FILE: File of interview with guitarist Jimmy Page and earlier performances before the eagerly awaited reunion concert

Record ID: 726034

  • Title: FILE: File of interview with guitarist Jimmy Page and earlier performances before the eagerly awaited reunion concert
  • Date: 13th December 2007
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND UNITED KINGDOM (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) JIMMY PAGE SAYING: "I was told at one point that were were half a billion hits. I don't know how true that is, but it sounds better than, you know, five, doesn't it?
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2007 12:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVACSNM4YZPXY4HWNWHZC3TOI3W2
  • Story Text: Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said he was confident of performing at the reunion concert of today (December 10), despite sustaining a broken finger on his left hand during a fall a few weeks ago.
    The British band, which has sold around 300 million albums, plans to perform one track for the first time at the gig, 27 years after they split, the silver-haired 63-year old said.

    "I suppose something like a Zeppelin reunion wouldn't be right without a bit of drama," Page told Reuters in an interview, referring to the recent accident.

    "I'll tell you now, this is 2-1/2 weeks from the injury and there we are, it's doing that," he said, holding up and moving the injured finger. "It's going to be fine for the concert. I'm able to do what I ought to be able to do, it's just a bit bruised and a it's bit painful still, but with this two weeks' postponement ... it's going to be fine." Page said he would resume rehearsals this week.
    Led Zeppelin are getting back together to pay tribute to the late Ahmet Ertegun, who originally signed them in 1968 before they became one of the world's biggest bands.
    Demand for tickets was so great that the website crashed when millions of fans tried to log on. One fan paid 83,000 pounds (GBP) (170,000 U.S.
    dollars) for two tickets in a charity auction.

    "I was told at one point that there were half a billion hits. I don't know how true that is, but it sounds better than, you know, five, doesn't it?" Page said.
    Ticket holders will be treated to a 90-minute set at the domed 02 Arena where the band is expected to play seminal hits like "Whole Lotta Love", "Communication Breakdown" and "Stairway to Heaven".
    Page expects one track to be new to everyone.

    "There's one number that we rehearsed, I assume that it will make it to the Dome, that we never played at any point in time."
    It dates from when the band was together between 1968 and 1980.

    "It's a really intense number."
    As well as the concert, Led Zeppelin have released a compilation album "Mothership", a remastered version of the concert film "The Song Remains the Same" and the soundtrack to the DVD.
    The December 10 gig has led to speculation in the media and among fans that the band, which has played only a handful of times since it split, could tour together, following in the footsteps of countless other heritage rock acts.
    Page has been quoted as hinting at a full reunion although some industry sources say that lead singer Robert Plant, who has enjoyed a successful solo career, may be reluctant to sign up.
    Page and Plant play alongside bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham, son of John Bonham, whose death in 1980 prompted Led Zeppelin to break up.

    "Let's just do the O2 and we'll see what happens from there,"
    said Page.
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