Robert Plant, the iconic frontman of Led Zeppelin, once described the band’s legendary reunion concert at the O2 Arena in 2007 as being “too heavy” for him. The performance left him feeling overwhelmed, and he decided to slip away afterward to enjoy a few quiet drinks by himself.
The prospect of another major reunion for Led Zeppelin has been the subject of countless rumors and discussions among fans and even the band members themselves. However, Plant spoke against all of these rumors, making his disinterest clear in reuniting the band.
Despite the undeniable success of the O2 Arena concert, Plant has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the reunion. Even though the event was a significant achievement, it didn’t bring him the satisfaction that others might have expected.
The concert was held in honor of Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records, who passed away that same year. Ertegun was a towering figure in the music industry, and it was only fitting for Led Zeppelin to pay tribute to him with this special performance.
Given Ertegun’s role in shaping the band’s success, it was only natural for Led Zeppelin to express their gratitude. He believed in the band from the beginning, and they, in turn, had faith in his vision. The anticipation for this reunion was immense, and the level of interest was truly unmatched.
When the reunion was announced, millions of fans were eager to get their hands on one of the highly coveted 20,000 tickets. Around 20 million people tried to secure a spot at the concert, demonstrating the incredible demand for Led Zeppelin.
The performance at the O2 Arena allowed Led Zeppelin to leave their mark on history once more. However, unlike the others involved, Robert Plant wasn’t interested in using this as a stepping stone for a full reunion. While a world tour might have diminished the magic of their London performance, Plant’s reluctance allowed the band to end on a high note.
In a 2012 interview with Mojo, Plant reflected on his discomfort during the event. He even felt the need to protect himself, staying guarded in his backstage dressing room.
He recounted a moment after the show: “Twenty minutes after we finished, the Gallagher brothers were leaning on the door of my dressing room. One of them said: ‘You’re the real f***king thing, you are.’ I said: ‘I’ve known that all down the line but I think you need to go a little further round the corridor, next door on the left.’ And with that, I left quickly.”
Plant added more to the story, saying, “I ended up in the Marathon pub in Camden, drank four bottles of Keo lager and half a bottle of vodka, then went to bed. Because I had to get away from it. I’d done it. I had to go. It was too heavy. Beautiful, but talk about examining your mortality! Crazy.”
Not only did Plant distance himself from the event, but he also firmly ruled out any future reunion possibilities. In a conversation with Rolling Stone, he explained, “I’ve gone so far somewhere else that I almost can’t relate to it. It’s a bit of a pain in the pisser, to be honest. Who cares?”
He continued, “I know people care, but think about it from my angle – soon, I’m going to need help crossing the street.”
Plant concluded with a reflection on his journey: “You can’t ever really go back. It’s tough enough repeating yourself with something that’s a year old, never mind 49 years old. I’ve got to keep moving.”
