Jaw-dropping Led Zeppelin news to start the new year with – Jimmy Page’s manager has confirmed that the remaining members of the band are planning to reform. But they’re going to replace Robert Plant and they’re going to take this new act on tour and into the studio to record a new album.

From the report – which I just read on NME – Peter Mensch (a far more reliable source than The Sun) told BBC 6Music that Page and Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones enjoy working together, and that John Bonham’s son Jason seems to be more than happy to sign on as drummer.

Jimmy Page has been playing guitar professionally since he was 16 years old. Jimmy Page likes being a musician. That’s what he does! He doesn’t want to be a race car driver or a solicitor.

So they [Page, Jones, Bonham] did the show with Robert Plant; they had a really good time rehearsing, the three of them, before Robert showed up.

And they decided that if they could find a singer that they thought would fit their bill – whatever their bill was at this stage in their career – that they’d make a record and go on tour.

And I support that because, why not? That’s what Jimmy Page does. That’s his job, his hobby, his vocation.

John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page enjoy playing with each other, Jason Bonham is a really good drummer so why not? We just need to find a singer.

Now, this is totally unprecedented stuff for a band of Led Zeppelin’s stature – replacing an iconic lead singer like Robert Plant, who incidentally was named the greatest vocalist in rock by NME recently.

Naming the band?

This immediately begs the question(s): will the project be called Led Zeppelin? Who owns the rights to the name? Can Page resurrect the band without Plant’s consent, or will Plant happily give the project his blessing? Will the fans accept a reformed Led Zeppelin that doesn’t feature Plant?

Funnily enough, I was listening to Zep’s Coda album the other day, with excellent versions of I Can’t Quit You Baby and Wearing And Tearing. Don’t you wonder what the band would have come up with if they’d continued?

To be honest, I don’t think they can get away with calling the new band Led Zeppelin. It just won’t be. Call it something tongue in cheek, like Stairway to Zeppelin. Shit, why not call it Lead Balloon? OK, maybe Led Balloon.

And who’s the new singer?

From all indications, the band are nowhere near recruiting or confirming a new singer at this stage. Aerosmith are just about to hit the studio to start work on their long-delayed new album, so the rumors about Steven Tyler taking over the role are probably ill-founded.

Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell has been suggested as a possible new singer, and that’s an interesting option because he’s currently without a band, is an excellent vocalist and might take the band in interesting directions creatively. He’s also on the verge of recording a solo album, so is he a plausible replacement for Plant? Hope so.

I wonder if Page’s original choice of singer for Led Zeppelin – Steve Marriott – is available for the gig? I’m pretty sure Jimmy won’t have to worry about broken fingers this time around!

Anyway, as I hinted up above, if this rumor had come from the tabloids, I’d be severely sceptical. But coming from Jimmy Page’s manager, the news is exciting and has me wondering what the future holds for Zeppelin. And much as I’d miss Plant, how exciting to see most of the band back together again?

Must dig out that Walking Into Clarksdale album again…