In a recent interview with the BBC about the upcoming reissue, guitarist Jimmy Page said he was sure fans would be enthusiastic about seeing another reunion show, similar to the one the band did at London’s O2 seven years ago.
“I’m sure people would love to hear it,” Page said. “I’m not the one to be asking, I don’t sing.” Frontman Robert Plant on the other hand was unequivocal in his response about the possibility of a reunion, rolling his eyes while telling the broadcaster the chances of the band performing live again are “zero”.
The three album reissues will be released in June and will feature dozens of previously unheard recordings. Teasers of two of the tracks, an early version of Whole Lotta Love and blues classic Keys To The Highway, were previewed on the BBC.
The reissues will feature alternative versions of songs, works in progress and live performances, all recorded at the time of the original albums. Page, 70, said he has spent two-and-a-half years combing through the band’s vaults and listening to hundreds of tapes before choosing the best material.
“I don’t want to die and have somebody else do it,” he said. “I’m authoritative about what was done in the first place.” Page told the BBC the new material “deserves to be heard” because “it’s performance art”.
He also revealed it is “reassuring” for him to revisit Zeppelin songs after all this time. “It’s undeniable that we’re good,” he said. “The band was the real deal.” Plant, 65, however, took the nostalgic experience a little differently, saying it offered him a new perspective.
“My enthusiasm sometimes got in the way of finesse,” he said of listening back to the band’s early recordings. “I listen to it and go, wow, why didn’t I shut up a bit?. I kind of overcooked it.” Page promised “lots of surprises” on the three reissues, which are part of a larger plan to reissue all nine of the band’s studio albums in chronological order.
Plant offered an extra piece of advice for eager fans when listening to the reissued records. “These things aren’t to study,” he explained. “They’re to turn up very loud and say, hey, once upon at time, everything was just as easy as this.”
