Classic Rock Reunion Woes: No Zep And Floyd Tours…Yet

Fans looking forward to reunion tours and albums from two of the biggest rock bands of all time, may just have to wait a bit longer.

In two reports published within 48 hours of each other, both Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour appear to have squashed persistent rumors of the two most anticipated rock reunion tours ever...at least for now.

Hopes for what would undoubtedly be record shattering tours by the enduring classic rock giants were raised in recent years by a pair of one-off reunion shows. Most recently, Led Zeppelin reunited last year for a London tribute concert for the late head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun. The classic lineup of Pink Floyd, including both Roger Waters and David Gilmour, meanwhile played together for the first time in twenty five years at Bob Geldof’s 2005 Live 8 benefit concert, which was televised worldwide.

“There have been all sorts of farewell moments in people’s lives and careers which they have then rescinded, but I think I can fairly categorically say that there won’t be a tour or an album again that I take part in,” Gilmour responds to the lingering rumors, in a report published Tuesday at MSN.com.

“It isn’t to do with animosity or anything like that. It’s just that I’ve done that. I’ve been there, I’ve done it.” Gilmour will release David Gilmour Live in Gdansk a double concert album and DVD on Sept. 23 for Columbia Records. The set includes live versions of such classic Floyd songs as “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and “Echoes.”

While most Floyd fans will readily admit that a reunion of the notoriously feuding Gilmour and Waters was probably a long shot, hopes were considerably higher for a Led Zeppelin tour featuring all of the surviving members, plus Jason Bonham filling in on drums for his deceased father, the great John Bonham.

Some rumors had a Zeppelin tour getting underway as early as this fall, after Robert Plant finished touring commitments with current musical partner Alison Krause. Those plans also appear to be on hold…at least for now.

According to Rolling Stone, Jimmy Page was asked about the reunion over the weekend during a press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival press conference for the documentary It Might Get Loud, and had this to say:

“We’re not actually recording,” Page said. “Playing at the 02, that was our reunion and it was one day and it was at the 02 in London. And basically that was it because if you’re going to do a reunion, you need four members. John Paul Jones, myself and Jason would sort jam afterwards but it was nothing as monumental as people are speculating.”

As the rumors continue, and the plot thickens we at Cinema Blend promise to keep you posted.