• 5 Les Paul Contributions to Modern Music: Solid-Body Guitars, Multitrack Recording, More

    Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Les Paul, one of the greatest innovators in music history, both for his work with instruments and with recording technology (and he wasn't half bad as a guitar player either). Music Times has assembled five of Paul's greatest contributions to the music world, in order of when he was most involved in its development. Understand that none of these technologies were solely his creation, but none of them would be the way we know them today if it weren't for his contributions, from the solid-body guitar to multitrack recording.
  • Jimmy Page 'Warming Up on the Touchlines' for Live Comeback

    Promoting the upcoming release of the deluxe edition of "Physical Graffiti," Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page recently spoke at a public Q&A to discuss the reissued album and the possibility of a live comeback, which he says he is "warming up on the touchlines" for.
  • Led Zeppelin Share Rough Mix of "Houses Of The Holy" From Upcoming 'Physical Graffiti' Reissue [LISTEN]

    Next month, Led Zeppelin will be releasing the remastered edition of their classic 1975 album, 'Physical Graffiti,' with a bonus disc of alternate mixes, and today the rough mix of one of the album's standout tracks "Houses of the Holy" has been shared, which you can check out below. Even if you're not an audiophile, the differences between this version and the original are quite obvious — the bass is more prominent, the drums are looser, Robert Plant's vocals (particularly the backing vocals) are pushed up in the mix, and there are less guitar overdubs. It's a fascinating listen for diehard Zeppelin fans, but you probably won't prefer this to the album version.
  • Led Zeppelin To Reissue 'Physical Graffiti' On Its 40th Anniversary Next Month

    Led Zeppelin are continuing their reissue campaign with the remastered version of their 1975 classic Physical Graffiti, which will be released on Feb. 24, the 40th anniversary of the album's original release date. According to Rolling Stone, the reissue was remastered by guitarist Jimmy Page (who also served as producer on every Led Zeppelin album) and will be released in a number of different formats, including a standard double CD edition, a triple CD edition with a "companion audio" bonus disc, a double LP edition, a deluxe vinyl edition, and a digital download. However, diehard fans will be most interested in the super deluxe boxset, which includes the deluxe CDs, vinyl, digital downloads, and a 96-page book of rare and unreleased photos and memorabilia.
  • John Lennon or Paul McCartney? Metallica, Arctic Monkeys, Fall Out Boy and More Choose in Mini Documentary [WATCH]

    On paper, it's a simple question -- John Lennon or Paul McCartney? For "Lennon or McCartney: A Beatles Documentary," Scared Goose Productions compiled answers from actors and musicians and it's actually much more complex. Aaron Bruno of AWOLNATION may have put it best when he said, "Well, that's like saying, 'Who do you like more, your mom or your dad?'" The video is jam-packed with celebrities and members of Metallica, Arctic Monkeys and Fall Out Boy, and they all weigh in on the question.
  • Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page Talks Robert Plant, Drug Use in 'GQ'

    "GQ" recently named Jimmy Page its Rock God of the Year for 2014. The former Led Zeppelin guitarist sat down with the magazine to talk about his storied past and unknown future. Page talked about Robert Plant and how he generally reacts to the singer's comments about Led Zep. The legendary axeman also addressed his drug use during the band's reign in the 1970s. After being asked about why Plant seems to be so disinterested in the work he did with Zeppelin, Page responded with a lengthy explanation. "Sometimes I raise my eyebrows at the things he says, but that's all I can say about it. I don't make a point to read what he says about Zeppelin. But people will read me things he has said, and I will usually say, 'Are you sure you're quoting him correctly?' It's always a little surprising. But I can't answer for him. I have a respect for the work of everyone in the band. I can't be dismissive of the work we did together. I sort of know what he's doing. But I don't fully understand it," he said. Page added that he chooses not to send messages about the band to Plant through the media. The guitarist also fielded questions about Led Zep and its relationship to drugs. "I couldn't comment on that, just like I wouldn't comment on the relationship between Zeppelin's audience and drugs," he said. "But of course you wouldn't ask me that. You wouldn't ask me what the climate was like at the time. The climate in the 1970s was different than it is now. Now it's a drinking culture. It wasn't so much like that then."
  • Heart's Ann Wilson Would be up for Fronting Led Zeppelin, Says She Would Jam with Jimmy Page Anytime

    The three remaining members of Led Zeppelin may never reunite. Fans of the band have probably accepted that fact even though stories have surfaced saying that deals are in the works (and then they've turned out to be false). The main issue is between Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Page is for a reunion, Plant is against one. John Paul Jones probably doesn't care anymore. So the possibility of the band playing some shows with another lead singer exists, right? Enter Heart's Ann Wilson.
  • Robert Plant Talks About Not Reuniting with Led Zeppelin; Jimmy Page Talks Led Zep on 'Ellen' [WATCH]

    Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant recently shed some light on why he does not want to reunite with his infamous band. The singer has been a part of other groups, which has allowed him to experiment with different genres and meet other artists. He played with John Bonham in Band of Joy before Led Zep, and he currently records with his superb Sensational Space Shifters band. "I was 19 years old then — why would I ever compromise from then on?" he told Sound Opinions about his Band of Joy days. He was looking for "a colorful, exciting future," one that brought together Led Zep and eventually led him other places. "I cut the cloth according to my needs," he added. "This, to me, is I think one of the most surprising, exciting and stimulating and also mostly heartfelt periods of my time as a singer." Plant revived Band of Joy in 1977, performing with the group until 1983. He also toured with the band in 2010. In 2007 he had a wildly successful release featuring Alison Krauss titled "Raising Sand," and his most recent album with the Sensational Space Shifters, "Lullaby and ... the Ceaseless Roar," has performed well on the charts. Bandmate Jimmy Page made it clear on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" that he is not the reason why Led Zeppelin has not reunited since 2007.
  • Richard Branson Denies Offering Led Zeppelin $800M to Tour Days After Robert Plant Called Story 'Rubbish'

    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.
  • Robert Plant Calls $800M Led Zeppelin Reunion Story 'Rubbish'

    Fans far and wide marveled at the recent reports of former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant ripping up an $800 million contract for a reunion tour with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. The proposed deal was allegedly bankrolled by Virgin founder Richard Branson, but Plant's publicist quickly denied the claims after the story began to garner attention. The publicist's statement on behalf of Plant was that the whole thing was "rubbish," "The Guardian" reported. Now all we are left with is a fictional story from the "Daily Mirror" about how Page, Jones and original drummer John Bonham's son Jason all signed on to do a 35-date tour for major money, and Plant ripped the document up in front of the promoters. To sweeten the deal, Branson even reportedly offered to rename one of his jets "The Starship," in reference to the band's old private plane, to take the musicians to different venues.
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