According to Robert Plant, the renowned Led Zeppelin reunion concert at the O2 Arena in 2007 was “too heavy” for him, and he had to slip away and have a few quiet drinks by himself after the performance.
The band’s next big reunion was the subject of countless rumors and updates from the members themselves, but Plant has rejected all of them.
Robert Plant, the band’s frontman, has been outspoken about the group’s situation and expressed his disappointment with the reunion, even if the concert was a success.
Ahmet Ertegun, the man behind Atlantic Records, died that same year, and the event was held in his honor.
It was only natural for the band to give Ertegun a proper tribute since he created Atlantic Records and is a significant figure in the music industry.
Undoubtedly, the announcement that the greatest blues-rock band in history would be reuniting for a single gig after a number of decades caused millions of fans to pee their pants.
]Led Zeppelin had a debt of gratitude to Ertegün for their colossal success; he had faith in them, and they had faith in him. The anticipation for the reunion was palpable, and the level of interest in the series was genuinely unparalleled.
Around 20 million individuals tried to obtain one of the few available 20,000-count golden tickets at a time when demand for Led Zeppelin was insane.
Led Zeppelin had the chance to leave on top of the world thanks to the performance. Yet, everyone involved—aside from Robert Plant—wanted this to serve as the catalyst for a complete reunion.
If the band had taken the stage every night of a world tour, the glitter that permeated their London performance would definitely have faded, but his reluctance allowed them to end things on a high note.
In an interview with Mojo in 2012, he remembered how he was uncomfortable with the event. Back then he was in protection even in his backstage dressing room.
He said, “Twenty minutes after we finished, the Gallagher brothers were leaning on the door of my dressing room. One of them said: ‘You’re the real f***king thing, you are.’ I said: ‘I’ve known that all down the line but I think you need to go a little further round the corridor, next door on the left.’ And with that, I left quickly.”
He added, “I ended up in the Marathon pub in Camden, drank four bottles of Keo lager and half a bottle of vodka, then went to bed. Because I had to get away from it. I’d done it. I had to go. It was too heavy. Beautiful, but talk about examining your own mortality! Crazy.”
Not only that, but he also ruled out a potential reunion. While talking with Rolling Stone, he said, “I’ve gone so far somewhere else that I almost can’t relate to it. It’s a bit of a pain in the pisser to be honest. Who cares?
I know people care, but think about it from my angle – soon, I’m going to need help crossing the street.”
“You can’t ever really go back. It’s tough enough repeating yourself with something that’s a year old, never mind 49 years old. I’ve got to keep moving.”
25 Comments
Plant never wanted a reunion. I’m surprised he did the 07 show in England.
I get it. And as much as I hate to say it, he’s absolutely right.
My brother roadied for Zep back in the day and Plant told him that it just wasn’t the same without John Bonham so…..
RP is an ego with blonde hair . If he can’t separate the past from the present , and he thinks he’s the only one who is going to age . No one expected them to reform and try to relive their past glory. He said it the fans liked their performance, well he could sing to himself in his bedroom, but then no one would kiss his ass . He was always the phony in the group , if it wasn’t for Page and Jones he would be singing in his bedroom. He has a big talent with an ego to match .
He owes you nothing, holy shit lol. Entitled much?
Who gives a good day until we returned to the trailer. Get over yourselves.
You should get Carmine apiece is the best rock ‘n’ roll drummer out there today you guys opened for his band Vanilla Fudge years ago and bonom loved Carmen he was a big influence on John
That would have no bearing whatsoever on what Plant himself says in the article.
I saw The mighty Zeppelin in 1977. I was a mear 13 years old. Had no idea what I was experiencing but so glad I did. Fast forward 30 years later I couldn’t have been happier with the way the 02 gig went. I am happy that it was the last gig, to go out on top, no apologies, no back taping just a last glimpse of how Mighty they truly were!
Led Zeppelin died with Bonham. But Robert, Jimmy and JPJ could get together and do something. Not LZ, just something.?
Page and Plant did, back in the 90s. Plant continues to record and tour, Page just talks about some album that never seems to come out.
I was saying the very same thing to my wife today. RP has moved forward and tried new things. Page is stuck in the past. Love the Digging Deep podcast as well.
What would be the point of those three getting together and doing something ” not LZ” it would be impossible. I find it weird that RP constantly wants to remove and distance himself from KZ, when he constantly rehashes LZ songs into whatever genre he is persueing at the time. Even Black Dog with Alison Krauss in a blue grass country form, just didn’t work ! You can’t have your cake and eat it !!
But there again….I absolutely loved the version of Black Dog with AK. What is lost is that Plant is an explorer. Rehashing the past is other people’s agenda, not his.
Are you that blind and deaf? He has never said he wants to remove himself….he has said he wants to move on….he is fantastic live and the one or two Zep songs that he does is hardly a rehash…the guy had multiple solo albums and performs all of it.
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Black Dog with Alison Krauss was great as are all of the other Zep songs he does with her. It’s the whole rock thing he’s not interested in which makes total sense. He’d look silly up there preening around at his age.
They could get together and do something they do have John bottom son and he’s amazing as well just like his dad
He doesn’t want to..what don’t you get? His life has moved in a different direction.
My brother took me to Zeppelin in SF and Page was too high on heroin and just sat in a chair while a roady played his parts. I love the band, but historically a lot of shows and events never happened due to Page’s addiction. I wouldn’t want to have to deal with that again if I was Plant.
I’m pretty sure Page got off drugs decades ago. That has nothing to do with it. They did multiple tours together in the 90s. Plant knows without Bonzo it ain’t Led Zep plus he doesn’t want to look foolish playing that music in a wheelchair.
You’re out of your tree . Page never or almost never was high on a gig . You can’t do a 2-1/2 hr show on junk or alcohol for that matter . Don’t believe all the heroin story’s , he did do it but not on stage . Don’t believe everything you hear .
I saw Led Zep back in ’77. Page was totally wasted and almost fell over more than once as he caught his guitar cord around his leg. Plant barely sang and talked through the songs. I was so bummed at how sloppy and bloated they seemed as a band.
Well since Page has been clean and sober for many many years I don’t think you would have to.
I saw Plant on his own several years ago, and he was fucking brilliant. His style is so rich, deep, complex and beautiful. He has gone in another direction and I can understand him not wanting to revisit the past. Much as I love Led Zep, they laid it down and walked away at the right time. They could not be the same band without Bonzo’s spectacular rhythm section anyway. Leave the memories lie and live forever.
Was a fan ,but I have heard their songs on the radio every day for 50 years, I’m sick of it too Robert.