Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page recently talked about the reunion of Led Zeppelin to perform at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 “was really not very clever”. He recently spoke at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on October 13. He reportedly blamed Phil Collins, who played drums for the 1985 performance alongside Tony Thompson. He noted that as one reason behind Led Zeppelin’s poor performance that day.
Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin’s reunion
Page said Led Zeppelin was “in real trouble” after a drummer struggled to learn the opening song, “Rock And Roll,” according to a report in The Times.
Page spoke during the festival, according to The Times:
“The drummer couldn’t get the beginning of ‘Rock And Roll. So we were in real trouble with that.”
Page reportedly said that the 1985 reunion “was really not very clever.” He referred to the 1985 reunion as one of “two unfortunate incidents,” presumably including Led Zeppelin’s reunion on May 14, 1988 for Atlantic Records’ fortieth anniversary. Ozzy Osbourne Guitarist Explains How He Felt After Firing
Jimmy Page talks about Led Zeppelin’s reunion in 2007
Page also told the literature festival that Led Zeppelin made sure to thoroughly rehearse before the band’s reunion show in London on December 10, 2007.
“If we were going to stand up and be counted we needed to do a proper job. I think it was a superb concert. There were moments when my hairs were standing on end when we were playing. Unfortunately it was just the one show.”
Page told the event that he had been particularly nervous for the 2007 reunion performance:
“A lot more more could go wrong. I didn’t want to be the one making the mistake.”
