"How Many More Time" we'll we see Zep?

When it comes to one of the greatest rock bands, arguably the best, of all time; Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham have nothing to worry about. Like them or not, Led Zeppelin will always be cemented as the epitome of rock and roll.
After playing a reunion on December 10, 2007 at O2 Arena in London. Fans have wanted, wondered and hoped for a tour that could make astronomical amounts of money. Not that anyone in the band needs it, but it’s a statement of how much the band has meant to music. Their influence is like a Zeppelin sun, where as most artists fall into the shape of planets. They revolve around this sun, never able to reach its magnitude and importance, but always gravitationally pulled towards this sun.
Rumors have been speculating that Page, Jones and Jason Bonham, replacing his deceased father on drums, have been trying to coordinate a reunion tour. Again according to rumor, the only deterrent to this has been the unwillingness of lead singer Plant.
“Robert has no intention whatsoever in touring with anyone else in the next two years,” said his record company according to www.rollingstone.com. Plant has been touring and promoting his current project with Alison Krauss.
Reading different blogs, a lot pro and some anti, about what the band should do. I think it boils down to answering a variety of different questions. The pro-community arguments are extremely valid. Zeppelin has been one of the most influential bands of all time and believes that a reunion tour can help replicate what the band was able to do from the late 60s to the early 80s.
A fan must remember the age of the band and the state of mind the members were in during their early years. It was a lot different variable such as: drugs, alcohol, women and lifestyles. These have changed over the years. Not to take away from their music genius, but these factors had an influence on the way that Zeppelin conquered the music landscape. They worked as innovators and true industrialists.
As a proponent for a Zeppelin reunion, I still don’t think true Zeppelin fanatics will be able to afford the cost of a Zeppelin concert. People were paying $3,000 a ticket for their last show. The prices are going to be ridiculous and the people attending the concert are going to be largely consisted of wealthy people who don’t appreciate the music as true fans, but more as a social event that everyone is talking about. I know I am being snobbish and critical, but these people that aren’t as deserving of the privilege to see Zeppelin as others. It’s not fair, but that’s the way it will happen. People who hang on every note of a stretched out Page solo or follow the range of Plant’s once remarkable range probably won’t be in the front row anywhere.
True fans will appreciate that Zeppelin cannot perform as powerfully as they once did, but seeing Zeppelin is a musical power in its own right. I would love every moment seeing the guys working together as a biological organism. A life force that is Zeppelin, but I also understand the pitfalls.
This is some of the arguments for the anti-community. I completely understand that they do not want to see Zeppelin struggle to get through a set. I don’t think that would ever be the case, but no one wants to see a less than perfect Zeppelin. They believe it is not fair to the legacy and maybe this is Plant’s way of quietly avoiding something like this.
It doesn’t matter what Plant chooses to do. He is rock royalty and his decision’s should be treated as so. Thinking that Plant is going to be able to hit the notes of “Communication Breakdown”, “Immigrant Song” or “You Shook Me” is a tall shot of Jack Daniels to take down.
There are compromises on both sides that could be made. Like studio sessions of the band working together or performing at creative venues. They could do acoustic sets to fulfill the needs in them and their fans, but not at electric speeds and fury of stadium shows. All-in-all there is logical arguments and reasons for pro’s and anti’s. It’s just a shame that so many of us weren’t born in the age of Zeppelin.

General Without An Army

The NightWatchMan, usually referred to as Tom Morello, released his follow up album “The Fabled City” on Sept. 30. The guitarist, of “Rage Against the Machine” and “Audioslave,” is releasing the first single titled Whatever It Takes.
Whatever it Takes gives a Morello sound full of pedal work and scale driven verses. The provocative aspect of the NightWatchMan is that Morello uses a classical guitar. Using a classical guitar, mixed with Morello’s pedal choices, it gives an abrasive yet bright and “bass”ful sound. It doesn’t sound as tired and murky as an electric guitar might have. Morello, as always, pushes the envelope of what sound should and could be.
Short and stocky verse lines, equipped with heavy descriptions of hardship allow Morello to hit on the social imperfections of the time. Morello uses his vocals in a Johnny Cash tempo, mixed with the outbursts of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springfield. As a politically aware individual, as can be seen and heard in the work of Rage Against the Machine, Morello uses the influences of these three artists quite well.
The song itself is engineered and constructed in a way that’s more noticeable in a “Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers” track. It has powerful guitar focus, but keeps it behind the sultry vocals of Morello and his lyrics. Heartbreakers guitarist, Mike Campbell has been known to use the quote,” Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.” Letting Petty be the great leader he is. I think Morello has a lot to say, but sometimes keeping it short allows people to hear all the emotions that are going into a track. Morello does a great job of this. I am here, listen up, I got something to say, it wont take long.
Whatever It Takes does an outstanding job of not just making a political statement, but more of a social statement. The video represents this extremely proficiently also. Today’s music videos are stretched and beaten forms of advertisement. Meaning nothing more than a product being sold, creativity has taken a back seat to money. Yet, there are still a lot of creative forces still out there, but just not shown to the masses. I think this video is a good example of this gift. There isn’t the glitz and glamour of a Britney Spears video. This video is real and full of life. Taking place on the streets of L.A., Morello is partaking in the life of normalcy. The kind of life most everybody lives. These are the people needed to be protected and they aren’t in the current systems of government. It’s not just the government’s problem, it’s all of ours and that’s Morello saying he’ll be there for whatever it takes. A message we should all be dedicated to.
Morello is talking to all of us. Asking us if we have the fortitude to be something more? People can’t just play the blame game, people have to help each other and make change. Little nuances in the video play out like blinking gas prices in background and Cesar E. Chavez St. close-ups. This video can be seen at http:
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