Led Zeppelin: The Reunions

Although everyone is all up in arms about a possible failed reunion, there have been attepmts to bring the band back. Even Robert and Jimmy tried out the full fledged reunion with tour and album. So far, nothing has stuck and through their past events, it's doubtful any reunion attempts will ever work out.

Live Aid, 1985
This was the first time Led Zeppelin reunited after Bonzo's death and the event was broadcasted around the world as a part of the world famous concert. Jimmy's guitar was out of tune, Robert's voice was weak, Phil Collins could never live up to Bonham, and the audio setup was failing. After all of that, the show wasn't that bad and the band had a good time. After renditions of "Rock and Roll", "Whole Lotta Love", and "Stairway to Heaven", the band looked poised to come back and rise to the top again. Unfortunately, the attempt to play a show the next night proved disasterous and reunion plans were scrapped.

Atlantic 40th Anniversary, 1988
The band once again came together with Jason Bonham, son of John, on drums. The audio engineering again failed (Jimmy's guitar was barely audible). Robert seemed dissatisfied and bored playing the old songs. Robert did it for Ahmet Ertegun and was more interested in his solo performance during the same show.

Jason Bonham Wedding, 1990
They played at a wedding. Nothing big and no future plans possible

Knebworth, 1990
Robert had Jimmy come on-stage with him. Nothing would materialize from this reunion either.

MTV Unplugged and No Quarter: Unledded, 1993
Robert and Jimmy (no John Paul Jones) were approached about being in the MTV Unledded program. They agreed but they wanted to go beyond the simple studio performance that most acts had done. Robert and Jimmy wanted to take their songs from the Zeppelin years and remake them with a Middle Eastern twist. They also wanted to travel to Morocco to get inspired by their music and create new songs with authentic artists of the area. Three different parts of the program were created: Welsh quarry scenes, new songs performed with Morrocan musicians, and a performance in London with the London Metropolitan Orchestra and an Egyptian drum group. All of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page's work paid off. The show was a hit, the record sold well, and they had a great world tour. Then...

Walking Into Clarksdale, 1998
Robert and Jimmy recorded a bit of a flop. The record had some highlights (mainly "Most High" and "Please Read the Letter"). Unfortunately, Jimmy and Robert were going in different directions and the producer (Rick Rubin) was going a third direction. Robert wanted the blues-mideast fusion while Jimmy focused on the blues rock and Rubin tried to bring them into the 90's with a hard rock sound. The band behind Jimmy and Robert just didn't measure up and the album sold poorly. After another successful tour, Robert and Jimmy separated again possibly ending one of the last real chances to bring the band back together.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1994
Led Zeppelin entered the Hall of Fame in 1994 as one of the best selling groups ever. John Paul Jones came along and didn't show much of a problem with the fact no one called him about the Unledded project. The band came together with Jason on drums again and help from Aerosmith and Neil Young. The band played well but it was clearly another one time deal.

Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, 2007
After 9 years, Robert finally agreed to another reunion show to honor the man who signed Led Zeppelin to their deal with Atlantic and also guided him through his solo career. They were close friends and Robert always held Ahmet back from convincing him to rejoin with Jimmy and Jonesy. Of all their reunions, this one was the best. They were sharp, clean, and ready to go for the show from their first song. The band looked poised to take the next step and travel the world. Then, Robert's album with Alison Krauss was a huge hit. He wanted to work on the Memphis music that inspired his earliest work and Zeppelin seemed like a step backwards. He wanted to focus on a new aspect of his musical inspiration.

After many reunions, the band has yet to sick together for more than a show. Robert has been the main reason a full-fledged reunion hasn't materialized. He runs his own ship and he doesn't want to be under anyone's watchful eye again. Jimmy is the leader of Led Zeppelin so I doubt that he'll be able to convince Robert to agree to a long tour. One day it could happen, but Robert has to be in dire straits to do so.

Achilles Last Stand 11/16/08

The Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "The Rain Song", A Memory Frozen Forever (Berlin 1980)
-Robert Plant, "All the Money in the World", Mighty Rearranger
-Led Zeppelin, "The Song Remains the Same", Houses of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "Gallows Pole", Led Zeppelin III
-The Firm, "Dreaming", Mean Business
-Led Zeppelin, "Bonzo's Montreux", Coda
-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Rich Woman", Raising Sand
-Robert Plant, "Easily Lead", Shaken N' Stirred
-Led Zeppelin, "The Ocean", The Song Remains the Same (2007)
-Robert Plant, "Funny in My Mind (Fixin' to Die)", Dreamland
-Bad Company, "Can't Get Enough", Bad Company
-Led Zeppelin, "Moby Dick", Led Zeppelin II
-Jimi Hendrix, "Hey Joe"
-Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir", Led Zeppelin DVD
-The Yardbirds, "Train Kept a Rollin'", Ultimate!
-Robert Plant, "29 Palms", Fate of Nations
-Led Zeppelin, "The Crunge", House of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "Good Times, Bad Times", Led Zeppelin I
-Robert Plant, "Like I've Never Been Gone", Pictures at Eleven (Nine Lives Bonus Track)
-Led Zeppelin, "Misty Mountain Hop", IV
-Blind Faith, "Can't Find My Way Home", The 20th Century Collection: Steve Winwood

Sorry the playlist was a tad late this week. I've been pretty busy and haven't been able to finish it. The Robert Plant album guide is on the way. I've gone through his albums up to Fate of Nations so I'm almost done. Jimmy and Jones will follow shortly.

The semester only has about a month left before Winter Break. Only 4 more shows left before WECB goes off the air for the Winter Break so be sure you don't miss a second of Achilles Last Stand on WECB!

Achilles Last Stand 11/9/08 (Robert Plant Special)

The Playlist

-Led Zeppelin, "Black Dog", IV
-Elvis Presley, "Burning Love", Essential Elvis
-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)", Raising Sand
-Led Zeppelin, "Kashmir", Physical Graffiti
-Robert Plant, "In the Mood", Principle of Moments
-Tinariwen, "Tamatant Tilay", Aman Iman: Water is Life
-Robert Plant, "I Believe", Fate of Nations
-Led Zeppelin, "Since I've Been Loving You", Led Zeppelin III
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Takamba", Mighty Rearranger
-Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth", Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield
-Led Zeppelin, "Over the Hills and Far Away", How the West Was Won
-Robert Plant, "Little By Little", Shaken n' Stirred
-The Honeydrippers, "Sea of Love", The Honeydrippers Vol. 1
-Robert Plant, "Darkness Darkness", Dreamland
-Genesis, "That's All"
-Robert Plant, "You Better Run", Sixty Six to Tumbuktu
-Robert Plant, "Tall Cool One", Now and Zen
-Sonny Boy Williamson, "Bring It On Home", His Best
-Led Zeppelin, "Bring It On Home", Led Zeppelin II
-Robert Plant, "Road to the Sun", Sixty Six to Timbuktu
-Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song", Led Zeppelin III
-Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation, "Mighty Rearranger", Mighty Rearranger

I promised some hippie photos so here you go:

The next one is from his Zeppelin years but shows his hippie side quite well:

I'm still on the search for the one of him protesting the legality marijuana. I know it's in the liner notes of Sixty Six to Timbuktu, it's just a matter of sifting through the millions of other Plant photos online to find it.

The next show will run normally with all kinds of little Zeppelin goodies. I still have some good Plant quotes to play eventually. I'll be on the lookout for others and I'm sure some good Peter Grants and Jimmy Pages are hiding out there too. Any song requests? Add a comment and I'll see what I can do about getting it on.

UPDATE:

Thanks to robertplantfan who has a website (http://press.manicnirvana.com/?p=20) with a pic of Plant holding a Legalize Marijuana sign:

Robert Plant Show This Sunday

Well, the time has come for the first special show. Robert Plant has been plastered across many websites discussing the future of Led Zeppelin so we'll do about with him. I've also been looking back at some old interviews with him. Here's the best from the Dave Letterman Show in 1985:




He's always been an odd man to interview. He either takes the interview seriously and answers questions fully or he will joke around a little bit and just annoy the hell out of the interviewer. He usually goes after interviewers when they obviously don't know what they are talking about. Jay Leno in 1993 was particularly bad. He had no idea what he was talking about and trying to have Robert compare audiences from the past to the present.

Anyway, Robert is pretty easy to cover. His solo music is actually listenable and not bad (compared to Jimmy and Jonesy). His work with Strange Sensation (2001-2005) was outstanding. He was on to something with them and I wouldn't be surprised to see them come back in a couple of years. Of course he has his bad 80's album Shaken 'N' Stirred which is one of his favorites and then there's his early work when he was trying to be a pop singer.

Got any requests? Make a comment on this note and I'll see what I can do. I mean he was with Led Zeppelin so it shouldn't be hard to put something on (unless it's "Moby Dick" or "Bonzo's Montreux"). See ya Sunday!

ELECTION DAY!

Go out and vote or Jimmy will cast a vile spell on you. He'll make the ghost of John Bonham do things in your shoe.

Achilles Last Stand 11/2/08

The Playlist:

-Led Zeppelin, "Down By the Seaside", Physical Graffiti
-The Rolling Stones, "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)", Goats Head Soup
-Led Zeppelin, "What is and What Should Never Be", BBC Sessions
-Led Zeppelin, "Celebration Day", Led Zeppelin III
-Led Zeppelin, "Ramble On", Led Zeppelin II
-Robert Plant, "Last Time I Saw Her (Remix)", Dreamland (Nine Lives Box Set)
-Robert Plant, "Big Log", Principle of Moments
-The Firm, "Radioactive", The Firm
-Led Zeppelin, "Nobody's Fault But Mine", Presence
-Phil Collins, "In the Air Tonight", Phil Collins: Hits
-Led Zeppelin, "Ozone Baby", Coda
-Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song", Led Zeppelin III
-John Paul Jones, "Nosumi Blues", Zooma
-Led Zeppelin, "The Rain Song", Houses of the Holy
-Led Zeppelin, "In the Evening", Led Zeppelin DVD
-Led Zeppelin, "Going to California", IV
-Robert Plant, "Another Tribe", Mighty Rearranger
-Led Zeppelin, "Fool in the Rain", In Through the Out Door
-Robert Plant, "Our Song", Sixty-Six to Timbuktu
-Led Zeppelin, "Bring It On Home", How the West was Won
-Foo Fighters, "The Pretender", Echos Silence Patience and Grace

Tonight's show was mostly about the possible reunion. Although most of the members are into it (5/8 to be exact) I don't know about the idea of a Led Zeppelin minus a certain singer. If you heard the rant about why he won't reunite the post before this one explains it more. There's a lot to the story.

If you have any requests for the next show, write them down as a comment and I'll see if I can fit em in. Even if it isn't Zeppelin, I can probably find some way to relate the song or band to them.