Las Vegas Weekly

June 4, 2009 · 11:07 AM

Those rumors about a Led Zeppelin residency here? Well, not quite …

By Robin Leach

Rock gods Led Zeppelin.

Photo: Courtesy

I had a feeling from the start that the rumor and tip was too good to be true. I really started with a sense of stop the presses -- or stop the post button? -- for an ultimate music exclusive! The trouble with being in my business is that we love to break exclusives, startling showbiz news ahead of our friendly rivals in the gossip game.

Try to confirm something in secret, though, and it’s either a brick wall or a mass release of the news, thus obliterating the scoop. So sometimes we run with the rumor or the “no comment” and the “how on Earth did you hear that” responses.

So I was once again just about to go out on a limb! But something kept nagging at me even when I heard from one of the best authorities in the music business that negotiations had almost successfully wrapped for rock legend Led Zeppelin to sign as our next residency act.

Led Zeppelin began as an English rock band, formed in 1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page with Robert Plant on vocals. They were hailed as one of the first heavy metal bands. Following drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980, the group disbanded until Dec. 10, 2007, when they reunited with John’s son Jason Bonham for a tribute concert at London’s 02 Arena.

Here’s the BBC report and video of the reunion of one of the biggest bands of the 1970s:

Put the pieces together and it all fit perfectly as a logical connection: AEG Live/Concerts West, who presents Carlos Santana at the Hard Rock Hotel, also is the music conglomerate behind 02 Arena (and the current Britney Spears and upcoming Michael Jackson concerts there). When I talked recently with AEG Live/Concerts West head honcho John Meglen about his goals for future acts, Led Zeppelin was on his list of best-ever rock musicians! Last year, the BBC reported that the group had secretly recorded tracks for a new album to be released this summer even though band management denied they’d get back together.

However, after a night of pushing, probing and pressing, it turns out that it’s the world’s best Led Zeppelin tribute band that will soon set up shop here in Las Vegas and not the real thing! It became pure out-of-control speculation and confusion, but I’m glad we got the truth before we were set to post a so-called world exclusive!

So far there’s been no denial of my last major music exclusive that Celine Dion would be returning to AEG’s venue The Colosseum at Caesars Palace next summer! And this morning, it’s been confirmed from more than two sources that Charo is taking over the former An Evening at La Cage showroom at the Riviera this month as the new resident headliner there.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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