[Jimmy to tour in 2011]

We can agree to disagree. Your attempts to justify your position indicates to me you would applaud any and all members of Led Zeppelin no matter what they do. And Plant and Krauss never went in the studio to record! That just shows me your reaching like many of your other posts. This board is really full of blind mice; those who just want to believe!

The more accurate term would be "troll". Their overtly weak argument also seems more than vaguely familiar so that would seem to indicate yet another banned member that has chosen to return to the board yet again.

[Jimmy to tour in 2011]

Plant teaming with a world renowed artist such as Allison Krauss was not a risk. It was mainstream Americana. It WAS a sellout in my opinion; a well played out sell-out. He could and did sing in lower keys and just made himself look sexy behind a cute blonde. If u don't thing the video "gone gone gone wasn't cheesy then your pretending. Jimmy had to be just laughing his butt off. Robert sold out pure and simple and then pulled back wisely. It was not going out on a limb! He sang other peoples songs in lower keys with a very talented and respected artist. No risk at all!! A second go around with Allison didn't happen because RObert did not want to be mainstream - plain and simple! I have seen all interviews and such. Why would he tarnish himself and say he was embarressed? You could see it on his face at the Grammy's. He was very uncomfortable being there; a place you will never see Jimmy! Jimmy is not vital today and I stand by that; hes not! Unless its Zeppelin repackaged nobody is out there humming Firm songs or anything else he's done.

Plant a "sellout"? If anything, working with Alison Krauss was a great risk both artistically and commercially. It showed that neither artist were afraid of going out on a limb. Leading up to the release of Raising Sand, lots of people scoffed at the idea. That it went on to be such a huge success took everyone by surprise, not least of all, Plant and Krauss themselves.

Embarrassing? I've seen nothing in interviews that would even remotely indicate that he was embarrassed. If anything, he was as surprised as anyone else that the album was so warmly received. If you'd bothered to read (or watch) any of Plant's recent interviews, he says exactly why a second collaboration with Alison Krauss didn't work out and it had absolutely nothing to do with being "embarrassed" by the recognition Raising Sand received.

You might wanna watch It Might Get Loud and/or check sales figures for Mothership before making such statements. Even without all of the publicity the 02 concert received in the press, Led Zeppelin makes new fans every time one of their songs gets played on Classic Rock radio.

[Jimmy to tour in 2011]

Where did you get your info that it was Coverdale's idea or that he insisted they play large halls? I would think Page had also wished to play large halls, but as we know the American tour was quietly cancelled before it even started due to low interest. Yes, many of the Firm shows were half empty; it's normal....any big band breaking apart and touring as indivulas in a newer band would experience the same thing. There is just little interest in someone who is not vital to current trends. I disagree that Page could draw large crowds by himself. Robert could because he has been far more active and to some clever manuevering has (in my opinion) "sold out" to the commercialism of American mainstream by teaming up with Allison Krauss and "going bubblegum" )yes, gone gone gone video makes me ill...how embaressing!) and hitting the tv circuts and talkshows..... I think the grammys he won made him feel a bit awkward and one reason he moved on from Allison; maybe. It got him back in the limelight, but performing on the Grammy's TV show to such a cheesy commercail hollywood crowd had to have been a bit embarressing for Robert! Anyhow, Jimmy is not vital nor has he connected to new fans of a new generation. Jimmy willl not sell out like Robert, yet will not even attempt to try anything new. He is just a face that shows up at awards and on magizine covers. He doesn't do anything musically. There is no way he could just put together a band and sell out a 20,000 seat arena unless Robert was on vocals. Robert came to his rescue in 94 when his drawing power was wanning some himself and they basically used each other to get some interest back. Jimmy has never been a sellout and to some degree Robert has. I think Jimmy will do Zeppelin or nothing. He likely has new material, but no way to convey it the way he wants, which is to large stadiums only with Robert on vocals. Jimmy does not play nor will not play small halls. Yeah, I've been frustrated with Jimmy and disappointed over the past 10 plus years but have accepted that he is out to protect the Zeppelin flag and will not do anything to diminish it, even if its all in his mind. Yes, Jimmy is stuck in the past with no way out. He doesn't have the energy to recreate himself nor should he at age 66. I don't expect anything from him.

It was actually David Coverdale who insisted they play arena-sized venues in '93. Jimmy was up for anything but David was adamant and ultimately it cost them both a USA tour.

[No Page?]

This is an interesting thread. We cant assume, but based on what we feel and think we know it is tempting to share opinions. What seems clear, but maybe not totally accurate, to me is that Robert and Jimmy do get along overall, but have differences in musical direction and how they want to be seen. Robert wants to play new material in a more casual atmosphere; smaller halls and a lighter approach to the music. Jimmy, so he has shown us over the years, will not tour in small halls and wants to keep Zeppelin music at the forefront; not to change style or direction much. Nothing wrong with either! They can and will do what they want. We all make choices. I love Jimmy Page and like many am frustrated by his lack of activity. He's just damn cool! Some may think he's afraid to go out on his own and tour; knowing that he can not sell out a 3000 seat hall unless he's with Plant. If Robert wanted to bury or make Page look bad he wouldn't have come to his rescue in 94' when the Coverdale-Page American Tour flopped before it even started. This is something not discussed much and Page will quickly dismiss it as saying "I just consider whats on the table at the end of the day." Several shows quietly went on sale down in Florida and Georgia and ticket sales were so dismal the entire tour was scrapped. Page was devestated according to relaiable sources and began to use heavy drugs again as evident in 95' He was in poor shape, but soon recovered well enough to be able to carry his own thru 98' At that point he wanted to reform Zeppelin and Plant didn't. End of story. Page has never been the same since. My hunch is the Coverdale bomb made it clear to Page he can not sell out a 20,000 seat hall unless he has Plant with him. He strokes his ego so it seems once in a while as a guest at a big festivile show. Plant also cvan no longer sell out big halls on his own, but the difference is he will play small halls and doesnt seem to care about that. Maybe Page is trying to hold on to the Zeppelin mystic and playing in a small 3000 seat hall would not allow for that. I don't know. I do feel Page will not tour again unless he can find a way to play large halls and without Plant that will be difficult.