the song remains the same

Jimmy Page still wittering on about Zeppelin's 2007 reunion gig tells Rolling Stone.

“Led Zeppelin wasn't a corporate entity, Led Zeppelin was an affair of the heart. Each of the members was important to the sum total of what we were. I like to think that if it had been me that wasn't there, the others would have made the same decision. And what were we going to do? Create a role for somebody, say, ‘You have to do this, this way?’ That wouldn't be honest.
“There were attempts that didn't work – trying to push it together in a hurry, that's why the show had to be done with such intent – rehearsing as much as we could so Jason felt he was part of the band as opposed to a novelty. He was filling big shoes, and we needed all of that.”

For gawds sake let it go Jim... let it go.

And in last nights 'Later...' (BBC Two) the appearance of Robert Plant and The Sensational Space Shifters, had Jools Holland, renowned for his clunky interviews, asking a visibly impatient Robert Plant (with two of the band sitting alongside)
"So what does it take to be a Sensational Space Shifter?"
to which Robert was quick to reply for his two bemused looking band mates,
"being with old people".
They then proceeded to have a lot of fun performing "Little Maggie".
Which is why you won't be seeing him reuniting anything any time soon.

rock and toll

Yesterday Robert Plant streamed his new album "Lullaby And… The Ceaseless Roar" but as there are 4 (count 'em) adverts embedded into the stream it will not be appearing here. Shame because the tracks sound very good, those that were heard before it became intolerable to suffer the intrusion any longer.
This recent commercial addition to certain videos on YouTube is possibly one of the worst insults to music ever. It breaks the mood the artist creates with an album and reduces the content to a by product of the advertising. It insults the artist and audience in equal measure. Who knows where the advertising revenue goes. As of now it won't be over much with the video only having done 900 hits.
The stream is here if you really want to suffer the commercial nagging.
UPDATE : The stream has now been taken down due to a copyright claim by Warner Music Group.
So how does that work out with the record released on Nonesuch. Who owns what, what owns who?
There is an alternative stream of the tracks but it seems to be only available in Canada. Why that should be is not obvious and equally as stupid.
Oddly, Plant's band and the one that has been named throughout the years gigs "The Sensational Space Shifters" is not even named on the cover of the CD. Recent comments by Plant suggested this might even be his last record.. given this fiasco it might well be a smart move.
(STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN SPONSORED BY STANNAK STAIRLIFTS).

robert plant

Robert Plant's collaborations have been as classy as they are imaginative. The man's got a great ear and obviously the influence for picking quality musicians for the recent solo albums and live performances. In the last few years he's shown up at the WOMAD festival as part of The Sensational Space Shifters, an esoteric lineup leaning into world music combined with his rock and blues roots. He still plays many of the Zeppelin songs but always gives them a new approach. The voice is in fine form.
The guitarist Justin Adams has been a long standing collaborator of Plant's and has previously worked with Brian Eno, Sinéad O'Connor, Lo'Jo and musicians from African, Arabic and Irish traditions.
The addition of Griot master musician Juldeh Camara playing the riti (or nyanyeru) to Plant's group adds a dynamic that only the African musicians can deliver. The blues comes from the heart of their music and Plant knows it.
Here they play a mighty version of Bukka White's 'Fixin' To Die' at the 2009 WOMAD festival. They also performed this at the 2012 event.