Whole Lotta Led

Well guys, the date has finally arrived. After weeks and weeks of borderline hysteria from people old enough to know better, tickets changing hands for ridiculous sums of money on ebay, a quickly knocked out best-of compilation and several million press inches, today is the day that the mighty Led Zeppelin play their reunion show to 'honour the life and work of Atlantic Records founder, the late Ahmet Ertegun'. Not to cash in on their outstanding legacy and legions of devotees from all corners of the globe. No-sir-ee-bob.

As you'd expect, Zeppelin have been on everyone's lips since it was first announced, way back in the mists of August that they were to reform (with the obvious exception of dearly-departed drummer John Bonham) and inspire the kind of musical rapture not seen since those legendary Queen gigs at jam-packed Wembley Stadium at the fag-end of the 80's. So it's quite right that they've been splashed all over the papers, magazines, and all those crazy blogs out there in cyberspace (I'm taking a virtual bow). Now, I know that I have already breached the topic of Led's reformation on this page, but I feel that it warrants more attention for a couple of reasons.

The first reason being that it has awakened a whole new generation of people who, until three weeks ago were unaware that a guitar has 6 strings, to the massive, exciting, sometimes terrifying world of rock n' roll. Parents all over the country have been getting all misty-eyed and sitting junior on their knee to regail that classic tale of the time back in the 70's when they took too much acid and thought that by listening to the drum beat of 'Ramble on' they had figured out the meaning of life. Or the incident with the groupie and the red-snapper fish (or shark depending on who you believe). Everyone has been quick to declare their love of Zeppelin, especially in the case of sunday newspaper columnists who wouldn't know their 'Rock and Roll' from their 'Kashmir' if it were staring them in the face. Still, undoubtedly a good thing overall eh?

The second miracle is that the reunion has completely eclipsed the other so-called mega musical event of the year; the Spice Girls reforming. These five ghastly, obscenely rich, vomit-inducing excuses for human beings thought that they'd be the centre of attention again for miming along to their musical atrocities while flailing around the stage in their too tight catsuits, under the illusion that anyone actually gives a flying fuck, but gloriously, due to the return of the Zep, their hideous excuse for 'musical talent' has passed by more or less unnoticed. Instead, I'm reading fantastically humble stories about how the only things requested on the LZ rider is tea, coffee and an ironing board. A far cry from the cash-obsessed void of intelligence that the Spice Girls inhabit.

So, all that remains is for the three old boys (and one younger son) to stroll on stage, plug in their instruments, and let us have it good and proper. They won't be as lively, there might be the odd bum-note, but you can bet your arse it'll be worth it. Long Live Led Zeppelin!