Jimmy Page Forming New Band, Says Led Zeppelin Reunion 'Doesn't Look Likely'
The legendary guitarist previews his old band's new masters and details what a solo tour and posthumous biography might look like
By Mark Sutherland | September 30, 2014
Jimmy Page has finally faced facts: Robert Plant is just not that into a Led Zeppelin reunion.
Speaking Tuesday in an onstage Q&A at the London launch of the latest batch of Zeppelin reissues, Page – who has agitated for a more permanent reunion ever since the band's triumphant one-off 2007 show at London's O2 Arena – finally seemed to rule out the band playing together again.
"I don't think it looks as though that's on the cards, so there's not much more I can say about that," he said. (Although, for once, Page declined to put the blame at Plant's door). "I'm not going to give you a detail-by-detail account of what one person says and another person says," he added. "All I can say is it just doesn't look very likely."
However, that doesn't mean you won't ever hear Page play Zeppelin classics again in a different setup, as the guitarist revealed plans to put a new band together and play live next year. "If I was to play again it would be with musicians ... some of them might be new to you," he said. "I haven't put the musicians together, I'm going to do that next year.
"If I went out to play again, I would play material that spanned my recording career," continued the musician. "I'd go back to the very early days, [including] Yardbirds material, and it would certainly have some new material as well. And I'd hopefully play all of the things I'm known to play – instrumental versions of 'Dazed and Confused' etc. etc."
At the former Olympic Studios in Barnes, West London (where Zeppelin often recorded, although the building is now primarily a restaurant/cinema), Page also unveiled some of the previously unreleased versions of songs that will feature on the reissues of Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy, set for release on October 28th. Songs on the companion discs accompanying the remastered original albums include the renowned Sunset Sound Mix of "Stairway to Heaven" and versions of "No Quarter" and "Black Dog" that place the respective contributions of bassist/keyboard player John Paul Jones and late drummer John Bonham even higher in the mix.
"It was really important to showcase everybody's talents within this project," Page said. "Listening to John Bonham is just a sheer celebration of his playing – it can't help but fill you with so much joy."
Both of the reissued albums have sold tens of millions of copies around the world, figures rarely – if ever – approached by modern artists. But Page declined to compare eras, describing "the Led Zeppelin of then and the new bands of now" as "two completely different worlds."
"But it's fair to say," he added, "Because Led Zeppelin weren't having to worry about doing singles, each time we went in to record, it was a body of work for an album. So you could get the shift and the movement forwards as opposed to having to be rooted back to a single that might have been done a year ago.
"I prefer to hear an artist's work and what they can do so, as far as I'm concerned, I'd get a lot more out of a collection of songs, to be able to understand what the musician is doing. The album's not dead for me; I still buy vinyl albums."
Page is also releasing a new version of his picture autobiography, although he said the full written story will have to wait. "I'd want it to be published posthumously," he said. "There's two good reasons for that; the first thing is you can't get sued, and the second thing is, you don't have to promote it."
Whether such propriety leads to a thawing of his relationship with Plant, of course, remains to be seen.
It's about friggin time! I would love to see Jimmy. A few nights at the Beacon sounds about right!!
I for one would love to see Jimmy making great music again. 
I will never understand how a player like Jimmy stops playing. Players play man !
He should call the Black Crowes again. I never got to see them 15 years ago when he toured with them.
I love Led Zep and would love for Jimmy to tour and release new music but he has been saying he would since Plant Page ended in the mid 90's so I will believe him when I see it. I am not holding my breath.
Maybe he'll tour to support the new Allman Brothers album.
saw him solo in 88 three timed with plant(who said that his solo days were over ) then he left page hanging in 98 and then a black crowes show.Much better then the plant shows which had the black crowes open,strange enough.
Page/Crowes in 99/00 was one of the best rock n roll shows I've seen. They were true to the Zep sound while Chris Robinson didn't try to sound like Plant. It worked really really well IMO. Steve Gorman really had the bonzo style down and Jimmy worked really well with Rich and Audley Freed.
They were supposed to play MSG with the Who and I had tickets but Jimmy hurt his back and that was that. The Who were awesome but that could of been an incredible night if both bands played. Last time I saw the Ox but I digress.
I never even heard mention or even any real acknowledgement of Page/Crowes from Jimmy or the Crowes in the following years. Did they part on bad terms ? Did the Crowes just want to do their own thing was the Chris and Rich drama too much for Jimmy to deal with ?
It's crazy to me that such a great line up just sort of fizzled out.
Page/Crowes in 99/00 was one of the best rock n roll shows I've seen. They were true to the Zep sound while Chris Robinson didn't try to sound like Plant. It worked really really well IMO. Steve Gorman really had the bonzo style down and Jimmy worked really well with Rich and Audley Freed.
They were supposed to play MSG with the Who and I had tickets but Jimmy hurt his back and that was that. The Who were awesome but that could of been an incredible night if both bands played. Last time I saw the Ox but I digress.
I never even heard mention or even any real acknowledgement of Page/Crowes from Jimmy or the Crowes in the following years. Did they part on bad terms ? Did the Crowes just want to do their own thing was the Chris and Rich drama too much for Jimmy to deal with ?
It's crazy to me that such a great line up just sort of fizzled out.
FWIW Page did sit in with the Crowes a couple years ago
I just saw Robert Plant last week and he was fantastic, a world-class rock star, his voice and stage presence undiminished. He played many well-chosen Zeppelin tunes as well as material from his new album. Just a great show. It is right that he will not reunite Led Zeppelin. There is no dignity for him to sing Stairway to Heaven and all the obligatory songs in arenas across the country. Plant is a forward-looking artist who does it on his own terms and I, for one, am grateful. It sounds like Jimmy Page is finally coming to grips with it and good for him.
Robert Plant is still making great music, but are you really saying his voice is "undiminished" from his glory years?
Plant's voice was diminished by about 1977, not to mention now.
He has learned how to sing very well in his new range, and I enjoyed seeing him at Wanee a few years ago. I agree with everything else you said, but I couldn't let the idea that his voice is undiminished pass without comment.
I am a HUGE Page fan. Probably my favorite guitar player and one of the main reasons I picked it up 30 yrs ago.
But I would not hold your breath on Jimmy doing anything. He has said over the years he was putting something together, band etc... it never happens. I am not sure why, but ihe does nothing.
I really enjoy what Robert has been doing over the last 10 plus years. Being creative and exploring music. I think Zep is done as far as new material.....unless Jimmy gets off of his butt and starts writting new stuff. Robert has mentioned in interviews numerous times that he wants to make new
creative music and not ride the past so much,which I dont blame him. I think if Page would get up and start doing something new and fresh , Plant might hear him out. But it wont happen if Jimmy does not take some sort of initiative and really wants to spearhead some sot of project with him.
John Paul Jones would be a big factor too. I would like to see him really involved ....he has got the goods, more than what people think.
If I were to lay a bet on something, I think chances are greater with Dickey being on stage with the ABB than Jimmy doing anything with a band.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
When I say "his voice is undiminished", I am talking about an instrument deployed by an artist to full effect. I am talking about a 66-year old Robert Plant still able to channel all the art, balls, expression and mojo of the same Robert Plant that gave us chills in 1975. Unlike so many other aging singers, he does not sound like someone struggling or someone different. He is still THAT GUY. I do not mean he hits all the same high notes or sings in the same range. That does not matter. He sounds as good or better than he did in his 20's. Decide for yourself (and buckle your seatbelt):
When I say "his voice is undiminished", I am talking about an instrument deployed by an artist to full effect. I am talking about a 66-year old Robert Plant still able to channel all the art, balls, expression and mojo of the same Robert Plant that gave us chills in 1975. Unlike so many other aging singers, he does not sound like someone struggling or someone different. He is still THAT GUY. I do not mean he hits all the same high notes or sings in the same range. That does not matter. He sounds as good or better than he did in his 20's. Decide for yourself (and buckle your seatbelt):
I agree...Robert still can sing, but like you mentioned , the range and high notes have changed. No big deal to me. He has a great voice and is doing just fine now.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
Jimmy Page Forming New Band, Says Led Zeppelin Reunion 'Doesn't Look Likely'
Not losing any sleep here
