Robert Plant didn't turn down 500 million to reform Led Zeppelin

The Mirror's source turns out to be incorrect

Andy Morris

09:04 10th November 2014

Updated: Robert Plant's publicist has described the report as 'rubbish' that Robert Plant turned down an offer of 500 million to reform Led Zeppelin.

According to the Mirror, the rock god was offered a 35 date tour organized by Richard Branson who planned gigs in Berlin, New Jersey and at London's O2 Arena. Branson had already got approval from Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones who both wanted to accept for almost $300 million apiece (with Jason Bonham also being paid handsomely to perform).

However Plant's publicist has told the Guardian that there is no truth in the rumours, describing them simply as 'rubbish'.

Page recently announced that it is very unlikely that Led Zeppelin will ever play again. Speaking to NME during a playback of the remastered editions of both Led Zeppelin IV and House Of The Holy, the guitarist explained: "I don't think it looks as though that's a possibility or on the cards, so there's not much more I can say about that.

"I'm not going to give a detail-by-detail account of what one person says or another person says. All I can say is it doesn't look likely, does it?"

The announcement comes after Robert Plant has repeatedly expressed his lack of interest in reforming the band. He told a Moroccan press concerence earlier this year that Page "needs to go to sleep and have a good rest, and think again." The Led Zep frontman explained: "We have a great history together and like all brothers, we have these moments where we don’t speak on the same page but that’s life."

Plant went further with Uncut in June. "I feel for the guy. He knows he's got the headlines if he wants them. But I don't know what he's trying to do. So I feel slightly disappointed and baffled."

Recently Plant also told the title that he preferred playing with his new group. "We’ve been all around the world, setting places on fire and it’s so much better to do that than to bathe in the tepid bathtub of old hits."

Jimmy Page recently announced that he may be releasing a new solo album in 2015.

In 2012 Robert Plant said to a journalist who asked about a Led Zeppelin reunion: "We're pretty good at what we do but the tail should never wag the dog, really. If we're capable of doing something, in our own time, that will be what will happen. So any inane questions from people who are from syndicated outlets, you should just really think about what it takes to answer a question like that in one second. We know what we've got, you know."
Jimmy Page told Rolling Stone in 2012: "Some of us thought we would be continuing, that there were going to be more concerts in the not-too-distant-future. Because there was a lot of work being put into the show.[Plant] was busy. He was doing his Alison Krauss project. I wasn't fully aware it was going to be launched at the same time. So what do you do in a situation like that?"
"They are Capricorns and don't say a word. I'm not the bad guy. You need to see the Capricorns - I've got nothing to do in 2014." - Robert Plant, talking on 60 Minutes in 2013 hinting at a reunion this year?
Michael Eavis talking to Ireland AM this year, discussing his wish to have the band play Glastonbury: "That will happen one day. I'm sure of it. They will do it."
Robert Plant to Rolling Stone in 2014: "You%u2019re going back to the same old shit. A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that%u2019s shitty about about big-time stadium rock. We were surrounded by a circus of people that would have had our souls on the fire. I'm not part of a jukebox!"
Jimmy Page addressing the Glastonbury rumours in an interview with Shaun Keaveny during a BBC Radio 6 interview. "I haven't heard about anything since the 2007 O2 gig, but you never know do you... you never know what's going to happen tomorrow, do you?"
Jimmy Page to the New York Times this year: "I was told last year that Robert Plant said he is doing nothing in 2014, and what do the other two guys think?%u201D Well, he knows what the other guys think. Everyone would love to play more concerts for the band. He%u2019s just playing games, and I%u2019m fed up with it, to be honest with you. I don%u2019t sing, so I can%u2019t do much about it."
Robert Plant to the National in 2014: "I think he [Jimmy Page] needs to go to sleep and have a good rest, and think again. We have a great history together and like all brothers, we have these moments where we don't speak on the same page but that's life."

Photo: Wenn