What is and What May Never Be: Zeppelin, A Reunion Thirty Years Trampled Under Foot

When Americans take the month of September into perspective, there's most certainly one event that triggers a mass effect of remorse and human emotion, and we know it to be September 11, 2001. A day where countless innocent lives were taken from us by a freedom hating group of peoples known as Al Queda. Death in this piece is prevalent but nowhere near the losses occurring on 9/11. I am taking it to a personal level, and a rock and roll level at that. What dark times the month of September has wrought in American History, and the History of Rock and Roll. Legends such as Johnny Cash died in 2003, The Who's drummer Keith "the Loon" Moon in 1978, and guitar vitruoso Jimi Hendrix in 1970 all passed on in September. Though, through all the previous deceased artists listed above, two deaths on September 25, 1980 shook the rock and roll world to the bone. Eccentric drummer of Led Zeppelin, John "Bonzo" Bonham, was found dead at fellow band member Jimmy Page's mansion after consuming the equivalent of forty shots of vodka in a two hour span. With Bonham's passing, the band imploded and disbanded as well.

Led Zeppelin had formed in England in 1968 and put out their first self-titled album the same year with only spending thirty hours in the studio. We had Bobby Plant on screaching vocals, Jimmy Page on his Gib Les Paul, John Paul Jones on the Fender bass and Vox keyboards, and of course the anchor for the rythym section John Bonham on drums. At this time in history the British Invasion started to dwindle and the people felt entitled to something new, vibrant, and radiantly fresh. That something new was Led Zeppelin and it would take less than year until Zeppelin exploded onto the American scene just as the Hindenburg had previously done in 1937.
The U.K. had somewhat of a cold desposition toward this new bluesy, electric, heavy rock and roll band so ultimately, Zeppelin found a calling in America and gave its disinterested youth something to talk about and years later even blog about. Over a twleve year span Zeppelin produced and released eight solidified albums in the U.S. and U.K. Hell, they were even so good that by 1974 they created their own record label called Swan Song Records and signed a young and upcoming group lead by vocalist Paul Rodgers of the band Bad Company previously the singer for the band Free. A little factoid about Paul Rodgers is that he would go on and create a band in the mid 1980's called The Firm with Zeppelin's Jimmy Page. Zeppelin's last successful studio album "In Through the Out Door" came out in 1979 and it seemed the band would last for another twelve years. But the constant flow of drugs, alcohol, permiscuous sex, and life on the road is enough to break any bond or spirit.
Zeppelin's road manager Richard Cole got the call about a member's death in 1980 presuming it was Pagey due to his heroin addiction. Never did he suspect the strongest and most boisterous personality of Zeppelin would be the first to meet his demise at age 32. Since that melancholy day, Led Zeppelin's three remaing members have never set foot on stage together since. They have made appearances but nothing like the way Iwould like to see take place on stage. Plant states that without Bonham there is no Zeppelin. I agree to a certain extent but look at success stories such as the Who. They lose two original members and yet they're even playing in Super Bowl XLIV. Did the Rolling Stones quit when Brian Jones died in 1969? They most certainly did not, in fact thier old wrinkled carcasses still light up the stage to this day. These three bands in Zepp, the Who and Stones are arguably the greatest rock and roll bands ever. Without them there is no rock, there is no roll, just a little synthesizer bar and a club beat. I have been praying for the three remaining Zeppelin members to say, "Hey it's been 30 years, I think 'ol Bonzo would be cool with us tearing it up again." All three men are in good health and John Paul is the oldest at 63. Shit! I mean Mick and Keith are pushing 67 and still give us what we lust for.
All I want is for Zeppelin to make an appearance or two and that can't be too much to ask, can it? They have been beating around it for years and I am sure they can still put butts in those seats. Please, Zeppelin fans it has been too too long that we have been waiting for a reunion so band with me and say to John, Jim, And Bobby, " Stop being Heartbreakers, cuz we gotta Whole Lotta Love for you to Ramble On with your careers, and take our hearts and minds Over the Hills and Far Away to the Misty Mountain Hop."