an unexpected bonus of old age. Either way, anyone nipping out last night would have missed something faintly remarkable." [Guardian]

Kashmir - Led Zeppelin, London O2 Arena [YouTube, via Blabbermouth]

The Led Zeppelin Set List: Like You Thought It Was Going To Be A No "Stairway" Zone

mjohnston — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:50:30 EST

After the jump, the set list for tonight's Led Zeppelin show as reported by the seemingly back-from-the-dead NME. Doesn't look like there are many surprises—aside from the "live debut" of "For Your Life"—and sadly, they didn't play "Still Of The Night," either. Maybe next time?

'Good Times Bad Times'
'Ramble On'
'Black Dog'
'In My Time Of Dying'
'For Your Life' (live debut)
'Trampled Under Foot'
'Nobody's Fault But Mine'
'No Quarter'
'Since I've Been Loving You'
'Dazed And Confused'
'Stairway To Heaven'
'The Song Remains The Same'
'Misty Mountain Hop'
'Kashmir'
(encore) 'Whole Lotta Love'
'Rock And Roll'

Led Zeppelin reunion: live setlist here [NME]
[Photo: Getty]

High demand for the NME liveblog of the Led ...

mjohnston — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:22:03 EST

High demand for the NME liveblog of the Led Zeppelin concert (happening right now) has apparently crashed the British music tabloid's servers, although I'm willing to bet that some of the people who are still cheesed off about the magazine blowing off their heroes all throughout the '70s are seeing the failure of this naked traffic ploy as some sort of divine justice. [NME / Photo (not from today, obviously): AP]

Celebrities who are worthy of VIP attention ...

mjohnston — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:16:58 EST

Celebrities who are worthy of VIP attention at the Led Zeppelin show, according to Getty: Kate Moss! Paul McCartney! Dave Grohl! Pink! Naomi Campbell! Laura Dern! Marilyn Manson and his piece of jailbait! Michael J. Fox! Jerry Hall! And Priscilla Presley, although she does not look like her character from the Naked Gun movies at all anymore, whoa. [Getty Images]

Led Zeppelin In Rehearsal: Robert Plant And Jimmy Page's "Rock Faces" Are Perfectly Matched

mjohnston — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST

Jimmy Page may already be doing pre-emptive damage control about today's Led Zeppelin gig at the O2 Arena—which starts in two! hours!—but at least he still knows how to make his face look rocker-serious. Whether or not that'll be enough to please the fans who paid big money so they could air-guitar along to a perfectly pitched live version of "Kahsmir" remains to be seen, of course.

[Photo: Getty]