Page's Manager Says Zeppelin "Over"

01/08/09 12:36pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

If Jimmy Page's manager knows what he's talking about — and we're not entirely convinced that he does — there won't be a Led Zeppelin-like reunion after all.

Q Prime's Peter Mensch — who told Britain's BBC 6 Music earlier this week that his guitar-playing client, bassist John Paul Jones and "Bonzo Junior" drummer Jason Bonham were auditioning singers to replace Robert Plant in anticipation of touring and recording — has now told MusicRadar.com that things have changed.

"Led Zeppelin are over! If you didn't see them in 2007 [when they played a one-off reunion at London's O2 Arena], you missed them. It's done. I can't be any clearer than that."

Mensch acknowledged that the three musicians had auditioned vocalists after known ladies man (if banging a lot of groupies and dating Alannah Myles makes you a ladies man) Plant decided he'd rather spend time writing, recording and touring with bluegrass star Alison Krauss than his former rock cronies. But apparently no one could live up to the standard they were seeking.

"They tried out a few singers, but no one worked out," said 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."

If Mensch didn't get fans' hopes up in the first place, people might stop talking about it. And saying two different things to two different media outlets doesn't really help things either.

So with Zeppelin now "completely over," we bet Page must have some pretty interesting things on tap to occupy his time. How about it, Mr. Mensch?

"Fuck if I know," he told MusicRadar. "I'm waiting to hear."

With Mensch obviously so on top of things, will anyone be totally surprised if Page, Jones and Bonham announce next week that Chris Cornell, Myles Kennedy, Steven Tyler or, hell, even Will.i.am will replace Plant?

The Black Eyed Peas member remixed U2's forthcoming "Magnificent," and The Edge says Page's guitar playing inspired songs on the Irish band's imminent No Line On The Horizon, so it all makes perfect sense. Or at least it probably would to Kanye West.