I've said it before: I'm neither a Zep nor a Plant fan, I just don't relate to anything the guy does, sings, says or writes. Esoteric old hippie. But to the Zep organism as we know it, he's irreplaceable. As Page's floundering career after Zep's demise has amply shown, he's pretty much useless without Plant as his foil. Plant's solo career on the other hand wasn't bedded with roses either, but it did have one thing: artistic credibility. The fact that he's not saying yes to a reunion (and laughing all the way to the bank) shows
- he doesn't need the money,
- Zep is something he revisits witha tune or two in his concerts, but he doesn't want it to become pivotal for his current life.
I'll give him credit for that. Even if to this day I don't have a clue what Stairway to Heaven is about and why we should all remember laughter. Certainly not Zep audiences. A most unhumorous and solemn-faced bunch. Even worse than the Pink Floyd audience and that is saying something. I go to a lot of rock concerts in two piece suits because I go there straight from the office: Judas Priest, Marilyn Manson, Deep Purple, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Motörhead, Kiss, Leonard Cohen, Roger Waters, Velvet Revolver, you name it. I generally don't change, it think that is silly. The only rock concert where I was ever hit by a wall of contempt because I wear a friggin suit was the Led Zep devotees audience at the Plant/Page tour some years back.
Uwe
