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Led Zeppelin Roars Back in Reunion Show

By CHRIS LEHOURITES, AP

Posted: 2007-12-11 11:03:38

LONDON (Dec. 11) - After that performance, Led Zeppelin really must go on tour. The reunited rock 'n' roll legends were superb Monday in their first full concert in nearly three decades, mixing in classics like "Stairway to Heaven" and "Black Dog" with the thumping "Kashmir" and the hard-rocking "Dazed and Confused."

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Ross Halfin, Getty Images

Songs Remain the Same

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Led Zeppelin kicked off their first live show in 19 years on Dec. 10 with 'Good Times Bad Times,' a song they rarely played live in their prime. With ease, Robert Plant wailed its verse: "No matter how I try, I find my way into the same old jam."

The band's three surviving members — singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones — were joined by the late John Bonham's son Jason on drums.

And it was the newest member of the band that was given the honor of kicking off the sold-out benefit show, pounding out the beat before the others joined in on a near-perfect "Good Times Bad Times."

After the lights went down at the O2 Arena, newsreel footage of the band arriving in Tampa, Fla., for a 1973 performance was projected onstage. Then Bonham jumped in, soon to be joined by the rest.

The Times of London
"With a synergy like this going on, it would be an act of cosmic perversity to stop now."

"Page dispensed power chords like an aged Thor lobbing down thunderbolts for kicks."

The New York Times
"As for Mr. Page, his guitar solos weren't as frenetic and articulated as they used to be, but that only drove home the point that they were always secondary to the riffs, which on Monday were enormous, nasty, glorious."

The Daily Telegraph
"[The Band's] familiar old sinew and swagger were still there."

The Independent
"Jason Bonham makes a more than merely able replacement for his father on drums: indeed, there's a stronger funk element to his playing which kicks the songs along with more elan."

The Evening Standard
"Two hours and 10 minutes after they began 'Good Times Bad Times,' ... they had assuaged the doubts and delivered a show of breathtaking power and spine-tingling excitement."

The Los Angeles Times
"[The Band] played the first sets with easygoing confidence. Their good humor built into triumphant intensity as the night wore on."

The Daily Star
"Led Zep were pure class ... Now bring on the full reunion tour."

Source: AP

They followed that with "Ramble On," and with it destroyed all rumors that the 59-year-old Plant could no longer reproduce his trademark wail.

With his button-down shirt mercifully buttoned up, Plant roamed the stage belting out hit after hit, rarely giving his critics anything to work with.

But Page showed he still has the touch as well. Besides ripping out his patented riffs all night, he put the spotlight on himself when the band played the bluesy "In My Time of Dying."

With his left hand moving freely up and down the neck of his guitar and the metal slide wrapped around one of his fingers, Page effortlessly played a song that's not easy to master.

Page and Plant later combined to open "Nobody's Fault But Mine," a song that starts with another classic Page riff and then gets help from Plant mimicking the same sounds.

Thanks to some intrepid concertgoers with cameraphones, you have a ticket to the Zeppelin one-night reunion.

'Good Times Bad Times'

'Whole Lotta Love'

'Since I've Been Loving You'

'Stairway to Heaven'

'Black Dog'

'Kashmir'

Still, it was Bonham who may have been the star of the show. At 41, he is older than his father was — 32 — when he choked to death on his own vomit in 1980.

Bonham's flawless performance and driving beat even made the other members of the band watch in awe at the end of "Black Dog."

After "The Song Remains the Same," Plant screamed: "Jason Bonham, drums! Come on!"

The 16-song set list produced few surprises. They did many of the songs expected, such as "No Quarter" and "Trampled Under Foot," and the entire show lasted a bit more than two hours, mainly because of encores "Whole Lotta Love" and "Rock and Roll."

'Good Times Bad Times'
'Ramble On'
'Black Dog'
'In My Time Of Dying'
'For Your Life'
'Trampled Under Foot'
'Nobody's Fault But Mine'
'No Quarter'
'Since I've Been Loving You'
'Dazed And Confused'
'Stairway To Heaven'
'The Song Remains The Same'
'Misty Mountain Hop'
'Kashmir'
'Whole Lotta Love'
'Rock And Roll'

The band also played "For Your Life" live for the first time.

"It's quite peculiar to imagine ... to think about creating a dynamic evening choosing from 10 different albums. There are certain songs that have to be there, and this is one of them," Plant said in introducing "Dazed and Confused."

When Page's solo started midway through the song, many in the audience were wondering whether the guitar virtuoso would resort to his old tricks.

But after only a few seconds, the 63-year-old Page turned his back to the crowd and walked nonchalantly toward his amp. Once there, he pulled a cello bow off the top, and the fans again went wild.

They followed that with "Stairway to Heaven," the band's staple song, which many hardcore fans were hoping would be dropped from the set.

But the crowd still loved it, with many standing to dance as Page played on his double-necked guitar.

A few lighters even popped up, but they were mostly replaced by digital cameras.

Plant may have struggled a bit on the early verses — his voice a tad raspy — but it was hardly reason to believe the band wasn't ready for anything.

Fans are hoping to get to hear them do it again, and soon.

Though this show is supposed to be one-time event, there have been rumors that if all went well, it would kick off a world tour.

Plant seemed to play down those rumors, saying he plans to tour with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, but Monday's performance will only add to the fervor of the fans to see them play more gigs.

"The whole idea of being on a cavalcade of merciless repetition is not what it's all about," Page told The Sunday Times leading up to the performance.

The show was Led Zeppelin's first full set since 1980. Robbed of "Bonzo's" pulsing drums, the band decided it couldn't go on and split up on Dec. 4, 1980.

Tickets for the show, a benefit for the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, were won in an Internet lottery. Proceeds are to go to the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides scholarships to universities in the United States, Britain and Turkey.

"Hey Ahmet, we did it!" Plant screamed after "Stairway."

Monday's concert wasn't the first Led Zeppelin reunion. The band played together in 1985 at Live Aid, and joined forces again three years later — with Jason Bonham on drums — to play at the 40th anniversary concert for Atlantic Records.

At their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 1995, they teamed up with other musicians for another short set.

The show was originally scheduled for Nov. 26, but was postponed until Monday because Page injured the little finger on his left hand.

There were several opening acts rotating across the stage, mainly hosted by former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.

Paul Rodgers, Keith Emerson and Foreigner got the biggest cheers.

Plant said he was told that people from 50 countries made their way to London for the show.

"I can't believe people would come from 50 countries for that," Page said after pointing out a banner in the crowd that read "Hammer of the Gods."

They came, and they saw a show that hopefully won't be the last.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

2007-12-10 08:02:51

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496 comments

meanvenusj 09:38:57 AM Jan 17 2008

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Who will Led Zeppelin have as an opening act on their 2008 US tour???
The rumors have finally been silenced: Plant has personally tapped his illegitimate son's band--MEAN VENUS--to open all 2008 shows.
MEAN VENUS' lead singer, J, when recently interviewed by Rolling Stone magazine, spoke of his utter disbelief at the prospect:
"I only found out he [Plant] was my dad a few years ago.
My mum hid it from me for the majority of my life. So to actually be going on the road with my Dad is bloody outrageous!".....

Yankeesgirll0307 03:33:54 PM Dec 12 2007

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The Stones did it and sell out in record numbers. Why can't Zeppelin follow suit? They still sound amazing and fans worldwide and practically on their knees begging for a tour (myself include) I say go for it!!

Kuhlio2 01:45:47 PM Dec 12 2007

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Man, did you see all those bald heads? This truly was a special time in history, been a Zepplin fan since about age 8. Finally got to see them in '73, and had to spend most of the time in the restroom w/ boyfriends sister, who had drank too much. Not fair! No one can ever touch what this band was, held an all night vigil for Bonzo when I heard the news. People can call him a drummer, I always did say he was much closer to a percussionist, and there is a difference. His son sounded pretty good, but as far as a comeback, I don't know. It was a different time, a different world. I cried when I saw the films too and thank you to all who provided them. An awesome band for an awesome time, but who really does acid so much anymore or has the guts to sing their blues? It's a wonder we all survived, and I will always rate them as "The Greatest". Maybe now I am just old and all grown up.

Bvbc5pq 08:44:00 AM Dec 12 2007

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I strarted to watch the "Good TimesBad Times" video clip and I turned it off. It seemed to be a lot of flash without really doing anything with the song itself. Very Disapointing,Thumbs Down.

MarkIsasky 08:22:00 AM Dec 12 2007

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timmes achangiin but the song remains the same

MarkIsasky 08:22:00 AM Dec 12 2007

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timmes achangiin but the song remains the same

WELLREAD 06:43:00 AM Dec 12 2007

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I saw Zep In LA... Bonham was amazing playing a drum solo..with bare hands!
Loud as hell and even more amazing.

Notbadhalol 04:19:44 AM Dec 12 2007

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omg

respears13 02:27:45 AM Dec 12 2007

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I'm cumming just thinking of those days. Fell in love with Zep at age 12, never saw them live, but saw everything that was produced in those magical 70's. Thank God for Circus Magazine back then and the awesome spread of the last garden tour before Bonza aspirated into his lungs.

My uncle, mom's brother, runs a 40 plus year old recording studio in Charlotte, NC. In 1988, six weeks after the birth of my only child, a girl, I hosted Robert Plant and his very, very young band, including one band member who later became Robert's son-in-law. The band had performed in Charlotte and in Columbia, SC, prior to the weekend gig at Reflections Sound Studio.

If I remember correctly, my uncle was attending the Grammy's with REM and needed a responsible adult to host the band for two days, run their errands, keep the drinks and food a'coming, and be there to chat for hours with Robert while the kids laid down the tracks. They were in awe of Robert. This was during the times of the "Tall Cool

FISHMECHIC 12:56:55 AM Dec 12 2007

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I, to will take my children to see what is undoubtabley one of the finest groups of modern times, hats of well done i hope to see you before it Die

Bryan72562 11:35:09 PM Dec 11 2007

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Hands down, the greatest BAND of all time; not guitariist (Hendrix) or song writers (Beatles); but band. It's demonstrated daily by turning on any radio station that plays any "modern" music from about 1985 through today.

Rcadam1947 11:22:00 PM Dec 11 2007

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I WAS BORN IN THE 40's A KID IN THE 50'S TEENAGER IN THE 60'S YOUNG MAN IN THE 70'S I'M THE SAME AGE THEY ARE AND I NEVER HEARD OF THEM?

DaveViele 10:13:00 PM Dec 11 2007

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Wish I could have been there but my ticket did'nt come up in the lottery... I saw the great Zeppelin in '73, and in '77 in Tampa (albeit rained out after three songs) and hope this time, my son (not born until 1990) and I both get an opportunity to see you in Tampa again in 2007. We love you guys. We miss John Henry but truly welcome Jason.

JOHNSONTata5 09:52:05 PM Dec 11 2007

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I've been a Led Head for,oh, about 37 years. I only got to watch the youtube performances and I cried. There's nothing like Zeppelin. I pray they'll do a tour. I'll take my entire family. We're all fanatics. Zeppelin looks great and sounds fantastic. It's them. My God...it's them!!

Physgraffi 09:41:16 PM Dec 11 2007

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AND BYE THEY WAY ...ANYONE WHO FEELS THAT ANYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT IN THE LAST 15 YEARS IS ARTISTIC OR GOOD MUSIC. NEEDS TO JUMP OFF A BRIDGE.......THREE CHORDS DO NOT MAKE A SONG....

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