Joe Tacopino of New York Post reports:
Robert Plant and the other living founding members of legendary hard-rock band Led Zeppelin were about to ink an $800 million contract with Virgin Atlantic billionaire Richard Branson to play a reunion tour, but the iconic band’s singer ripped the contract to shreds in the final moments, a report said.
Founding members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones signed on immediately when the flamboyant investor offered the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers the staggering amount to perform just 35 tour dates in three locations including London, Berlin and New Jersey, according to the UK’s Mirror.
But Branson was left stunned when the 66-year-old Plant tore the agreement to pieces right in front of the concert promoters, the newspaper said.
“There was an enormous sense of shock,” a source told the Mirror. “He said no and ripped up the paperwork he had been given.”
Guitarist Page and bassist Jones were all set to perform along with drummer Jason Bonham, who has filled in for his late father, John Bonham, in the past.
They gave their cranky frontman two days to think about the historic reunion, and he turned into a real heartbreaker for fans who have dreamed of another reunion tour.
“It was a no-brainer for them, but Robert asked for 48 hours to think about it,” the source said. “They have tried to talk him ’round, but there is no chance. His mind is made up and that’s that.”
And it’s not likely that the band can hire a replacement for Plant’s unique voice.
“There is no way they can go ahead without him,” the source said.
Branson, a tremendous fan of the ’70s rock band, reportedly pulled out all the stops to get the “The Song Remains the Same” rockers back on stage together.
The founder of Virgin Group was planning on renaming one of his jumbo jets “The Starship” and having the craft ferry the stars around to their gigs.
He was even going to have the staircase of the jet renamed the Stairway to Heaven after the band’s landmark hit.
“Even his money was not enough to get Plant to sign up,” the source said, adding that the tycoon was very upset by the singer’s diss.
The band last played together, with Jason Bonham filling in on drums, during a tribute concert at London’s O2 arena in 2007.
The band has been notoriously cranky about whether it would ever reunite, with Plant even calling one reporter a “schmuck” during a press conference in 2012.
source: pagesix.com
69 Responses
Robert Plant is the one that I believe truly gets Zeppelin ended in 1980. I was listening to their last show last night….was still such a great band when it came to an end. Leave what is left of the mystique in tact for good. It isn’t Zep. Zep ended 34 years ago.
Good for Robert –
When John Bonham died Led Zeppelin died with him and that’s that.
Nobody mentioned KISS. Tommy Thayer is a really good singer who can hit the high notes. Page and Jones should hire Thayer at his usual rate of $12.00 an hour and pocket the rest of that loot. I think that would be an excellent tour and a fitting end to the best of the best. Plant is correct, just let it go and the rich should stop trying to buy everyone and thing.
I figure there will be a press release today from Gene and Paul today saying they turned down a billion dollars to re-unite with the original members of Kiss. They got this offer because they were bigger than Led Zeppelin, wrote the original songs for Spirit that Zeppelin ripped off, designed the symbols for the fourth Zeppelin album, actually built Page’s double neck Gibson, and, they stole the money from the Drake Hotel safe in an “Ocean’s Two” caper.
They were actually considering the offer until they heard it came from a guy named Eddie from New Jersey.
Dont forget, besides being bigger then Zep they have more toys too !!
Gene Simmons gave Jimmy Page his first guitar and introduced him to Robert Plant.
Funny you brought up KISS. Imagine if the same offer from Richard Branson ($800 million) went to all four original members of KISS (Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter) to perform the 35 shows at the aforementioned locations in full make-up. The $800 million will be split evenly between all four. You know Ace and Peter will sign up. You know Gene likes $. So that leaves Paul. Will he sign on to perform with two maybe three guys he supposedly can’t stand? Or will he rip up the contract like Robert Plant?
If John Bonham were here to be interviewed he’d say “give what the people want, whatever makes them happy”. The guys kept this under their tongue in every interview. Plant was a bore in an unsold 2,000 venue in Denver a few weeks ago. Guess Plant wants a billion figure. AEG might hit their loan department. Multiple singers might work, Tyler,Wilson,Smyth,Kennedy. The Rose Bowl might be full a few times.
Nobody will see Zeppelin without Robert Plant. IMO that is the purpose of the offer in the first place.
Lee I think you might be missing the point just a tad. Plant isn’t interested in doing a tour. He has said it multiple times. He is 66 years old and wants to do what interests him now. He doesn’t need the money and he enjoys what he is currently doing.
I think the one show they did at the O2 was a perfect farewell. It gave the fans the chance to see the band one more time.
If true that Plant tore up a $850 million
contract then with all due respect he’s a
moron. This has to be the last chance
Zeppelin will ever get. No one will care
anymore when they’re pushing. I’m sure
John Bonham is proud to have his son
filling in for him