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
Man, you can’t go to any music website without “Plant doesn’t want to do a Zeppelin reunion” story repeated 20 different ways. Just like the obligatory “Paul Stanley hates Ace & Peter” story I’m over it. I’d love for it to happen but I can just IMAGINE the ticket prices for this!!!! I’d be worried they’d be priced way over your average Zeppelin fans budget!!
I’m SO skeptical about this whole story. (1) It’s the London’s Mirror – not exactly the paragon of journalism. (2) There is not one direct quote in this story. Everything is credited to a “source.” (3) Branson isn’t a concert promoter.
Plant’s publicist has already dismissed it as ‘rubbish’.
A tour would probably be to much but some new music from the studio wouldn`t be. I`m sure the magic could be conjured up and some quality music would be the outcome.
I actually feel the exact opposite. New music would really tarnish the legacy .It would not be anywhere close to the past and would make it look like they can’t write good stuff anymore. Almost all bands have a window of their career/life where the magic happens then its just average 10,20,30 years later.
Now the live show if they would have continued in 07 ( 7 years earlier on Plants voice for those songs) They could have played off shows here and there or took nights off in between shows like Brian did on the Black Ice tour .
All the fans that have been inspired by them and supported them but were too young , would have had a chance to see them. Obviously Plant still likes to tour …..
I thought the O2 concert sounded really good considering , And when I watched it for the 1st time on blu ray with the big screen I was blown away. I actually got goose bumps but, I was also sad because I will never be able to see that live .
I just wish I was older in the 70’s caues the only show my parents took me to was Kiss.
Im not agreed with Robert¡ the hardcore fans wants more from Zeppellin, tour, other album, like sabbath make an amazing album¡ its not about money, its to see one of the greatest band play again, im sorry by this this guy but Robert is an asshole¡¡
Whhhooooaaahhhhhh!!!! How ya doin’ eddietrunk.com wwwoooooowwwllll!!! People in the back let me hear ya!!!! I can’t hear ya!!!!! Awwww hey I guess they all left after Def Leppard! Anyways you know once upon time we made Kisstory when we did our own little reunion tour make some noise!!!! Ok, ok after about five years into this reunion I looked at gene and said Gene, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss are still drunks and drug addicts! That’s right people!!!! All the animals on the floor make some noise!!!! Whoa awww hey. Ace kept missing flights and was arriving to our shows at the last minute drunk as can be yet still kicking gene and I’s ass every night! Peter kept insisting that he write all the songs or he would quit the band. Finally one day I looked at gene and said gene, we can pay Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer a fraction of what we pay Ace & Peter without the drama whhhoooo!! They can impersonate Ace & Peter on stage and we will still give the fans what they want, the spaceman and the catman oowwwww!! People the next day Ace and Peter were gone let me hear ya!!!! Critics to this day never got it, everybody wants to be KISS, nobody is better than KISS and nobody writes better song lyrics than yours truly whooooaahhh! If you don’t believe me, just pick up a copy of my book where every chapter, every chapter features a verse or two of my historic lyrics leg me hear ya!!!! Ultimately the critics and Ace Frehley’s and Peter Criss’ of the world fall by the way side and we keep rocking n rolling and taking your money!!!! This next one, this next one comes off of Sonic Boom! You people, you people have made all of our dreams come true despite Gene & I lying to you over the years. This one is a lyrical masterpiece people. I wrote this one on the sofa in the lobby of a motel 8 in Birmingham Alabama. You ready? This one’s called Say Yeah a 1, 2, 3,4….
Real-Paul,
Did you advise your friend Jimmy Page to take a page from Kiss and dump Robert Plant for an imposter and go on tour?
“Animals in the back” – Animalize tour”
Good stuff Real Paul !!!