Led Zeppelin to reunite for Ahmet Ertegun Fund

NME, Rolling Stone and others are reporting that Led Zeppelin is back for a one-off charity gig in November for longtime Atlantic Records chairman Ahmet Ertegun's Education Fund.

NME: "Led Zeppelin will reform for a one-off show at the O2 Arena in London, it was confirmed today (September 12). The show is being held to raise money for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which pays for university scholarships in the UK, US and Turkey. Led Zeppelin will feature original members Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, while Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham, will play with the band. The band will also release a new best of compilation 'Mothership' on November 12. Promoter Harvey Goldsmith said at the moment the band "have no plans to tour but hopes they will". He added they were enjoying working together again and were currently planning a two-hour set for the gig."



Rolling Stone: "The incomparable Led Zeppelin will headline the tribute to the man who founded Atlantic Records in 1947. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones will be joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham. In addition, Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, Foreigner and Paolo Nutini, all touched by Ertegun’s guiding hand over the years, will play on the night. Paolo was the final British artist that Ahmet mentored."


Sounds cool - I was never a huge Zep fan back in the day (I preferred short, sharp, singalongs to long, thundering epics), but I've warmed more over the years to touchstones like "Physical Graffiti" and "Houses of the Holy." For true longtime fans, though, this could be the biggest news of the year, especially in light of news that the fall tour of Zep-torch carriers White Stripes is crashing and burning.