Monday, December 31, 2007

Jason Bonmham out, Dave Grohl in?

Don't bet on it, but this report was laugh out loud funny:

Rumours are sparking that Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl may get the job of Led Zeppelin drummer.

The group, who recently performed at a charity gig at the 02 Arena, are rumoured to go on a full reunion tour next year.

Even though Grohl praised Jason Bonham's drumming at the charity gig, he is apparently desperate to get the chance to drum with the legendary group.

An "insider" source told the Daily Star “While he loves playing with Foo Fighters, Dave would drop anything to be part of Zep’s shows.

Anyone who attended the Dec 10th show can vouch that Jason Bonham was very good and not in need of replacing. Further, he's the one Zeppeliner who could use the pay-day a tour would give.

But what's funny is the suggestion that since Grohl is "desperate to get the chance to drum with the legendary group," and that he would "drop anything [Foo Fighter's] to be part of Zep’s shows," then somehow that means Zeppelin is looking to have Grohl play with them.

Here's a prediction: If Zeppelin tours, Jason Bonham, and only Jason Bonham, will be the drummer.

The Rumour That Won't Go Away

It is being reported, again, that Led Zeppelin is set to play the Bonnaroo Festival in Tennessee on the June 12 - 15th weekend. The reports say, as was widely suggested, that Robert Plant was the lone holdout previously, but has changed his mind after the success of the 02 show on Dec 10th.

Reports further suggest a world tour is in the works:

All ticket sellers have been told a world tour will take place, there's just some ironing out of contracts to be done. They are already talking about playing venues like Knebworth, Glastonbury and even returning to Madison Square Garden in New York where they played their legendary shows in 1973
With Bonnaroo rumours for mid-June, and Glastonbury rumours for the end of June, things are starting to take shape, at least in a conspiratorial sense.

Jason Bonmham out, Dave Grohl in?

Don't bet on it, but this report was laugh out loud funny:

Rumours are sparking that Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl may get the job of Led Zeppelin drummer.

The group, who recently performed at a charity gig at the 02 Arena, are rumoured to go on a full reunion tour next year.

Even though Grohl praised Jason Bonham's drumming at the charity gig, he is apparently desperate to get the chance to drum with the legendary group.

An "insider" source told the Daily Star “While he loves playing with Foo Fighters, Dave would drop anything to be part of Zep’s shows.

Anyone who attended the Dec 10th show can vouch that Jason Bonham was very good and not in need of replacing. Further, he's the one Zeppeliner who could use the pay-day a tour would give.

But what's funny is the suggestion that since Grohl is "desperate to get the chance to drum with the legendary group," and that he would "drop anything [Foo Fighter's] to be part of Zep’s shows," then somehow that means Zeppelin is looking to have Grohl play with them.

Here's a prediction: If Zeppelin tours, Jason Bonham, and only Jason Bonham, will be the drummer.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

2008 - 09 Tour Will Happen

Reports are starting to emerge, and gel together, that after Robert Plant is done with his Alison Krauss commitments, Zeppelin will tour.

This is one of many news sources I have seen in the last 48 hours saying basically the same thing:

Rumours of a worldwide LED ZEPPELIN tour following their triumphant one-off reunion gig earlier this month (Dec07) are true, according to a source close to the band ... a source close to the rockers has confirmed they are in negotiations to put on an 18-month world tour extravaganza later next year (08). The pal tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "It will kick off at next year's Glastonbury after Robert Plant has finished touring with American country star Alison Krauss..."

The truth is you can't hide a tour the size of Zeppelin for long, and team Zeppelin looks like it's ramping up for this summer (the Glastonbury festival is June 27 - 29). Eighteen months is a full on, going everywhere tour, not a bunch of well chosen shows.


With confirmation earlier in the week that Zeppelin was negotiating to perform at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the rumours are starting to have the smell of validity to them.

Lets hope, at least.

2008 - 09 Tour Will Happen

Reports are starting to emerge, and gel together, that after Robert Plant is done with his Alison Krauss commitments, Zeppelin will tour.

This is one of many news sources I have seen in the last 48 hours saying basically the same thing:

Rumours of a worldwide LED ZEPPELIN tour following their triumphant one-off reunion gig earlier this month (Dec07) are true, according to a source close to the band ... a source close to the rockers has confirmed they are in negotiations to put on an 18-month world tour extravaganza later next year (08). The pal tells British newspaper the Daily Express, "It will kick off at next year's Glastonbury after Robert Plant has finished touring with American country star Alison Krauss..."

The truth is you can't hide a tour the size of Zeppelin for long, and team Zeppelin looks like it's ramping up for this summer (the Glastonbury festival is June 27 - 29). Eighteen months is a full on, going everywhere tour, not a bunch of well chosen shows.


With confirmation earlier in the week that Zeppelin was negotiating to perform at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the rumours are starting to have the smell of validity to them.

Lets hope, at least.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Review: 02 Concert

It’s been a busy few days in London, and I apologize I haven’t gotten around to a review earlier. Better late than never &tc. I suppose.Lets start with getting the negatives out of the way.

1) Organizationally, this was a disaster. Three-hour line-ups to get your tickets, followed by one-hour line-ups for tee shirts. Want a coffee while you’re in line, even that line-up was an hour long. The Starbucks people at the 02 didn’t expect to be busy when 20,000 people would be lining up for tickets?

2) One entrance, one exit from the building, even if that meant walking cattle like for 10 minutes around the building on the inside. And the “after party” line up stretched in front of the one exit in the place.

3) I got on the internet the first night, within hours of the first e-mails going out. Our seats in the nosebleeds where bloody partially obscured by hanging monitors, such that I assume John Paul Jones was in attendance, and Robert Plant looked more like Ichabod Crane then the Viking others are describing him as. Our side stage tickets also didn’t allow us to view, what others have told us, was an incredible backdrop show going on behind the band. It should also be noted that “fans” got to stand on the floor, or sit in the 400 “nosebleed” section. The best seats in the house went to VIPs: so much for that big load of crap coming out of Harvey Goldsmith’s office that this was for the real fans only. Real fans were shunted into lineups or aside while the VIPs got a huge number of great seats.

Now for the good: Led Zeppelin. The band was great. Musically they were very tight, Jones and Bonham connecting very well throughout the show. There was the odd false start to songs, and once during Dazed and Confused when the rhythm section seemed to not be connecting, but such points are nit picking, were short lived and understandable for any band that hasn’t played together for a while. They were otherwise very tight and very good.

Song wise, there was discussion that some songs were being re-arranged to suit Robert Plant’s vocals. If that was true, it was only noticeable on The Song Remains the Same, which sounded rather flat and uninteresting. A song that is usually bright and lively it was the opposite, very probably a victim of re-keying. Otherwise the songs themselves were very good and the set list strong.

Ah, the set list. One worry I had going into this show was that Jimmy Pages joke about Dazed and Confused, No Quarter and Moby Dick would take up over an hour of the show. It’s not 1977, I am not on acid and a 20-minute drum/violin bow on a guitar/organ solo is not cool. But Zeppelin understood this, and the solos were minimized. Yes, Page pulled out the bow, but a 19 minute Dazed and Confused not just makes sense, but was great, and the same applies to a shortened No Quarter was also a highlight. Moby Dick wasn’t offered, and in fact, wasn’t even joked about.

Complaints? One, well two: it really wasn’t long enough. By the time it was over it just felt like they were hitting a groove. I know the old show biz adage about leave them wanting more, but it felt like half a show somehow. It was a touch over two hours long, so it’s not really a complaint, but it really seemed as if it was a short show. Most bands after that long I think, “Finally.” Zeppelin, it’s “what? That’s it?” The second complaint? After bitching in the last chapter about solos, I shall now be entirely inconsistent. Page never played White Summer (nor did he pull out his blue and white Danelanctro guitar). I have always liked that piece, and it’s short enough and such a solid lead in to Kashmir that I wished he had. That is, however, mere quibbles.

A special note about Jason Bonham, who was incredible. Word is he had to be practically dragged on stage, ½ before show time telling the boys, between pukes, he couldn’t do it. He did it in spades however. He was brilliant, I think the best drummer I have ever seen. If not that, I have never seen a drummer dominate a show musically like he did. Some people after the show even saying he was better than his father, and he was good enough that I can believe it. This is a guy who is clearly wasting his talents playing with Foreigner. I noticed about five songs in, between songs Jimmy Page walked over to the drum riser and smiled at Bonham, who gave the thumbs up back. And at shows end during the final bow, Bonham got down in front of the other three and did a “I’m not worthy” bow: he was worthy.

In final, I haven’t seen a review that gave this show any less than a five out of five, one giving it a six. I will not disagree with either, going unqualified with a 5 out of 5. Here in England there are even some calling it the greatest concert ever. I have been trying to decide if I have seen better, and can’t think of any. Even if there was a better one in my past, the fact I can’t immediately decide so means this was plenty good.

No, I won’t equivocate: this was a great concert by a great band that was in great form. I simply can’t imagine how good these guys would be after a few shows to get the groove going. If they do tour, and it would be a crime if they don’t, I want to see them again mid tour. They would be an unimaginable force of music.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Review: 02 Concert

It’s been a busy few days in London, and I apologize I haven’t gotten around to a review earlier. Better late than never &tc. I suppose.Lets start with getting the negatives out of the way.

1) Organizationally, this was a disaster. Three-hour line-ups to get your tickets, followed by one-hour line-ups for tee shirts. Want a coffee while you’re in line, even that line-up was an hour long. The Starbucks people at the 02 didn’t expect to be busy when 20,000 people would be lining up for tickets?

2) One entrance, one exit from the building, even if that meant walking cattle like for 10 minutes around the building on the inside. And the “after party” line up stretched in front of the one exit in the place.

3) I got on the internet the first night, within hours of the first e-mails going out. Our seats in the nosebleeds where bloody partially obscured by hanging monitors, such that I assume John Paul Jones was in attendance, and Robert Plant looked more like Ichabod Crane then the Viking others are describing him as. Our side stage tickets also didn’t allow us to view, what others have told us, was an incredible backdrop show going on behind the band. It should also be noted that “fans” got to stand on the floor, or sit in the 400 “nosebleed” section. The best seats in the house went to VIPs: so much for that big load of crap coming out of Harvey Goldsmith’s office that this was for the real fans only. Real fans were shunted into lineups or aside while the VIPs got a huge number of great seats.

Now for the good: Led Zeppelin. The band was great. Musically they were very tight, Jones and Bonham connecting very well throughout the show. There was the odd false start to songs, and once during Dazed and Confused when the rhythm section seemed to not be connecting, but such points are nit picking, were short lived and understandable for any band that hasn’t played together for a while. They were otherwise very tight and very good.

Song wise, there was discussion that some songs were being re-arranged to suit Robert Plant’s vocals. If that was true, it was only noticeable on The Song Remains the Same, which sounded rather flat and uninteresting. A song that is usually bright and lively it was the opposite, very probably a victim of re-keying. Otherwise the songs themselves were very good and the set list strong.

Ah, the set list. One worry I had going into this show was that Jimmy Pages joke about Dazed and Confused, No Quarter and Moby Dick would take up over an hour of the show. It’s not 1977, I am not on acid and a 20-minute drum/violin bow on a guitar/organ solo is not cool. But Zeppelin understood this, and the solos were minimized. Yes, Page pulled out the bow, but a 19 minute Dazed and Confused not just makes sense, but was great, and the same applies to a shortened No Quarter was also a highlight. Moby Dick wasn’t offered, and in fact, wasn’t even joked about.

Complaints? One, well two: it really wasn’t long enough. By the time it was over it just felt like they were hitting a groove. I know the old show biz adage about leave them wanting more, but it felt like half a show somehow. It was a touch over two hours long, so it’s not really a complaint, but it really seemed as if it was a short show. Most bands after that long I think, “Finally.” Zeppelin, it’s “what? That’s it?” The second complaint? After bitching in the last chapter about solos, I shall now be entirely inconsistent. Page never played White Summer (nor did he pull out his blue and white Danelanctro guitar). I have always liked that piece, and it’s short enough and such a solid lead in to Kashmir that I wished he had. That is, however, mere quibbles.

A special note about Jason Bonham, who was incredible. Word is he had to be practically dragged on stage, ½ before show time telling the boys, between pukes, he couldn’t do it. He did it in spades however. He was brilliant, I think the best drummer I have ever seen. If not that, I have never seen a drummer dominate a show musically like he did. Some people after the show even saying he was better than his father, and he was good enough that I can believe it. This is a guy who is clearly wasting his talents playing with Foreigner. I noticed about five songs in, between songs Jimmy Page walked over to the drum riser and smiled at Bonham, who gave the thumbs up back. And at shows end during the final bow, Bonham got down in front of the other three and did a “I’m not worthy” bow: he was worthy.

In final, I haven’t seen a review that gave this show any less than a five out of five, one giving it a six. I will not disagree with either, going unqualified with a 5 out of 5. Here in England there are even some calling it the greatest concert ever. I have been trying to decide if I have seen better, and can’t think of any. Even if there was a better one in my past, the fact I can’t immediately decide so means this was plenty good.

No, I won’t equivocate: this was a great concert by a great band that was in great form. I simply can’t imagine how good these guys would be after a few shows to get the groove going. If they do tour, and it would be a crime if they don’t, I want to see them again mid tour. They would be an unimaginable force of music.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Concert Memorabilia Available on-line

Tee shirts, pro grammes and mugs from the Ahmet Ertegun concert, the same ones made available to those in attendance, the same ones we all stood in line for an hour for yesterday, can be had on-line here.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Concert Memorabilia Available on-line

Tee shirts, pro grammes and mugs from the Ahmet Ertegun concert, the same ones made available to those in attendance, the same ones we all stood in line for an hour for yesterday, can be had on-line here.

The House of the Holy

The House of the Holy

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Zeppelin to play Bonnaroo?

This report first surfaced on the weekend, but I didn't buy it, so I didn't post it. I have changed my mind - I will post it: still not buying it.

Led Zeppelin will play its first U.S. show since July 24, 1977, this June at the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn., according to an email published in industry commentator Bob Lefsetz's newsletter.
The best part of the story?

The report also says Metallica will headline the event.
Led Zeppelin and Metallica will play the same event, and Metallica will headline? Think even the guys in Metallica would believe that line?

Bonnaroo takes place in June in Tennessee, and is one of those all weekend events: bring your tent and sleeping bag middle aged Zeppelin fans! It runs from Thursday evening until Late Sunday and has six stages. John Paul Jones was all over last years Bonaroo, playing with Ben Harper, Government Mule, Uncle Earle and Gillian Welch (video of which are all available at youtube).

Zeppelin to play Bonnaroo?

This report first surfaced on the weekend, but I didn't buy it, so I didn't post it. I have changed my mind - I will post it: still not buying it.

Led Zeppelin will play its first U.S. show since July 24, 1977, this June at the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn., according to an email published in industry commentator Bob Lefsetz's newsletter.
The best part of the story?

The report also says Metallica will headline the event.
Led Zeppelin and Metallica will play the same event, and Metallica will headline? Think even the guys in Metallica would believe that line?

Bonnaroo takes place in June in Tennessee, and is one of those all weekend events: bring your tent and sleeping bag middle aged Zeppelin fans! It runs from Thursday evening until Late Sunday and has six stages. John Paul Jones was all over last years Bonaroo, playing with Ben Harper, Government Mule, Uncle Earle and Gillian Welch (video of which are all available at youtube).

Monday, December 3, 2007

News from the last week

It's been slow posting the past few days, but their were a couple of items that deserved attention:

First comes word that rehearsals go poorly. Robert Plant is struggling with the high notes and Jimmy Page is having trouble with the re-arrangements they have had to do to for Plant's singing difficulties.

That itself may not really be a story, but when this emerged a day earlier, suddenly something is up:

LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant has told Rolling Stone magazine that he plans to hit the road in early 2008 with bluegrass star Alison Krauss to promote the pair's collaborative CD, "Raising Sand". In addition to the "Raising Sand" material, they'll perform songs from their catalogs — including LED ZEPPELIN's "When the Levee Breaks" and "Black Dog"
As rumour always suggested a tour would be decided based on how things went for the 02 show, and the 02 rehearsals appear to be going poorly, you have to wonder if Plant has bailed from any possible tour.

The Robert Plant Alison Krauss report lists a tour starting in April and through he summer, which pretty much rules out a Zeppelin tour.

Meanwhile Plant is adamant that there will be no Zeppelin tour:

There’ll be one show and that’ll be it. We need one last great show because we’ve done some [reunion] shows and they’ve been crap.
I hate to say it, but a Zeppelin tour looks less likely as this week begins than last.

And in the "oooh, it really makes me wonder" department, will the boys be sending five copies to their mothers?

News from the last week

It's been slow posting the past few days, but their were a couple of items that deserved attention:

First comes word that rehearsals go poorly. Robert Plant is struggling with the high notes and Jimmy Page is having trouble with the re-arrangements they have had to do to for Plant's singing difficulties.

That itself may not really be a story, but when this emerged a day earlier, suddenly something is up:

LED ZEPPELIN frontman Robert Plant has told Rolling Stone magazine that he plans to hit the road in early 2008 with bluegrass star Alison Krauss to promote the pair's collaborative CD, "Raising Sand". In addition to the "Raising Sand" material, they'll perform songs from their catalogs — including LED ZEPPELIN's "When the Levee Breaks" and "Black Dog"
As rumour always suggested a tour would be decided based on how things went for the 02 show, and the 02 rehearsals appear to be going poorly, you have to wonder if Plant has bailed from any possible tour.

The Robert Plant Alison Krauss report lists a tour starting in April and through he summer, which pretty much rules out a Zeppelin tour.

Meanwhile Plant is adamant that there will be no Zeppelin tour:

There’ll be one show and that’ll be it. We need one last great show because we’ve done some [reunion] shows and they’ve been crap.
I hate to say it, but a Zeppelin tour looks less likely as this week begins than last.

And in the "oooh, it really makes me wonder" department, will the boys be sending five copies to their mothers?