February

Plant’s Now & Zen

For his most-direct rock album since his solo career began, Plant openly acknowledged his Led Zeppelin past. Jimmy Page appeared on two Now & Zen tracks, ‘Heaven Knows’ and ‘Tall Cool One’, and was credited by the ‘ZoSo’ symbol. Elsewhere, Plant sampled elements from Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’, ‘The Ocean’, ‘Black Dog’ and ‘Custard Pie’ for ‘Tall Cool One’, on which he also sings snatches of lyrics from ‘When The Levee Breaks’. For many Plant’s most consistent-sounding release, Now & Zen saw him willingly returning to standard rock arrangements for the first time since he had decided to go solo.

May

Atlantic Records’ 40th Anniversary Concert

Following the enjoyable reunion for Live Aid, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones reunited for Atlantic Records’ 40th anniversary concert in Madison Square Garden. The performance was televised to 60 countries across the world, but the reunion would be most notable for John Bonham’s son, Jason Bonham, who took the place of his father this time. John Paul Jones would later remark, ‘It was uncanny. Jason had every nuance of his father’s approach to the group’s music. It was as though we’d played together for years.’

June

Page’s Outrider

Page must have heard something in Jason Bonham, as he enlisted him to drum on his first (and only – so far) solo album Outrider. Returning the favour for that year’s Now & Zen, Robert Plant also contributed guest vocals to the track ‘The Only One’. Unlike Plant, however, Page seemed content to sit back on his hard-rock laurels for Outrider. Its monochrome sleeve spoke for the standard hard-rock music the album contained.

Personalities | Introducing Led Zeppelin
Personalities | Led Zeppelin | After The Break Up (1989) | Key Events