Friends

After listening to some solo Robert Plant material earlier in the day, I played a few tracks from the Page/Plant reunion project "Unledded." No one can deny that the magic was indeed there for that collaboration. Plant finally embraced his past and his golden back-catalogue. Page finally had a vehicle to properly channel his enthusiasm and creative juices. No one thought it would go beyond the MTV special and accompanying tour. Amazingly it lasted 4 years.

When Robert Plant and Jimmy Page decided to work together again back in 1994, it was a reunion music fans from across the globe celebrated. They were the principal stars in Led Zeppelin. They were responsible for one of Rock's greatest song catalogues. Some complained that John Paul Jones, the other surviving member of Led Zeppelin, was not involved. Well, one of the deciding factors that contributed to Plant working with Page again was that their collaboration would not be a Led Zeppelin reunion. So by leaving the amazingly talented Jones out of the equation, Plant was able to comfortably embrace his past without feeling like he was selling out. And ultimately, the union with Page broke apart because Plant felt it had actually become the Led Zeppelin reunion he wanted to avoid from the start. He left the arenas and started playing small English clubs under the radar with his Priory Of Brion outfit.

So when you read all the articles claiming Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones have agreed to tour, you have to wonder who is starting the rumors. Certainly nothing official has been issued from the publicists who handle Led Zeppelin's affairs. Robert is involved with a highly creative band, Strange Sensation. What would he get out of playing with his former colleagues at this point? He already went down that road with Page ten years ago; he got it out of his system.

In fact, the big chance for the band to hit the road was back in 2002 when they finally issued loads of live material from their vault; the fantastic "How The West Was Won" and "DVD." The releases were huge. Promoters were holding venues for potential tour routings. The band passed. In interviews, they all shot down the rumors by saying if anything, they would be happy just to sit in a room together again and play some music to see how it felt. That apparently did not happen. But it isn't as though a reunion has never been considered by the three remaining band members. Back in 1985 after their disastrous Live Aid performance (five years after they broke up after John Bonham's death) they began rehearsing for a possible tour. Drummer Tony Thompson got into a car accident and the rehearsals stopped. Five years later when they issued their hugely successful box set, meetings were set up to discuss a possible reunion once again. Nothing materialized. So what about now?

Plant has denied the stories. But would one last massive payday be worth it to him? Promoters Live Nation and AEG Live have open offers out to the band that are well over $100 Million. Plant doesn't need the money, if he did, he would have toured under the Led Zeppelin banner a long time ago. Of course, the band is releasing a "hits" package this fall with a reissue of "The Song Remains The Same" on CD and DVD, so there will be some hype to announce tour dates around.

I would have mixed feelings about some monstrous stadium tour with $250 ticket prices. If they did decide to play, I personally would want to see them play at the Royal Albert Hall for a few shows, hug and embrace afterwards, release a DVD of the event, and walk into the sunset.*

For Robert, it is about the music. Just listen to his last two studio albums "Dreamland" and "Mighty Rearranger" and you will know what I am talking about. If Plant, Page and Jones can actually get together and sit in that room and play something creative and inspiring, maybe they will take it a step further and attempt to take it to the stage. It won't be about the money (although you can bet the ticket prices will be high), it will have to be about the passion and inspiration between old friends.

*This is why the Cream reunion worked so well in 2005. Clapton wanted to play with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker one last time before it got too late. They played a few shows at the Royal Albert Hall and a few at Madison Square Garden. That was it. They could have toured the world for huge money. Instead, they kept it real. It was about the music. Who knows, they may play a few more isolated shows in big markets over the next couple of years, but don't expect a massive world tour.