No one is denying that but I'm not one to look at the 1977 tour through a rose colored lens either. There were some great shows when the band were firing on all cylinders for the entire show but that didn't happen as frequently by that point in their career as it had just a few years earlier. Of course they were really good, they were incredible musicians. But even great talents falter when substance abuse strangles every aspect of the whole thing. It took a near death experience for Robert to first shake him of his "invicibility" people feel with youth. One can assume it shook the whole band of that feeling. I mean, Jones wanted to walk away two years earlier and it took both Grant and Page by complete shock. Who would walk away from the biggest musical group in the world? My point is, while the music is everything, there are other elements to everything. After Plant's car accident in 1975, the mood within the band changed. There was a vulnerability added to them that had never been there before because they were indeed vulnerable. Presence is a musical statement to that feeling. And with that feeling, substance abuse escalated around the entire operation. And not just with management. You had Bonham's drinking getting worse than before and worst of all, you had the band's architect, Jimmy Page, falling victim to heroin and alcoholism and the band suffered because of it. It's easy to pile on now looking back, from a writer's stand point or a fans but that doesn't mean what is being said about them isn't warrentless. And I'm not trashing any of them because their music has meant the world to me. But I also see the human side of things. Hoskyn's book provided that human element better than anything I've read about them. Forget the mudsharks, this was about how the insulated world they created turned some of them into overly paranoid drug addicts and tragically, people had to die before it shook them out of their addictions. But we still have the music, which will live on forever.

I found the book to be the best I've ever read about the band and that's after having read all of them (with Peter Grant's being the best before this one). The interviews are telling and it reinforces whatever mojo they certainly had together was stripped from them in August 1975 and from there onwards, they were never quite the same group (for various reasons). It's an incredible polaroid of the times they lived in: incredible fame, incredible excess and an incredible legacy that was forged at the ultimate price.

I’ve watched the same interview and I’m having trouble seeing and more importantly, hearing, what some here are claiming Robert was saying. Are you that naïve and smitten to Robert’s boyish sense of humor that you’ve been completely duped by a comment related to something that is at best, pure speculation to something that is 10 months from even gestating? Why would Robert choose a random interview in Australia of all places to pronounce he wanted a Led Zeppelin reunion? Why would he do that rather than contacting the others behind the scenes and working something out first before going public (in any sense)? Isn’t how they went about the rehearsals for the 02 Show any indication how Led Zeppelin does business? Robert isn’t going to throw his hat in the ring in a manner that refutes his past statements regarding the prospects of a reunion while simultaneously dissing Jimmy and Jonesy in a fashion that undermines their clear desires after the 02 Show unless he’s succumbed to being a complete asshole. And I highly doubt that after seeing him visibly moved at the Kennedy Awards and his overall spirits (along with the other two) during the press conferences and interviews. Sure, there is a bit of tension but I truly believe him when he says “These guys are my buddies etc…” There is love throughout all of them. That doesn’t mean Robert suddenly wants to do a greatest hits tour. He has said he can’t relate to the 19 year old who belted out those songs with the swagger and decadence that is on those recordings and how can he? He can’t swing “Immigrant Song” at full tilt night after night anymore. Christ, he couldn’t in October 1972?! And why should we hold that against him now? He shouldn’t be ridiculed for feeling how he feels about his life. And I think his public statements against doing a massive tour have hit some fans the wrong way. Look, I admire him for not doing what other acts from his generation do. Like the music, his sense of humor has always remained the same and unfortunately so has the desperately selfish demands of a fan base that is borderline delusional. I’d love to see Jimmy tour on his own; just him and an acoustic guitar, playing celtic blues in small clubs and theaters to maybe a thousand people each night. I think it would be a wonderful way for him to get his music out there and also reconnect with his audiences, who have been waiting for him for decades. He doesn’t need Robert Plant to do that but I understand why Jimmy is a continual holdout to doing a new Zeppelin related gig with Robert. They were the best when working with each other in their youth so naturally there will always be a spark there. It worked in the 1990s, to a degree. But Jimmy doesn’t seem capable of releasing anything new. I think he’s more content standing there with the Zeppelin catalogue and his few side/solo projects as his career achievements. Today, Led Zeppelin are as big as the Beatles so I understand the feeling of satisfaction and gratification he must feel. Maybe that’s true. If so, that’s unfortunate in my opinion. He is in a small group of guitar players the world will likely never see again. He deserves the confidence afforded to him by his fan base to keep playing. And therein lays the constant stress-out for Robert to come around for a full on Led Zeppelin tour. And what exactly would a tour prove to anyone? Or is it even about that? Is it just about seeing Led Zeppelin one last time? Well, it’s not Led Zeppelin. No John Bonham. Jason is a fine drummer but he lacks half the chops of his pop. That’s not a dig at him. That’s just reality. His father had uncanny abilities that great drummers struggle to advance towards after a lifetime of practice. Also, Led Zeppelin was built on the swagger of youthful sex and unpredictable dynamics and improvisation, much to the ado of the combo of Bonham and Jones. That isn’t who they are any longer. Those elements are gone. And I think that goes to the core for Robert. That fifth element Jimmy often talks about can never be rekindled and without it, there is no true Led Zeppelin. Yeah, the board had discussions like this back in 2003 when I first joined but it’s the same discussion ten years on now. Enjoy the music and enjoy these guys while they’re still on this earth. If they decide to change their current trajectories and want to tour, when that time comes, “all will be revealed.” That should be enough for all of us until then, in Valhalla and Mordor.

I hope this quote serves to show some of the fans that Robert indeed cherishes the band more than he lets on. He may not show it the way some would like and speak as warm heartedly about it as Jimmy frequently does, but that's not our business to judge and condemn him for. He clearly still holds the powerful bond all four of them had together close to his heart and I can only guess that it does pain him that he can't shake the legacy and shadow of it while he's still alive. The blessing of having a music group of undeniable talent that will live on forever has equally left him living his life with a heavy heart for the loss of his friend. And we should respect that.

I don't venture on this site anymore and just dropped in to see if there was any information about when the Kennedy Center Awards would be broadcasted. Upon viewing some of the comments in this thread, it really is quite striking how juvenile some people are acting. (But not surprising considering how most of the elder members left for this reason). First off, who cares how many times you saw Led Zeppelin and how many albums you own? It doesn't mean a damn thing when you show yourself as a complete jackass in a conversation that should be celebrating these guys getting together for the last time. If your disdain and contempt is boiling over because there won't be a tour, you need to get over it. They don't owe you nor I or anyone a fucking thing. The music is there for us to enjoy. If you want more Led Zeppelin, go on YouTube and listen to some boots. There's plenty. Stop bitching about nothing. All of you complaining makes Robert's decision not to do a reunion resonate clearer and true. If he did, the first time his voice cracked or Jimmy's fingers went to shit mid-solo, there would be 10 threads here about how these guys 'can't play anymore and shouldn't have toured.' Typical for some of you. Second. David Letterman has been a weak interviewer is entire career. And his 'drummer' comment may have sounded in poor taste and his lack of knowledge of their DVD may be clear, but what exactly were you expecting? Letterman to get indepth about Led Zeppelin? Letterman doesn't get indepth about anything with anyone. They did his show because they both received the award. Plain and simple. I thought the interview went fine. I thought all three had a great time. I personally would have loved to seen them do an Elvis Christmas tune with Paul & Co but that just wasn't going to happen. And I'm ok with it. Robert seemed very upbeat. Jimmy seemed youthful as ever and Jonesy seemed to handle his place 'in the first chair' with dignity that did the band proud (as the other two clearly showed with their pearly whites several times). Their legacy is intact. And they know it. They have nothing left to prove. Yes, it's obvious Jimmy has mixed feelings about the post-O2 situation. But it's also obvious he is clearly enjoying the present. And so is Robert. And so is Jonesy. And so should you.

^ Perhaps you should think about what you're typing before you send it. The Chicago 1973 soundcheck is pretty standard Zeppelin-fan knowledge. Welcome to the club!

"We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline." - Donald "Duck" Dunn, The Good Ol' Blues Brothers Boys Band

Slash's Snakepit, opening for AC/DC in 2000. I love Slash but his band was absolute crap. Too loud and too distorted. The singer said, "How ya doin' Philly?" and we collectively said "Fuck you!" We booed them relentlessly, which is a shame but they were terrible and thankfully they disbanded not long after. I still remember turning to a friend after they finished and asking if they played any Guns. He said, "Yeah, they just closed with Mr. Brownstone." I couldn't tell.

This soundcheck is without any doubt from Chicago, 1973. I've never once heard it being from any other tour and if you've heard enough live Zeppelin, you can hear when this took place in the band's tenure. Plant's voice is clearly '1973-esque' and he actually blew it out during this soundcheck as he sounded like shit in the actual Chicago shows. And for those who question the original material being played, Wanton Song, Sick Again and Custard Pie were already being constructed in 1973. I have several incarnations of the studio sessions for PG and they begin in 1973, during the time when Plant had his vocal surgery. This is around the time when Page recorded versions of Ten Years Gone, which were eventually stolen along with most of his archives in the early 1980s.

awakes from a nice nap...staggers to the toilet and returns to the couch to continue his slumber.

I'm glad to see the thread take a turn for the... after 17+ pages of bashing Robert Plant. Now we're back on the same ol' topic of why John Bonham shouldn't be the end for the remaining members to play shows. And I thought this conversation was lame before the 02 show!! I'm reminded of 1969 when John Lennon wanted Billy Preston to join the Beatles as a full time member. Of course, the others scoffed at this and said he was nuts. The closest he got was playing for some of the Get Back sessions. But he never became a Beatle. Why? Because, they all knew The Beatles were the four of them, nothing more or nothing less. You screw with that formula and it ain't them. That's the way Led Zeppelin was, the way the four musicians chose to look at themselves and treat their relationship. We can argue who could replace who til the end of time but it's foolish. As good as Jason is, being taught by the man himself, he doesn't swing like his father. 90% of drummers can't swing like Bonzo. And I wouldn't take a candidate in the remaining 10% anyhow. He/she would not be John Bonham, therefore it won't be Led Zeppelin and to try and put it out there like so is an injustice to everything they've achieved in their legendary career. That's why I've accepted why Robert doesn't want to do it and really wish Jimmy would move on and play some new guitar and stop palling around with half-ass photographers, aka rock star wannabes.

A Ferrari without its original engine has little value to a collector. Bonzo was what powered them more than anything. No replacement engine will ever make them hum or purr the way he did. Talk about love...talk about..

It really is something to behold when no matter how many forum members provide reasonable dialogue to a nonsense issue, a small few just can't resist stoking a dead flame.