Jason Bonham on Led Zeppelin: ‘I Do Think We Will Play Again’

Drummer also talks band's one-off reunion and Robert Plant-less side project

Published by

December 20, 2015

Led Zeppelin

While any hope of aÂ Led ZeppelinÂ reunion was again put on hold afterÂ Jimmy PageÂ announced plans for his own 2016 solo tour, drummer Jason Bonham revealedÂ in a new interview that he still believes that the rock legends will eventually reunite. “In my heart of hearts”¦ I do believe we will play together again,” said Bonham, who filled in for his late father John on drums at Led Zeppelin’s one-off reunion show in December 2007. “It remains to be seen if it will be in public or privately, but I do think we will play again.”

In the Vanyaland interview, Bonham also talked about Robert Plant’s decision to step away from Led Zeppelin following the gig at London’s O2 Arena and the all-star side projectÂ that almost toured instead, with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy among those who auditioned for the vacant singer spot. “I had a personal talk with Robert, and what we talked about was very special, and I totally respect his wishes. It was between us and I’m grateful that we had time to talk about that,” Bonham said.”Then I got a call from Jimmy’s manager at the time, and we were going to get together and do a side project. So basically me, Jimmy and John Paul Jones got together on a few occasions to see if we could do something. We started writing together, and there was a possibility of a couple of different singers ”” which has all been documented now. As Jimmy said, ‘We were never gonna call if Led Zeppelin.’ We had a great time; I love Steven [Tyler] and I love Myles [Kennedy] ”” they were both great. It’s a very special memory in my life.”

AlthoughÂ Bonham believes a Led Zeppelin reunion will happen, Plant didn’t share his optimism in a 2014 interview with Rolling Stone. “You’re going back to the same old shit,” Plant said. “A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that’s shitty about big-time stadium rock. We were surrounded by a circus of people that would have had our souls on the fire. I’m not part of a jukebox.”

Page also recently revealed his own plans to embark on a 2016 tour with a “totally different” band backing him. “There will be all sorts of material from different eras,” Page said (via Guitar World). “Right across the board; that’s the way I’m seeing it. But like I said, there will be surprises.”

Daniel Kreps