Virgin billionaire Richard Branson has joined Robert Plant in denying that there was ever an $800 million contract to try and get Led Zeppelin to reunite for a tour. The singer called the Daily Mail article "rubbish" earlier in the week, and now representatives for Branson have confirmed the story was fabricated.
Forbes reached out for comment on the matter and here is what the publication got: "There is no truth to the story that Richard Branson offered members of Led Zeppelin £500m[illion, or $800 million] to reform and carry out a tour, nor had Richard been in discussion with the band about any such tour," a representative wrote via email.
The fake deal would have earned Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham some serious dough, but, as the story went, the frontman ripped up the contract in front of stunned promoters. Branson also reportedly offered to rename one of his jets "The Starship," in reference to the band's old touring airplane, to shuttle the band from venue to venue. This was also untrue.
"Virgin Atlantic was not about to rename a plane or its staircases in honour of the band; albeit those are nice ideas!" the Virgin rep added.
Forbes points out that the fantasy deal would have made the tour one of the most lucrative jaunts in history, writing, "Led Zeppelin would have had to generate ticket sales of nearly $1 billion for Branson to turn a profit as promoter."
Compared to Jay-Z and Beyoncé's recent tour, which pulled in about $5 million a night, Led Zep would have been charged with generating $25 million per gig.
Fans will have to keep hoping that the band's 2007 reunion was not their last.
Readers: Do you wnat to see Led Zep reunite? Comment below.
