Robert Plant Revives Pre-Led Zeppelin Group, ‘Band of Joy’
By Travis Woods
Miss classic Led Zeppelin? While a reunion’s just not gonna happen – I don’t care what you say, a Led Zeppelin without John Bonham is not Led Zeppelin—former Zep frontman Robert Plant is currently touring with his new band, Band of Joy, and bringing the heat as if it were 1973 all over again.
According to Bloomberg, the new group and tour, named for Plant and Bonham’s pre-Zeppelin band of the mid-1960s, has found the geriatric wailer stepping onstage with his shirt unbuttoned, curly hair flowing, and bashing away at such Zep tracks as “Houses of the Holy” and “Misty Mountain Top” (“This next song is about outdoor pursuits in public places”). It’s about as close to the real thing as a Zeppelin fan is going to get, by the sound.
In addition to such classic material, Plant and Co. have been bringing out a trove of unusual covers, from sad bastard tracks by Low to tunes by Richard Thompson. It might not be the reunion Led Zep fans have been living and dying for, but it doesn’t sound half-bad, either. Also, be sure to check out Band of Joy’s new disc when it drops on September 14th.
What do you think of Robert Plant’s new tour/ band/ record?
Saturday, September 4, 2010 1:39PM
On youtube I watch a couple of the songs played by this Band of joy, I was shocked how bad it was. I know led zeppelin is in the past for Robert plant, so should the music, he is not giving the music of Led zep justice, the slow hill billy sounds do not work for songs like Rock and Roll, or House of the Holy, if plant wants to go at it on his own he should stop playing the music that made him Famous. Robert Plant has enough material to do a full show with out ruining the sound of Zeppelin.
I have seen Plant 2 times and 2 times with jimmy Page, and the last show I remember with Page was the best I have seen! This new stuff is not for me, I am not a Hill Billy and wont follow you down this one Plant!
Sunday, September 5, 2010 8:25PM
i could not say it better!!been a fan all my life seen him 4 times and i just cant take the way he is doing zep tunes,it does not work at all .i think to sum of his solo stuff would fit so much better. and if this is what makes robert happy slow gospil and country am all for it ,its not for me.he has given me so much good music i cant bash him for this.just dont kill zeppelin.