Re: Astbury's slip of the lip

[Steve Thomson <stevethomson_mtl@xxxxxxxx>]

Steve,

You're saying what I've been saying lately too. It
doesn't have to be an either-or thing. The
longstanding excuse Plant and to a lesser extent Jones
have always given for no Zeppelin has been no Bonzo.
Plant opened the door slightly in 2003 when he said he
was just a singer and was waiting for Jones and Page
to come up with viable new music, but other than that,
it's been the same old refrain. Now that they've come
to the conclusion that with Jason on drums, they can
in fact be considered "Led Zeppelin", there is no
valid excuse for not doing it other than "this kind of
music is not where I'm at any more" or else "I don't
like these people." Plant could conceivably want to
continue the bluegrass exploration, but as far as SS
goes, he portrayed it as doing the Zeppelin
exploration of new music thing without Led Zeppelin
simply because LZ wasn't available. Now a form of LZ
IS available. 

This being said, as I wrote before, there's nothing to
stop him doing SS, Krauss or whatever style work at
one point then popping into the studio or onstage with
Jason, John and Jimmy for a Zeppelin project, just as
Allison could easily do here project with Percy then
do a Union Station album. In other words, Led Zeppelin
is his "traditional music outlet" just as US is hers.
It's all a matter of will. If Plant (or the others)
stops looking at Led Zeppelin as this monster or
albatross from the past and views it as a viable
musical vehicle then to quote Percy "nothing is
impossible and there are a thousand futures."

As for Astbury, I think it's probably a case of
someone in his entourage maybe saying, "Hey if LZ does
a tour let's try to get the openin spot." and then
Astbury tries to engage in a form of self-fulfilling
prophecy. I don't mind the Cult. They were a bit
pretentious at times, but still provided a welcome
jolt of rock throughout the glossy haze of the 80's. I
don't think Zeppelin, if touring, would go for a band
with that style opening for them. Something a bit more
obscure, artistically challengining or world-music
related would perhaps be cooler. I think it would also
be less likely to nudge Percy towards another of his
"damn I don't want to play these big cold arenas
anymore" moments like he had at the end of '98.

We'll see....

--- Steve Sauer <sauerlemon@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Oh, I don't know. I can't fault Billboard for
> digging up that
> quotation from Jimmy Page in 2003. I find it
> completely relevant.
> 
> He said you never know, it could happen under the
> right circumstances.
> Those circumstances are pretty much in the here and
> now. Not
> completely, as you'll see. I can identify at least
> eight potential
> roadblocks:
> 
> 1. This Dec. 10 show has to come off with a hitch.
> 
> 2. The guys have to remain energetic and devoted.
> 
> 3. The guys have to stay healthy.
> 
> 4. The guys have to identify with a genuine reason
> to do more
> collaboration. This isn't a simple one!! "Do it for
> the fans" isn't
> good enough.
> 
> 5. Plant has to be able to expand continually, be it
> with Alison
> Krauss for the time being or the Strange Sensation
> for the long run.
> 
> 6. The other guys have to respect that.
> 
> 7. The other guys have to realize that they are free
> to complete their
> own side projects (Jason with Foreigner, Jonesy with
> solo album, Jimmy
> with the world wide open).
> 
> 8. They have to give 100% when they're in Led
> Zeppelin, and if that
> takes up three months out of a year, then they are
> free to do whatever
> else the other nine.
> 
> Anything else???
> 
> I mean, there's no given that Led Zeppelin will tour
> in 2008 with the
> Cult or with anybody. Sure, they may have venues
> booked already, but
> there's no real penalty for pulling out of a show or
> tour to which you
> haven't committed.
> 
> I think Page's quote from 2003 stands up. It just
> goes to show you,
> though, that when you plug it in, it takes a lot
> more than just
> personalities jelling and music jelling. It takes
> understanding and
> cooperation and sacrifices. These guys just have to
> be up for the
> challenge.
> 
> Steve "The Lemon"
> 
> On Nov 21, 2007 9:43 AM, TangerineMan
> <tangerineman@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Even Billboard mag is running with this now:
> >
> > http://tinyurl.com/3amq35
> >
> > Although they recycle the same quotes from Page
> that we've been
> > reading for the past few days, and even dip back
> into 2003 for more
> > Jimmy quotes about the possibility of touring.
> >
> > Not very credible, if you ask me...
> >
> >
> 
> 



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