Page says ‘no’ to a Zeppelin reunion
NEW YORK - Led Zeppelin will not be reuniting any time soon.
That message came through loud and clear Tuesday with sarcasm, stoic silence and even the occasional barb at reporters that dared to ask. Just the mere mention of the topic set lead singer Robert Plant off at their news conference for the bands upcoming concert film, “Celebration Day.”
But at the film’s premiere later in the evening, guitarist Jimmy Page set the record straight, sort of, about a potential reunion.
“I think it’s disappointing for people when the answer is no,” Page said. But he later added: “That’s what it is now.”
“Celebration Day” covers their 2007 reunion concert at London’s 02 Arena. Original members Plant, Page and John Paul Jones, as well as Jason Bonham, the son of the late John Bonham, played the one-time tribute concert to honor Atlantic records founder Ahmet Ertegun.
“Once the idea was proposed, ‘Would we do the concert?’ It had to be Jason,” Page said.
Since the death of Bonham in 1980, the band has only played a handful of gigs, with the 2007 tribute concert being the last time. The group enlisted the younger Bonham, a successful drummer in his own right, to play with the band.
On the red carpet, Bonham said he understands why the fans want something more from the band, but feels there’s good reason to put it to rest.
“I think it’s probably frustrating to the public when they see how good it is, and they go, ‘Why won’t you do anymore?’ They don’t get it,” Bonham said. “But you know what, there’s a time, and for me, it’s when John Bonham was in Led Zeppelin.”
Jones, the band’s bassist, eloquently said all the band’s energy went into that performance.
“We focused on the show, and that was it. Fortunately, it was on film,” Jones said.
Page was conscious of Led Zeppelin’s uninspired performance at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988. So the band rehearsed for about six weeks prior to the London show.
AP
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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