So it’s official: Led Zeppelin will reunite for a one-off gig at The O2 on 26 November. And so the list of legendary bands who steadfastly refuse to reform gets ever shorter. The Smiths, The Stone Roses… who else is left?
Inevitably, some reunions fare better than others, ranging from the triumphant (Pixies, Pink Floyd at Live 8) to the utterly pointless (back so soon, Carter USM?). Here’s our pick of the best comebacks in recent years.
Pixies
The alt-rock trailblazers’ shock reunion in 2004 was particularly sweet for hard-up drummer David Lovering, who had become a magician in an attempt to make ends meet. "I was just bummed out. Everything, financially, was a mess for me," he explained at the time. One hugely lucrative world tour later, Lovering was able to hang up his wand for good.
Talking Heads
Having split amid much acrimony in 1991, Talking Heads’ one-off show on March 18, 2002, at the ceremony of their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, was never likely to lead to a lasting rapprochement. “Musically,” admitted frontman David Byrne, “We're just miles apart."
Led Zeppelin
Page, Plant and Jones have, of course, reunited before, in July 1985, for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia. However, the band were unhappy with their performance, which is why it wasn’t included on their four-DVD box-set in 2004. Perhaps Plant was just embarrassed by the eye strain-inducing purple shirt he wore on the day.
The Velvet Underground
Another example of the prestige of a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction encouraging musicians, in this case Lou Reed and John Cale, to temporarily set aside their differences. Inducted by Patti Smith, the ceremony was a poignant affair that saw the remaining Velvets perform the song Last Night I Said Goodbye to My Friend, written in tribute to guitarist Sterling Morrison, who had died the previous year.
Pink Floyd
The Live 8 concert in 2005 had what Live Earth lacked – namely a genuine Event in the form of the Pink Floyd reunion. It went down so well, excitable rumours spread of a proper tour, forcing Dave Gilmour to issue a tetchy statement: “We are telling fans directly this is not happening. We are also asking the various parties who are fabricating these stories to desist.” So that’s a no, then?
6:30 PM | 13/09/2007
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Police anyone??
Posted by James at 10:28 PM | 13/09/2007 | Report Abuse
Sorry, it's probably wrong and very unhip, but i still love this, get goose bumps, sing along (badly)nearly as badly as Roger! and turn up the volume late at night
Posted by Adrian at 11:49 PM | 13/09/2007 | Report Abuse
that's only prove that today bands sucks and the music industry push to this "reunions"
Posted by pete at 3:19 AM | 20/09/2007 | Report Abuse
I fucking cried
Posted by vruz at 6:36 PM | 29/09/2007 | Report Abuse
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