USA: Surviving members of rock band Led Zeppelin and the son of late drummer John Bonham walk the star studded red carpet of the U.S. premiere of their tribute concert movie "Celebration Day"

Record ID: 220918

  • Title: USA: Surviving members of rock band Led Zeppelin and the son of late drummer John Bonham walk the star studded red carpet of the U.S. premiere of their tribute concert movie "Celebration Day"
  • Date: 10th October 2012
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 9, 2012) (REUTERS) ***CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS BAND MEMBERS OF "LED ZEPPELIN" AT PHOTO-OP VARIOUS OF JIMMY PAGE, GUITARIST OF "LED ZEPPELIN" TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) JIMMY PAGE, GUITARIST OF "LED ZEPPELIN" SAYING: "I think we've done a pretty good job with this. And people will get a chance to
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2012 13:00
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  • Location: Usa, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA2YGA00BU2OGX3T9T6T2MRS7VR
  • Story Text: British rockers Led Zeppelin walked the red carpet on Tuesday (October 09) for the New York premiere of the concert film based on their 2007 charity performance in London.
    Founding members singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones were joined by Jason Bonham, the son of late drummer John Bonham.
    The film, called "Celebration Day" and directed by Dick Carruthers, was taken from the long-awaited reunion of one of rock's most successful acts.
    Page, the lead guitarist of the band said that they film will offer a unique experience for fans.
    "People will get a chance to see the communication between us on stage and the passion that we have. I think that's conveyed very well within the film," the 68-year-old rocker told Reuters.
    The band broke up in 1980 after the death of Bonham, but despite repeated calls from millions of fans to get back together to tour and record, reunions have been fleeting and, by their own admission, unsatisfactory.
    But in 2007, the members, along with Bonham's son and drummer Jason, took the stage at London's O2 Arena for a tribute gig to Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun.
    It was the first headline show by the band in 27 years, and according to Cineworld, the cinema chain which will screen the movie in Britain, it was the most over-subscribed gig in history after more than 20 million people applied for 18,000 tickets.
    The 2007 concert was for Jason Bonham a special occasion.
    "It's an ultimate dream come true. Anybody here if they could find an instrument, if you had the chance to play with Led Zeppelin, you'd take it in any form account. So I am looking forward to watching this as anybody else," he said.
    When asked what the legacy of the band was, Plant said they "just joined in with everybody else," and "just had a great time."
    Bassist Jones was humbled by the loyalty of the band's fans and had a few heartfelt words.
    "If they are still out there, they are probably my age to start. Take care, take it easy, take it slow, and thank you very much."
    The band, one of rock's biggest acts with global album sales estimated at up to 300 million, has famous supporters who came out to see the movie.
    Among them is Metallica's Kirk Hammett who called "Jimmy Page" his "idol and then some."
    Also present was Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley who recalled the moment he first saw Led Zeppelin on stage.
    "It was a revelation to see a band that great," Stanley told Reuters.
    "And to actually know the guys now and share memories and talk of the future and the past it's awesome," he added.
    Mick Jones, guitarist of British-American rock band "Foreigner" was present at the 2007 reunion concert to close the first half of the show.
    "Just being there that night the anticipation in the crowd, it was like a one-off -- supposedly, I don't know what their plans are but it was the closest you get to Led Zeppelin for a while and maybe for a while to come. I don't know."
    The theatrical release of "Celebration Day" will be across 1,500 screens in more than 40 countries, followed by an audio and video release on November 19.
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