Led Zeppelin to replace Robert Plant?

Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant perform live for a tribute concert to Ahmet Ertegun , 02 Arena, Greenwich, London, December 10, 2007. Pic: Getty Images

According to reports Jimmy Page and co. have been rehearsing with a new singer

Oct 13, 2008
32 Comments
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Led Zeppelin have replaced their frontman Robert Plant with American singer Myles Kennedy, according to reports.

MuchMoreMusic claims that Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham have been rehearsing with Kennedy recently, after Plant issued a statement quashing rumours of a reunion tour and album.

On September 29 Robert Plant issued a statement saying Led Zeppelin would not record or tour with him in the line-up.

The claim came after Twisted Sister's Dee Snider supposedly leaked details of the rehearsal sessions.

Snider described Page, Jones and Bonham as saying to Robert Plant: "We're all rehearsed, we're ready to go. Here's a gazillion dollars on the table.

"If you don't do it, we're going out with this kid [Kennedy]. And he can sing the shit out of Zeppelin And they're gonna hope that Robert, at the last minute, will go, 'OK', and step in."

Myles Kennedy is a singer/songwriter/guitarist from Washington who currently fronts rock band Alter Bridge.

Watch the video interview with Snider at http://blog.muchmusic.com.

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Comments (32)

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jeepcat

Oct 13, 2008

Led $eppelin Tour

ed2005

Oct 13, 2008

Touring with Jason Bonham in place of his Father is one thing, but with someone else is one thing, but touring with someone else in place of Robert Plant? Please. What next ? Jon Paul Jones touring with session musicians as Led Zeppelin? hang on, I shouldn;t give them ideas...

Big Graeme

Oct 13, 2008

No Percy? no Zep. End of story.

chrispaz

Oct 13, 2008

Fucking terrible idea. The Doors with Ian Astbury was shit, Queen (who are crap anyway) with Paul Rogers was shit, INXS with some other bloke were shit. I can't believe Page would even consider taking Led Zep on tour without Robert Plant.

Del Gland

Oct 13, 2008

This is so wrong!!Myles Kennedy is one of the best classic rock style vocalists around at the moment but not for Zeppelin.I have the utmost respect for Plant to appreciate that his work with Alison Krauss is more important to him. Having seen them together, I can tell others that he is performing at the highest level with a sense of dynamics and control in his voice that few could match as well as introducing a new genre to many out there. It's not that crazy really as Zeppelin always had folk undertones..I love Zeppelin but this is a total "cash cow" as it is not really anything like Zeppelin without Bonham and Plant. Of course, I would love to hear the clasics again but it's just a corporate exercise and rubs against the principles of rock and rollHowever, I am really excited about the potential Faces and Mott The Hoople reunion rumours.

bragdad

Oct 13, 2008

Couldnt agree more with above comments. Plant wants to concentrate on his work with alison Krauss, having just come off tour. They should wait till he's ready, and if he's not, then it was never meant to be....As huge zep fan I would rather them leave it as it is than tour with some guy filling in for Plant. The tour could (and probably would) be slated, and then whats left of all the positive reviews of the ahmett tribute O2 arena gig....it'd be like leaving their legend on "in through the out door" again, and no one wants that!!!

jorges

Oct 13, 2008

Shameful and disgusting. What the hell is wrong with you Page? Robert Plant is my new hero; Who the hell else walks away from money these days? A true gentleman...

rubbersoul7

Oct 13, 2008

ed2005, John Paul Jones was always the best technical musician in Led Zep. Of course he can't even think about doing a tour with session musicians but it sounded like you were singling him out a bit there. For him to suggest such an idea would be just the same as Jimmy or Robert doing so.

never_stop_shaving

Oct 13, 2008

next up; give a warm welcome to nirvana - with that twat from kaiser chiefs on vocals!

ed2005

Oct 13, 2008

rubbersoul7 - I wouldn't contest that John Paul Jones is teh most technically minded, but the point of singling him out was to say that he would be doing a tour without the orginal singer, without the original guitarist, therefore only 1/4 of the band. No disrespect to Jason Bonham meant!

rubbersoul7

Oct 13, 2008

No worries, i understand what you mean. I agree though, this idea is just insane. there is no way they should go ahead without one of the original members. I can accept Jason Bonham being involved being the original drummer's son and all, but any other variation on this would be daft.

Bitchy McNasty

Oct 13, 2008

I'm going to play devil's advocate here. I can understand that Robert Plant is enjoying working with Alison Krauss, but let's face it, it is hardly career-defining work. I feelt that Robert Plant is depriving me of seeing my guitar hero, Jimmy Page, in a live setting. He's done nothing but string the others along for almost a year - will he do it or won't he. I say kick him to to the curb and go on out without him. I'll still go see it. Page is getting no younger and this could be my last chance to see him live.

RealMode

Oct 13, 2008

maybe Robert Plant will pursue a solo career

fenton1990

Oct 13, 2008

SAVE PLANTPOT!

LINK2K9

Oct 13, 2008

You know what? Good. Maybe that will get Percy to get off his ass and start touring with Zeppelin. You just can't do a one of show, get every Zeppelin fan excited, and then go back to do your own shit. Do it for the kids Percy!

whatawasteofspace

Oct 14, 2008

Bet that wanker photographer who hangs around their coat tails won't take credit for this one...he probably will though!

Freiherr

Oct 14, 2008

On 4th December 1980, Led Zeppelin released the following statement: "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." One off shows aside, what would Zeppelin be without Bonham and Page ? The band ended on a high with a "Legend" status. We can not repeat history and time waits for no body. As much as I love Zeppelin, I would hate to see them without Plant. Please, do not turn Zeppelin into Frankenstein.

austrian_zeppelin

Oct 14, 2008

@ jeepcat. money is the last thing on their mind. they turned down hundreds of millions repeatedly over the last 2 decades to reunite. Last year's reunion was out off pure respect to Ahmet Ertegun, and that's the only reason Plant agreed.But all along that was it for him. And while i understand all the no-sayers here, i think if it's done properly there is nothing wrong with it.It won't be under the Zep-Umbrella (that's just coming form the media). I think if they do it as a career retrospective playing everything from the yardbirds, the firm and the various other solo projects there is nothing wrong with it. Plant has throughout his solo career performed zep songs, as has page and jp.If it's done properly these gigs will be fantastic for everyone there. And as the Zep Family has always done things properly (ok with the exception of Live Aid maybe) i am sure it will be fine and i am certainly looking forward to it. After all they are still sensational musicians and that's what it is all about. The rest is just media hype and that's probably the thing that annoy's Plant the most, hence his reluctance to feed the beast and his willingness to explore new frontiers.

kenzen

Oct 15, 2008

Robert you have to do this, I saw you with Kraus. I fell asleep. My 23 yr old daughter fell asleep. All the way to the show I promised her a show to remember. Now I hope she forgets,fast. You were among the three Kings of rock. The Beatles,Zepp, & Floyd. We need you back in the game to give our children a glimps of our amazing past, and for us old heads, hope for what seems to be a bleak future. Please give us something to look forward to. Millions of us are waiting. We will be there for you.

Revolver0001

Oct 15, 2008

OK...let's not forget, people who are for this "reunion"....The singer they are replacing Plant with joined the band CREED after they kicked their singer out!! That alone makes him unworthy to sign Plant's lyrics, let alone Page's great tunes. Plant is doing something amazing with Alison Kraus right now, let's hope he's going to be making another album with her.

shaunyeah

Oct 15, 2008

not led zeppelin then is it, thats like calling babyshambles the libertines, except led zeppelin were amazing and the libertines were very overated

ledzep09

Oct 15, 2008

Jorges, 'shameful and disrespectul'? Jimmy Page? Why because he wants to go out and tour? Why shouldn't he? Robert Plant is enjoying his current gig with Alison Krauss, but if there was no Alison Krauss, maybe he would want to tour with JP and JPJ (well, that's a long shot). But, who cares what Robert Plants wants. Here's what I really think. Robert Plant is not obligated to tour with anyone, including Jimmy Page, or LZ. But, he should be quite grateful to JP for the opportunity of a lifetime. It would be great if only he didn't come off as so arrogant at times. I say, JP, JPJ and JB and whoever might replace RP - play!

ZepKashmir

Oct 16, 2008

Geez people...get it right. He will not be replacing Robert Plant for Led Zeppelin. The new band is made up of Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Jason Bonham and Myles Kennedy in a NEW project. It will not be Led Zeppelin. But think about it as a writer...which will attract more readers "Led Zep with new singer" or "New Jimmy Page, JPJ and Bonham project"? Of course Led Zep would attract more readers so that is what columnists use. C'mon guys, you guys should know this by now that columnists will do whatever it takes to attract your attention to their column. Has Jimmy Page or any LZ crew called it a LZ project? NO, because it isn't, the media is using it as a marketing ploy. Think about it...

ZepFreak

Oct 16, 2008

Myles Kennedy is a bad ass vocalist and I think it would be a freakish dream come true for him to front the biggest band in history. Just as he played the replacement singer for the band in the film "Rockstar" what a fitting role he could play in this reality show soap opera! Led Zeppelin wants to fly again and no one including Plant can stop the mothership from rising if fate calls for it. Myles would throw a unique edge to the classics, and I'm quite sure he could pull it off way better than Grohl, Hagar, Coverdale, or that sissy from the White Stripes. So what if this is a money whores corporate dream....Zeppelin has evolved into more than the sum of it's parts.....fuck Plant....he is a pussy, plus he doesnt have the pipes anymore. At least Paul Rodgers still sounds good at 60....look at the success of Queen with him. Look at the success of Journey without Steve Perry! Let Plant continue to put people to sleep with the folky Krauss Krap....he cant hang with the big dogs anymore. Go Myles!

tadamson67

Oct 21, 2008

I am a HUGE Alterbridge fan and Myles Kennedy will not be a dissapointment to fans. I can totally understand the loyalty that die hard zepplin fans have for RP, but all I can say is try to have an open mind and listen to it before making a call. If you go to You Tube and type in Alterbridget Khasmir, about a gazzilion videos will pop up with them doing this tune in concert. When I saw MK perform this song live at the House of Blues in Chicago I was TOTALLY blown away by MK and how great AB covered this tune. I remember a fan saying that zepplin would be proud to hear another band do so well with their music. Zepplin was a HUGE influence to AB and if you listen to their recent CD "Black Bird", you will here the zepplin influence...very cool. It's probably the reason that zepplin chose to work with Kennedy. Myles has and INCREDIBLE voice. He's probably the best voice in the industry right now...no joke. If anyone would do a great job it would be him. In an addition to having an amazing voice, he is also an awesome front man. It's one thing to have a great voice, but if you suck at being a front man, it's pointless (much live Steve Augerie who replaced Stever Perry from Journey).

Joey Led Head

Oct 27, 2008

An Open Letter:I can understand Page wanting to tour with the new singer. He, like myself is growing impatient with Plant's "Journey" to find his musical roots. We'll Robert, your ten solo albums and various collaborations with artists should be complete by now. We have supported your tours for since 1982. Robert, get over yourself, none of your solo or collaborations could match the musical genius of Zeppelin, without Jones, Bonham and Page you would not have made ten albums after 1980. ZEP fans have supported and helped you with Charitable Endeavors: The Love Concert at the Beacon in 2006.You talked about giving back and unselfishness. How about giving something back to your fans? How about practicing what you preach? I did not support the Allison Krause tour, your Butchering of Black Dog. Why don't you tour and play No Zeppelin Songs if you really feel this way. The reason why people go to see is for the Zeppelin Songs dude! Jimmy Page discovered and saw the potentiaI in you, why do you blame him for it now? I will not go to your solo shows anymore. Bring on Page, Jones, Bonham and Kennedy. I'll spend a weeks paycheck on tickets for that.I was fortunate enough back in 1980 to get tickets for the Buffalo, NY show, then tragedy struck with Bonzo. Please tour for the people who were too young go to concerts at that time and couldn't enjoy them. This Zeppelin fan wants to enjoy the Band for the first time. How about it Robert?

Revolver0001

Oct 27, 2008

Yeah, whatever...he still sang with CREED.

TCAlter

Oct 27, 2008

Revolver0001 Oct 27, 2008 " Yeah, whatever...he still sang with CREED."Have you actually listened to Alter Bridge? It is a completely different style of music from Creed. Also, your opinion is based on faulty facts: They didn't chuck the Creed singer out and replace him, there was an argument and the singer left. Also Creed's music only sucked like it did because Stapp (the vocalist) was the dictator of the band, controlled everything that they did, so therefore it sucked. Listen to Creed's shite and then Alter Bridge and there is a massive difference. It's a complete different genre

Bytor

Oct 27, 2008

I have the perfect solution!They Don't Call It LEd Zeppelin, they call It Led Heart, and Have Ann Wilson do Vocals, and Nancy Play Guitar and they mix the set list up with Zeppelin and Heart material. Could you immagine seeing them all on the same stage performing Barracuda & Then going into Whole Lotta Love! I think it is a brilliant idea!

connoa

Nov 6, 2008

I am inclined to feel that Led Zeppelin should not tour but they should play the occasional gig. When they were at the hight of thie fame in the 1970's they did not tour as such because they were based in LA and simply set off in their aeroplane to a city to perform and then flew back to their LA base. I quite understand that Robert Plant does not want to tour in fact he might dread it. But Robert, if you read these sort of comments I hope you do play more gigs with Led Zeppelin and record them for future generations because there is something special about Led Zeppelin performing live and I suspect you kight regret not performing more gigs. As far as the idea of replacing Robert with another front man well that would be wrong. If it were a seperate project fine but I suspect Jimmy and Jonsey want to re-live their youth. The ultimate mid life crisis.

Carl175

Nov 10, 2008

Robert Plant - If it was not for Jimmy and John Paul, to pick you as the lead singer for Zep, you might not be were you are today. So do it for them. They did it for you!