[The Trouble with Bonham. 1978-80]

2 hours ago, blindwillie127 said:

Shortly after Knebworth, JJ Jackson interviewed both Plant & Jones and Plant clearly states that if he is going stay with LZ,  "its gonna have to get more mellow". Juxtaposition that with Page saying the next album would be "more rocking than ITTOD" and one can see that Plant wouldn't be sticking around unless he himself was  now steering the direction of the band. That was never gonna happen, so it was basically over. Maybe they would have put out 1 more album if the ill-fated 1980 North American tour had went well,  but Plant was already movin' on down the road mentally either way. 

Wish I could find this interview but can't locate it. Plant elaborates on this quite a bit...

It could be that Plant said that but his first solo album is not too mellow, even has a few pretty heavy rockers.

[The Trouble with Bonham. 1978-80]

14 hours ago, IpMan said:

Typically speaking, the simplest explanation is usually the most likely. The band had been inactive from July 26th 77'- July 22nd 79' insofar as touring is concerned. They recorded ITTOD in November of 78', played four gigs close to and in England in 79' and a short European tour in 80'. So from mid-77' to early fall 80' Bonzo was in essence home most of the time and his wife / family were used to this for three years. Anyone who is or has been married knows where I am going here. Bonzo was not hurting for cash, he had more money than creases, he wanted to be home, his wife and family wanted him home. The looming American tour was simply too much and I heard his wife Pat was rather unhappy about something and I would bet a dime to a dollar it was the American tour. I am of course making an assumption here but is it a stretch to believe Pat had given John an ultimatum, either his family or the road and John felt split, torn between the two as he did not want to disappoint his family or his band. He could have believed himself in a no-win situation which resulted in September 25th.

This is all speculation of course but makes about as much sense as anything else. Zeppelin should have called it quits, or at least gone on long-term hiatus after the European tour. I am assuming, again, that the reason for the American tour leads once again back to Jimmy and Grant, afraid if they did go on long-term hiatus Zeppelin would be forgotten.

From a purely cultural perspective it would have made perfect sense for Zeppelin to take a break for at least five years after the European tour. Give Robert space to go solo, Bonzo & Jones time with family, and Page / Grant time to sober up and get healthy.

This is what happens when ego comes before both the heart and common sense.

Interesting thought about them going into a longer hiatus after Karac's death. In hindsight, it surely was the move they should have made. But it was a relatively turbulent time for Classic Rock bands around 1980. They were already being labelled a Dinosaur and to further retreat from the public may have been considered a career suicide. There would have been a new generation of "competition" with the Metal bands and Hair bands gaining in popularity. Could they have survived and thrived in this new environment. Not sure if the 1980 version as we know it could have. If indeed they could have sobered up and get their chops back, then it would certainly would have been interesting to see how they approached the new metal and hair band scene.

A thorough and honest interview with the surviving members would perhaps shed some light onto what their attitude and direction in the 80's would have been. I don't recall ever reading anything in depth about this. Of course, they probably have no clue to what the band would have been beyond the next album, which Jimmy said would have been a more rocking album than ITTOD. 

 

[LED ZEPPELIN'S 50th ANNIVERSARY PLANS?]

Haven't read through everything, besides some concerts or new live recordings, how about some video's detailing the making of some/all of their albums. Similar to the "Classic Albums" series that have run on TV before. It would be great to hear and see Jimmy behind the mixing board talking about all the different tracks that go into the making of the songs. Just imagine him breaking down the tracks of TYG or ALS.