Ireland announced!

Originally Posted by BelfastBoy

Much as I hate to take this thread completely off-topic as usual, I've found out some more information about Led Zep (admittedly most of this is in the realm of rumours and 'sources close to the band', so beware). Basically, there's only one thing preventing a reunion, and that's Robert Plant, unfortunately. His 2008 plans involve touring with Alison Krauss (UK dates already scheduled with US to follow), and possibly doing another album with her. This is from the Sunday Times, 9th December, when Plant was plugging his bluegrass album but inevitably was asked about LZ:

"The internet is already alive with rumours that the one-off gig will turn into a tour – Ian Astbury of the Cult has even been quoted as saying that they will be the support act – but Plant sounds wary of any further commitment. “Having to live up to something is terribly serious,” he says with a sigh, adding that he has not always been happy with the way their legacy has been perceived, thanks to legions of lesser imitators. “What we thought was really quite original – the hammer of the gods and all that stuff – we didn’t realise the spores would fall in such a way. The whole idea of being on a cavalcade of merciless repetition is not what it’s all about,” Plant concludes, before adding wistfully: “It wouldn’t be such a bad idea to play together from time to time.”

So, here’s the real scoop: the most reluctant Zep member finally says that he’d like to play together from time to time. “I don’t think I said that,” Plant says, looking affronted. I point out that not only did he say it, he said it only a few seconds ago, and it’s on tape. “No, no, no. Somebody else inside me was saying that. Not the bloke from Wolverhampton, the bloke from the land of the ice and snow, the bloke with his shirt unbuttoned down to his waist – and he can shut up. We’re not having any more of that. It was great, but I’ve got to go down the highway now.”

Plant explains the sheer effort involved in escaping the shadow of what was indisputably the biggest group in the world. “I have pushed that rock up a hill since 1980. Every other record I’ve ever made – all of which I’m very proud of – it’s been impossible to get radio. I’ve always been the wrong flavour. Because Gone Gone Gone got elevated to the [radio airplay] Blist, people now know about this record. Sometimes I’m walking along, and I open my nostrils, take a deep breath and I think, ‘I got away, I did it.’ I’m amazed I had the energy to keep it going. My second mind, as the old blues guys used to say, tells me: stick with Alison. We’ve both got our other bands. She’s got Union Station; I’ve got Strange Sensation. And, because the vocal input came after I’d been working with Alison, there’s not a shriek in sight. All gone.”

Make of that what you will. I think that Plant likes the idea of playing live with Page, Jones and (presumably) Jason Bonham, but not the media circus that would inevitably surround them. Everybody else would be up for it, but I don't think Plant can be bothered. He doesn't need the money, and playing in front of huge crowds doesn't seem to appeal to him enough either.