Many bands have decided to attempt the seemingly impossible feat of replacing a lead singer, but few succeed. For every Brian Johnson there are two dozen Paul Rodgerses and Gary Cherones and Tony Martins making us roll our eyes. Sometimes it’s barely an issue, particularly for smaller bands or ones yet to hit it big (or ones where vocals have little influence). But as NME recently reported, Led Zeppelin is strongly considering going on the road and even recording a new album without Robert Plant on vocals. If the reports validate themselves in the future and plans proceed as expected, this will be soon become known as the stupidest fucking decision in the history of rock and roll.
It’s not as if Plant had a falling out with Jimmy Page or John Paul Jones. He just finished a tour with Alison Krauss and simply has no plans to hit the road again in the near future. So instead of exhibiting patience or, better yet, letting a sleeping dog lie, the two other living Zeppelin members are considering going ahead without him (with the late John Bonham’s son, Jason, on the drumkit). 
So, if these reports turn out to be true—which might be a load of shit considering most of this so-called news is being funneled our way courtesy of Page’s manager, Peter Mensch—will such an act tarnish the legacy of Led Zeppelin? Is it really fair to judge them based on a boneheaded decision made many, many years since their heyday and initial end? After 1980, they said the band was done for—wisely, they realized they couldn’t continue without Bonham, one of the greatest rock drummers to ever pick up the sticks. But now they might forge ahead without Plant, inarguably one of the two or three best rock voices the planet has heard. This is Led fucking Zeppelin: the biggest, baddest rock band ever. If they plan on continuing without him, they’d better at least have the decency to change the name of their group (or wear paper bags over their heads to hide the shame). I suspect returns may be less New Order and more Altar Bridge.
But I think the void is wide enough to keep them safe. It’s not like The Simpsons, where the quality grade made a nosedive in a few short years and just won’t fucking end—it’s been almost thirty since the last original Zeppelin release. Would a new album ruin them? No. The mediocre Endless Wire and even worse The Weirdness didn’t deflate anything for other rock legends. But it will ruin the day of anyone who decides to show up for a concert expecting Led Zeppelin.
Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones want to keep working—I get it. They love to play, and thank the deities for giving the world their enormous talent to enliven our daily grind, but this is the devil at work should they proceed without Plant. Not the “cool” evil mysticism, either (the kind Page loves), but the icy force at play that lets Bush get re-elected and allows the Jonas Brothers to call themselves a rock band.
Let’s hope that this is all mere speculation. They haven’t picked a replacement yet, I’m sure. Should they decide to solicit and audition other singers, they’ll probably realize that it’s just not working. Or perhaps Plant will change his mind and join them anyway. My only fear: the almighty dollar. These long awaited reunions and dinosaur tours are almost always about the same thing—cash in pocket. And in these economic times, there’s not a lot that people (including myself) wouldn’t do for some more dough. Should it happen, I hope they charge five hundred dollars or more for a seat so only wealthy idiots will waste their time and money on a second or third-rate product. ‘Cause Page and Jones are incredible, but it just ain’t Led Zeppelin without that hippie wailer leading the way.
Read the NME article here.
Update: According to Music Radar, the speculation has been shot down and Mensch assures us that it won't happen because auditions for new singers weren't working out. It's almost enough to make me believe there is a divine spirit in this universe.
