The firm & Coverdale Page

[zosoman11]

Does anyone have any reason as to why they "broke up" or stopped playing together?

Thanks in advance.

[SteveAJones]

Does anyone have any reason as to why they "broke up" or stopped playing together?

Thanks in advance.

In November 1986, Jimmy said he was leaving The Firm to begin working on his first solo album. Bear in mind The Firm was never meant to be a long-term commitment, merely a vehicle to afford Jimmy an opportunity to make new music and tour.

Coverdale/Page certainly had the potential to become a long-term collaboration, but

Jimmy and Robert had already begun discussing teaming up for a performance on the

MTV Unplugged television program before C/P toured Japan in Dec 1993. By Feb '94,

Page/Plant were already rehearsing together at Depot Studios near Kings Cross in London using a series of drum loops as backing tracks.

[bigzepfan]

In November 1986, Jimmy said he was leaving The Firm to begin working on his first solo album. Bear in mind The Firm was never meant to be a long-term commitment, merely a vehicle to afford Jimmy an opportunity to make new music and tour.

Coverdale/Page certainly had the potential to become a long-term collaboration, but

Jimmy and Robert had already begun discussing teaming up for a performance on the

MTV Unplugged television program before C/P toured Japan in Dec 1993. By Feb '94,

Page/Plant were already rehearsing together at Depot Studios near Kings Cross in London using a series of drum loops as backing tracks.

Interesting to see how it went down chronologically. Do you have the original air date of the mtv unplugged? I remember seeing it. It was and still is just absolutely incredible in every way. From beginning to end.

That gets me thinking. when coverdale/page came out I definitely wanted to see the tour after such a kickass album. The press said that the US tour was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. If jimmy was already planning on getting back with robert maybe the press was not correct. Any thoughts?

[SuperDave]

Interesting to see how it went down chronologically. Do you have the original air date of the mtv unplugged? I remember seeing it. It was and still is just absolutely incredible in every way. From beginning to end.

That gets me thinking. when coverdale/page came out I definitely wanted to see the tour after such a kickass album. The press said that the US tour was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. If jimmy was already planning on getting back with robert maybe the press was not correct. Any thoughts?

SInce Jimmy already had the intention of getting together with Robert, I don't think there were ever plans for a C/P U.S. tour. I think C/P just decided to a few dates in Japan and that was it.

Steve,

Do you have more info on this and I'm sure fill in the blanks on the details?

[SteveAJones]

Interesting to see how it went down chronologically. Do you have the original air date of the mtv unplugged? I remember seeing it. It was and still is just absolutely incredible in every way. From beginning to end.

That gets me thinking. when coverdale/page came out I definitely wanted to see the tour after such a kickass album. The press said that the US tour was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales. If jimmy was already planning on getting back with robert maybe the press was not correct. Any thoughts?

The original plan was a 45-date tour of North America in June & July 1993. This was

postponed until October, and the reason cited was "heavy road traffic" (too many

other artists touring at the time). Tickets did go on sale for the initial dates (Miami

10/8, Orlando 10/10, Tampa, Atlanta 10/15, Dallas 10/20 etc.) the first Saturday

in August but sales were poor and ultimately the tour was cancelled. I believe the

seven date Japanese tour in December was arranged to help Geffen offset the cost

of the album and the extensive promotional campaign which followed. I believe I presented some of these details in the Zeppelin Mysteries thread.

Anyway, Jimmy was keen to just get out there and play but David insisted on an arena tour. Extreme, who were hugely popular at the time, were to be the opening act, but they were replaced by Vince Neil before tickets went on sale as Jimmy was allegedly uncomfortable sharing the bill with fellow gunslinger Nuno Bettencourt.

Jimmy attended both of Robert's Orpheum Theater concerts in Boston (Nov 20-21 1993)

and expressed a desire to work with him again. Robert had already been approached by MTV concerning the Unplugged series (to appear as a solo artist) but he elected to team up with Jimmy so they could approach the project together. The rest is history.

[bigzepfan]

The original plan was a 45-date tour of North America in June & July 1993. This was

postponed until October, and the reason cited was "heavy road traffic" (too many

other artists touring at the time). Tickets did go on sale for the initial dates (Miami

10/8, Orlando 10/10, Tampa, Atlanta 10/15, Dallas 10/20 etc.) the first Saturday

in August but sales were poor and ultimately the tour was cancelled. I believe the

seven date Japanese tour in December was arranged to help Geffen offset the cost

of the album and the extensive promotional campaign which followed. I believe I presented some of these details in the Zeppelin Mysteries thread.

Anyway, Jimmy was keen to just get out there and play but David insisted on an arena tour. Extreme, who were hugely popular at the time, were to be the opening act, but they were replaced by Vince Neil before tickets went on sale as Jimmy was allegedly uncomfortable sharing the bill with fellow gunslinger Nuno Bettencourt.

Jimmy attended both of Robert's Orpheum Theater concerts in Boston (Nov 20-21 1993)

and expressed a desire to work with him again. Robert had already been approached by MTV concerning the Unplugged series (to appear as a solo artist) but he elected to team up with Jimmy so they could approach the project together. The rest is history.

Thank you Steve, as always. Always wondered how timing worked out. Good call Jimmy on the Nuno Bettencourt thing. I saw Extreme warm up ZZ Top(not sure what year) or should I say I saw Extreme blow ZZ Top so far off the stage it was embarrassing. Nuno is truly gifted. Just a completely different level of energy onstage, however ZZ is very very tight.

[SteveAJones]

Do you have the original air date of the mtv unplugged? I remember seeing it. It was and still is just absolutely incredible in every way. From beginning to end.

World Premier telecast on MTV was October 12th 1994 (...Aleister Crowley's birthday)

[SuperDave]

World Premier telecast on MTV was October 12th 1994 (...Aleister Crowley's birthday)

Any coincidence there?

[SteveAJones]

Any coincidence there?

All of the performance footage (Wales / Morocco / London) was filmed between

August 9th & 26th 1994 and Jimmy and Robert oversaw editing of the tapes in

London that September. They were both very pleased with the results, though

Jimmy wishes now he had shorn his hair first (to how he wore it in '98).

[SuperDave]

All of the performance footage (Wales / Morocco / London) was filmed between

August 9th & 26th 1994 and Jimmy and Robert oversaw editing of the tapes in

London that September. They were both very pleased with the results, though

Jimmy wishes now he had shorn his hair first (to how he wore it in '98).

His hair was a bit of a mess back then and through the 1995 tour. Almost looked like a perm.

[BUCK'EYE' DOC]

All of the performance footage (Wales / Morocco / London) was filmed between

August 9th & 26th 1994 and Jimmy and Robert oversaw editing of the tapes in

London that September. They were both very pleased with the results, though

Jimmy wishes now he had shorn his hair first (to how he wore it in '98).

I liked his hair on the Unledded/No Quarter video.

Now I want to watch it. I usually watch it every couple of weeks. I love the music and the performance on this video. I usually replay a couple of the songs over and over when I watch it; usually it is "Black Dog" and "Nobody's Fault But Mine".

Black Dog

[mad dog]

as Jimmy was allegedly uncomfortable sharing the bill with fellow gunslinger Nuno Bettencourt.

What you do you mean by this?

[jmorton]

I will relate the dissolution of CP from David Coverdale's side....

He had enormous problems with Jimmy's manager throughout the "promotion" part of the Coverdale/Page album. He claims that he and his manager, Michael McIntyre, were insistent on touring right on the "back" of the Coverdale/Page album release. Jimmy's manager (I'm not sure who represented Jimmy back then...was it Phil Carson? Steve will know) blocked any attempt at an earlier US tour and looked toward a summer tour starting in late May or early June....then it was pushed back even further to October. Once again blocked by Jimmy's manager.

Meanwhile...in September David was given an offer to tour in 1994, but only as Whitesnake. Geffen already had a Greatest Hits package and was eager to get it off the books and promoters sniffed it out, so to speak. David turned the promoters down, saying that he was committed to seeing the CP project to the end.

Now here comes the major discrepancy from the published accounts. David claims he was under tremendous personal pressure from Geffen to get a moneymaking tour started, meanwhile all the momentum from the Coverdale Page album was lost, and in October ticket sales were slow at best. David indeed insisted on an Arena tour, but he claims it was only to satisfy David Geffen.

When the tour fell apart Geffen hurriedly put together a tour of Japan. In late October of 1993 David agreed to reform Whitesnake and tour as early as the spring of that year. It was during the Japanese tour that Jimmy and David shook hands and agreed to work together again in some capacity.

Privately David has said if the touring issues had been resolved earlier CP would have done another album. Interestingly, the two have become much closer since the demise of the project...with Jimmy seeing every Whitesnake tour stop in London since 1994. (and being featured in the DVD extras of Whitesnakes "Live in the Still of the Night" DVD)

(on an interesting side note....the rather messy end to the Coverdale Page project began over a decade's worth of legal wrangling that Coverdale had to do to reclaim the rights of the 7 or 8 leftover Coverdale Page tracks that Geffen wouldn't release....it ended his relationship with the record company and Coverdale wrote a song about David Geffen called "Don't Lie to Me" on his Into the Light solo album in 2000)

Jeff

[mstork]

The original plan was a 45-date tour of North America in June & July 1993. This was

postponed until October, and the reason cited was "heavy road traffic" (too many

other artists touring at the time). Tickets did go on sale for the initial dates (Miami

10/8, Orlando 10/10, Tampa, Atlanta 10/15, Dallas 10/20 etc.) the first Saturday

in August but sales were poor and ultimately the tour was cancelled. I believe the

seven date Japanese tour in December was arranged to help Geffen offset the cost

of the album and the extensive promotional campaign which followed. I believe I presented some of these details in the Zeppelin Mysteries thread.

Anyway, Jimmy was keen to just get out there and play but David insisted on an arena tour. Extreme, who were hugely popular at the time, were to be the opening act, but they were replaced by Vince Neil before tickets went on sale as Jimmy was allegedly uncomfortable sharing the bill with fellow gunslinger Nuno Bettencourt.

Jimmy attended both of Robert's Orpheum Theater concerts in Boston (Nov 20-21 1993)

and expressed a desire to work with him again. Robert had already been approached by MTV concerning the Unplugged series (to appear as a solo artist) but he elected to team up with Jimmy so they could approach the project together. The rest is history.

Surprising to me, especially given Nuno's comments about how nice Jimmy was to him and how in awe Nuno was in his presence. I mean, Jimmy shared the stage with Clapton and Beck when he was smacked out but he's afraid to have Nuno open for him?

[SteveAJones]

I will relate the dissolution of CP from David Coverdale's side....

He had enormous problems with Jimmy's manager throughout the "promotion" part of the Coverdale/Page album. He claims that he and his manager, Michael McIntyre, were insistent on touring right on the "back" of the Coverdale/Page album release. Jimmy's manager (I'm not sure who represented Jimmy back then...was it Phil Carson? Steve will know) blocked any attempt at an earlier US tour and looked toward a summer tour starting in late May or early June....then it was pushed back even further to October. Once again blocked by Jimmy's manager.

Meanwhile...in September David was given an offer to tour in 1994, but only as Whitesnake. Geffen already had a Greatest Hits package and was eager to get it off the books and promoters sniffed it out, so to speak. David turned the promoters down, saying that he was committed to seeing the CP project to the end.

Now here comes the major discrepancy from the published accounts. David claims he was under tremendous personal pressure from Geffen to get a moneymaking tour started, meanwhile all the momentum from the Coverdale Page album was lost, and in October ticket sales were slow at best. David indeed insisted on an Arena tour, but he claims it was only to satisfy David Geffen.

When the tour fell apart Geffen hurriedly put together a tour of Japan. In late October of 1993 David agreed to reform Whitesnake and tour as early as the spring of that year. It was during the Japanese tour that Jimmy and David shook hands and agreed to work together again in some capacity.

Privately David has said if the touring issues had been resolved earlier CP would have done another album. Interestingly, the two have become much closer since the demise of the project...with Jimmy seeing every Whitesnake tour stop in London since 1994. (and being featured in the DVD extras of Whitesnakes "Live in the Still of the Night" DVD)

(on an interesting side note....the rather messy end to the Coverdale Page project began over a decade's worth of legal wrangling that Coverdale had to do to reclaim the rights of the 7 or 8 leftover Coverdale Page tracks that Geffen wouldn't release....it ended his relationship with the record company and Coverdale wrote a song about David Geffen called "Don't Lie to Me" on his Into the Light solo album in 2000)

Jeff

Awesome post, Jeff, presenting the other side of the story. I believe it was Brian Goode who handled management for Jimmy in this matter.

[SteveAJones]

Surprising to me, especially given Nuno's comments about how nice Jimmy was to him and how in awe Nuno was in his presence. I mean, Jimmy shared the stage with Clapton and Beck when he was smacked out but he's afraid to have Nuno open for him?

Not afraid of, but uncomfortable with, as Extreme was arguably a better band, and Nuno the more popular guitarist, not to mention Jimmy hadn't toured in five years.

Eric and Jeff of course are friends from way back and besides he only performed with them for eight charity shows ('83) as opposed to night after night for weeks on end.

[zosoman11]

Thanks to all,

I remember reading back then that when Coverdale set up the huge arena tours, that "Page was furious". I believe that was in Cream Magazine, but not sure. I think it would be great if they worked together again, as the first project was awesome.

[bigzepfan]

Thanks to all,

I remember reading back then that when Coverdale set up the huge arena tours, that "Page was furious". I believe that was in Cream Magazine, but not sure. I think it would be great if they worked together again, as the first project was awesome.

It really was. So many good songs. What a great combination.

[jmorton]

Awesome post, Jeff, presenting the other side of the story. I believe it was Brian Goode who handled management for Jimmy in this matter.

Well thank you Steve....and Yes....I remember him now. Oafish man...I remember Coverdale had a special kind of hatred for the man...reminded him too much of John Coletta (and if you know of Mr. Coletta...that's a very unflattering comparison)

Here's a couple more interesting tidbits of the CP project

The album release was rather botched by Geffen. Arguably the album could have been released in late 1992 (as the album sat "in the can" for several months) which probably would have served the partership better (remember that Robert's "Fate of Nations" was released less than a month after Coverdale Page) but both John Koladner and David Geffen felt and early spring release was better. They let the "Legends" rumor percolate for far too long...while it got fans excited it also killed the originality of the project

Coverdale had a larger financial stake in Coverdale Page as far as invested capitol than Jimmy did. Thus the enormous pressure David was under to produce a moneymaking tour. He admits today they should have toured anyway...and thus would have produced another album. David does, however, put most of the blame on Brian Goode whom he refuses to name...but chastises every time he speaks about the album.

Finally....the handshake agreement to do another project together came after the final date in Nagoya, Japan December 22, 1993.

Jeff

[SteveAJones]

They let the "Legends" rumor percolate for far too long...while it got fans excited it also killed the originality of the project

Raw Magazine (UK) Dec 23, 1992-Jan 5, 1993

Courtesy Steve A. Jones Archive

Note: Michael Lee was most definitely in Robert Plant's touring band, not theirs!

[Aquamarine]

Not afraid of, but uncomfortable with, as Extreme was arguably a better band, and Nuno the more popular guitarist, not to mention Jimmy hadn't toured in five years.

Eric and Jeff of course are friends from way back and besides he only performed with them for eight charity shows ('83) as opposed to night after night for weeks on end.

Interesting info from you all--but I don't ever remember Bettencourt as being a more popular guitarist than Page, even given Jimmy's years out of the limelight.

[jmorton]

Raw Magazine (UK) Dec 23, 1992-Jan 5, 1993

Courtesy Steve A. Jones Archive

Note: Michael Lee was most definitely in Robert Plant's touring band, not theirs!

LOL....I remember that ridiculous rumor...went on for a couple months. Awful stuff. I recall from an "In the studio" interview with Red Beard, David said....

"We couldn't have gone out as Leg Ends or Wise Guys or whatever the press had been running with"

....lol....In fact I remember David was quite a card in that particular interview.

Jeff

[mos6507]

At the time I was really mystified why they didn't tour. I heard about the low ticket sales and couldn't imagine that the Zep cachet had faded so much since the late 80s. Surely there were enough Jimmy fans out there who were starving for him to play live again since 88? Apparently not. That to me was the sign that grunge was sweeping away hair metal. It took Robert to get the lapsed Zep fans back in gear.

[bigzepfan]

Interesting info from you all--but I don't ever remember Bettencourt as being a more popular guitarist than Page, even given Jimmy's years out of the limelight.

When Extreme came out with pornograffitti nuno was it. He was the only current "new" rock guitarist who played heavy heavy rock and roll(get the funk out and he-man), classical with a metal twist(flight of the bumblebee) and acoustic(Hole Hearted) all on one album. He played every one of them with incredible passion, just like Jimmy did. Took each style and put his own touch into it. He was also on the cover of guitar player and many other guitar and music mags and rated as the number one current guitarist.

When I saw them warm up zz top, it was in orange county fairgrounds in Middletown, NY. I was right in front of Nuno about 5th row and I was just in complete awe of how good he is. I just stood there with in complete and utter awe when he played flight of the bumblebee followed by he-man woman hater. Never have I seen anything like it. Just brilliant work and Oh so rockin'. As far as lead guitarists he has really outplayed just about anyone I've ever seen. and I've seen my fair share.

As far as popularity versus jimmy, jimmy will always be more well known than any rock guitarist with the exception of maybe Jimi. But that year was the year of Nuno.

[Knebby]

Interesting info from you all--but I don't ever remember Bettencourt as being a more popular guitarist than Page, even given Jimmy's years out of the limelight.

I know. That's laughable.