Reunion tours can be magical—or a total disaster. For some bands, it’s like reliving the glory days with old friends. For others, it’s a painful reminder that lightning rarely strikes twice. In the case of Led Zeppelin, the prospect of reuniting has always come with immense pressure, and while Jimmy Page has never hidden his desire to get something going, reality has consistently gotten in the way.
Let’s start with the obvious: no one can replace John Bonham. His son Jason has done a commendable job stepping in over the years, but no matter how tight his playing is, it still feels more like a tribute than a true continuation. Bonham wasn’t just the drummer—he was the thunder behind Zeppelin’s storm, and without him, something vital is always missing.
But Bonham isn’t the only irreplaceable element. Robert Plant and John Paul Jones were just as essential to the band’s identity. While Jimmy Page and Jones have shown interest in jamming with other artists—including rockers like Myles Kennedy or Steven Tyler—calling anyone else “Led Zeppelin” without Plant at the mic would feel like sacrilege to longtime fans.
What complicates things even more is Plant’s career outside Zeppelin. Unlike his bandmates, he’s thrived in a solo world that moves far away from the old blues-rock roar. His critically acclaimed collaborations with Alison Krauss have steered him into folk and Americana, a far cry from the Howlin’ Wolf wails that once defined his vocals.
Yet despite the assumptions, Plant hasn’t always shut the door on Zeppelin. In fact, following the band’s explosive reunion show at the O2 Arena in 2007, he reached out to Page about possibly doing something low-key—something acoustic. But what Plant got back was silence.
“Jimmy’s like a clockmaker,” Plant later said. “A couple of years ago, I said, ‘If you’ve got anything acoustic, let me know. I’ll give it a whirl.’ It was hands across the water. But he walked away. Just walked away.”
That brief exchange reveals a lot. For all the talk of Plant being the reluctant one, Page may have been just as hesitant—at least when it came to doing something that didn’t match the expectations of fans. After all, anything with the Zeppelin name would come with massive weight. Could an acoustic set satisfy those hungry for the thunder of “Kashmir” or “Black Dog”? Probably not.
There’s also a creative divide. Plant has evolved, embraced new styles, and experimented in ways that Page, still rooted in classic hard rock, hasn’t always followed. Their musical languages may no longer align—and that makes a true reunion feel like an uphill battle.
Still, the door isn’t completely closed. With John Paul Jones still active and Jason Bonham ever ready, the pieces for a reunion are technically in place. All it would take is the right idea, the right timing, and perhaps a willingness from both Page and Plant to meet each other halfway.
No one’s expecting a new album. But a tour? One final celebration of what they built together? That’s something fans have been waiting for—and might still be hoping to see before it’s too late.
