Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Jimmy Page still undecided on new singer for group with John Paul Jones, Jason Bonham

No particular singer has yet been confirmed as teaming up with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham for an album and tour, Page's manager disclosed to BBC Radio's "6 Music."

In an interview, Peter Mensch of QPrime told Matt Everitt that all his client, Page, needs to complete his planned group with Jones and Bonham is a singer who would "fit their bill" for the musicians to "make a record and go on tour."

Once Mensch mentioned that he manages Page, Everitt asked about the possibility of collaboration among the pair of original Led Zeppelin members with Bonham and a new singer. (Everitt worded the question very laudably, without resorting to asking about a Led Zeppelin reunion, which was the reason interviewers last year failed to get any useful information about the project!)

To the question, Mensch replied:
"Listen. They did the show with Robert Plant. They had a really goodtime rehearsing -- the three of them, before Robert showed up -- and they decided if they could find a singer that they thought was, you know, fit their bill, they would make a record and go on tour.

"And I support that because -- why not? That's his job. It's like my job. I'm gonna manage acts until either every one of my acts tells me I'm too old to manage them or I die on a tour bus. This is what I do! You know.

"John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page enjoy playing with each other. You know, Jason Bonham's a really good drummer. So, we just have to find a singer."
Everitt asked if last year's rumor of Steven Tyler sitting in to rehearse was true, and Mensch answered:
"I can't comment on any rumors right now. And we're not soliciting people, so don't call me!"
A report by XFM summarizing Mensch's comments incorrectly calls him Led Zeppelin's manager. In truth, Mensch manages Page only, while Jones and Bonham retain their own individual managers.

When Page collaborated with Robert Plant in the 1990s, Page switched his management over to Trinifold, which Plant was using at the time and still does today.

Plant says he is not interested in reuniting Led Zeppelin at least for some time.

This interview provides the most current official insight on the possibility of a future collaboration among Led Zeppelin members since November, when Rolling Stone reported a quote from a QPrime representative who said of the forming lineup:
"Whatever this is, it is not Led Zeppelin. Not without the involvement of Robert Plant."

5 comments:

  1. This appears to have been contradicted by Mensch already, who is really speaking out of both sides of his mouth if this, newer report is accurate:

    "They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," says Mensch. "That was it. The whole thing is completely over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue. Zero. Frankly, I wish everybody would stop talking about it."

    When asked what new projects Jimmy Page was going to be involved with in 2009, Mensch said, "F*** if I know. I'm waiting to hear."

    http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/led-zeppelin-are-over-says-jimmy-pages-manager-190946

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  2. Thanks for your comment (and for the censorship). I just added a separate news article. Strange development indeed.

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  3. Frustrating, huh? It's hard to understand why Jimmy doesn't seem to want to record or step on stage unless Plant is involved. I was really juiced to hear NEW material with John Paul Jones, who is the best musician in the world for jimmy to be working with.

    It's a shame...

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