Led Zeppelin Could Tour Without Robert Plant
Posted by Daniel Wilcox on 09.21.2008
Page, Jones and Bonham to offer ultimatum...
According to UK-based newspaper The Sun, the three other members of Led Zeppelin will give Robert Plant an ultimatum in the near future - either join them on tour or be replaced.
Zep guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham have been busy recently rehearsing in West London's Ritz Studio and using stand-in vocalists. And one unnamed American singer has been so impressive the other band members are confident they could hit the road next year without their iconic frontman.
However, a full reunion seems unlikely as according to more reports, Plant found that there was "too much paperwork" involved in the band's one-off reunion for the London gig last December;
"The endless paperwork was like nothing I've experienced before. I've kept every one of the e-mails that were exchanged before the concert and I'm thinking of compiling them for a book, which I feel sure would be hailed as a sort of literary version of Spinal Tap."
Posted By: BK (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I tend to side with the other Zeppelin members here. They want to tour, Plant won't do it, so they are well within their rights to replace him.
Posted By: Joseph Lee (Registered) on September 21, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Blasphemy.
Posted By: Sammy (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Hey maybe Sammy Hager is available.
Posted By: noprize (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Hey maybe Dave grohl or taylor Hawkins can jopin them as they did earlier this year at a Foo Fighters gig. BOOK IT!
Posted By: Hime (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Led Zepplin = most overrated band, next to Nirvana....there, I said it
Posted By: OneofaKind! Justin (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
Yeah, when a band is critically acclaimed, and adored by fans for generations after their main work has long since seized hardly makes them overrated but okay.
Posted By: Electrichotdog (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 03:56 PM
They should get Axl... yeah right.
Posted By: I equal ratings (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Sounds good to me. I love Zeppelin, but the songs I don't really like, it's generally Plant's vocals that ruin it for me. I like his voice usually, but there's times when it's just too much. I'd gladly pay to Zep with or without Plant.
Posted By: Hawkeye (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 04:29 PM
what i wonder is, will people still be into seeing Zeppelin as much without Plant as the frontman?
Posted By: apple (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 05:06 PM
Zeppelin without Robert is not Zeppelin. If Jimmy and the others want to tour without him, that would be fine, but they had better not call it Led Zeppelin. Call it "An Evening with Zeppelin Music" or something lame like that.
Posted By: Michael L (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Depending on the singer, I might be interested. . . provided that they don't call themselves Led Zeppelin; or do any new 'supergroup' type songs. Although, again depending on the singer, it'd be interesting to see them play a mixture of Zep songs & tracks from the vocalists band.
Provided it isn't a rumour, I wonder who the singer is that impressed them? I remember rumours of Dave Grohl drumming for them before Jason stepped in, but I don't think he would be good doing vocals for Zeppelin. I'd be interested in seeing someone like Chris Cornell, his acoustic version of "Thank You" is beautiful.
Posted By: Michael Tyner (Registered) on September 21, 2008 at 05:44 PM
It ain't Zepplin if Plant isn't there.
Posted By: Guest#6404 (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 06:02 PM
It just goes to show that nothing will get in the way of this reunion/cash grab. Bravo to Plant for having the guts to say no. As for the "unnamed American singer"...my money is on Gary Cherone.
Posted By: Mr. Natural (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 06:10 PM
If The Sun published it then it's probably bollocks.
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Then it won't be Led Zeppelin. Sorry. Plant's voice is just as essential to their sound as Page's guitar, Jones' bass and Bonham on drums. Those four are as close as to the original lineup that we can ever get. The only person that I can see doing a decent job on vocals is Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother fame, but he is in no way American. I really don't know who the American singer could be. Axl would be stupid, but I get the feeling they're referencing somebody younger.
Posted By: Chris Stone (Registered) on September 21, 2008 at 07:29 PM
Cherone would be an interesting replacement. What, is David Coverdale not available?
Posted By: Rob (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Zeppelin w/o plant? That's like:
1. Judas priest w/o halford - kicked ass
2. Sabbath w/o ozzy - still kicked ass
3. pink floyd w/o waters - still kicked ass
4. GNR w/o slash - um, still waiting but a possibility
5. Captain without Tenille - the horror!!
4 out of 5 bands agree that it could work!!
Posted By: Mikel (Registered) on September 21, 2008 at 09:32 PM
That unnamed american singer better fucking be Jack Russel from Great White.
...and before you pick up the flamethrowers, this is the man who Plant himself has claimed "Does Zeppelin better than Zeppelin". So shush.
Posted By: synn (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Led Zepplin = most overrated band, next to Nirvana....there, I said it
Posted By: OneofaKind! Justin (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 02:52 PM
surely you must be joking, sarcastic, or high
Posted By: robb (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Unless Maynard James f'n Keenan is his replacement (AKA the world's greatest vocalist), I don't see this going well...
Posted By: James (Registered) (Guest) on September 21, 2008 at 11:13 PM
It's probably Chris Cornell. At this point he would have the vocal range to hit the high notes on Zeppelin songs better than Robert Plant could.
Posted By: Kenny (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 02:19 AM
I can just handle Zep with Jason cause hes bonzo's son, but it is sooo not Zep without plant its like zep without page or JPJ these guys are the best ever and they are my religion so jimmy please dont do that Im only 24 and froth at the mouth thinking of seeing you even though jason is on drums, maybe plants daughter can sing like him ??
Posted By: Zephreak! (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Is this the same band that broke up because thye didn't want to tour without their original drummer??
What a spit in the face of the legacy of Led Zep to hear that Page and Jones will tour without Plant. I don't blame Bonzo Jr, because he's just looking to secure his father's legacy, (and seemingly having a damn good time to boot!) But if they originally broke up becuase they wouldn't tour without the entire band then it's stupid to think that they'd do it now!
And besides, replacing a drummer is one thing, replacing the VOICE is another! I've lost all respect for Page and Jones!
Posted By: The Outcast Legend The Wolf (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM
A younger singer with stronger vocals could easily take Robert''s place. After all, Plant''s voice - while still great - just isn''t what it once was. Maybe that''s one reason why he''s not jumping to the call. A peek into the world of operatic singers and I''m sure Mr. Page could find the kind of vocal power he needs to get the Zeppelin off the ground. Surely, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for ANY singer !
Posted By: keith (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Yes, on the one hand it wouldn't truly be Zeppelin without Plant, but he lost the vocal range to sing those songs decades ago. Even when they first reunited at Live Aid in '85, he sounded horrible. So which is worse - the original singer unable to do the songs properly or a replacement singer who can? Seems like it would be disappointing either way.
Posted By: rodnumber6 (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Myles Kennedy
Posted By: David (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 06:45 PM
If they got Cornell to do it, I'd be there. Cherone, not so much.
Posted By: Shamus Rex (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 07:08 PM
While I would much rather see them as a "whole". I would still see them with a "stand in" vocalist. If Plant is too busy and doesn't want to do it then fine that's his choice. If the others want to tour then I say bring it on. I would also like to recommend David Coverdale. "Coverdale/ Page" rocked and they could call this the "Cover Zeppelin World Tour".
Posted By: Z (Guest) on September 22, 2008 at 09:04 PM
"Led Zepplin = most overrated band, next to Nirvana....there, I said it"
Thanks oneofakind.
Glad to see I'm not the only one with that opinion...
Posted By: RockerDropper (Guest) on September 23, 2008 at 09:22 AM
I always thought Planty was un replaceable until I saw Virtual Zeppelin on You Tube and Led Zepplica on T'internet,and suddenly I changed my mind.
Posted By: DINO (Guest) on September 23, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Notice the Goof-Ball below doesn't even know how to spell Led Zeppelin.
Posted By: Surefooted_1 (Guest) on September 23, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Plant was and is a great vocalist. He wrote most of the Lyrics and I admire him greatly. I hop he has a change of heart, mayby Jimmy could take some of the bearocratic pressure off. However it was Jimmy page that put the band together and he is the true "frontman in Led Zeppelin. I am in agreement with some of you. Chris Cornell would be a great choice or perhaps Chris Robinson of the Black Crows> I went to the Page Plant reunion tours they were the best shows I've seen. I'll go to the show I'll buiy the album with or withou Robert because Jimmy is an Icon and the best guitar player on the planet today based on his experience and versitility as well as creativity.
Posted By: michael C (Guest) on September 23, 2008 at 08:54 PM
If I had to guess, I'd say Chris Robinson would be the go-to guy. The Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes CD was pretty darn good in my book.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on October 07, 2008 at 02:48 AM
