Heaven for Led Zeppelin fans at reunion gig

THE newest member of Led Zeppelin was given the honour of kicking off the band’s reunion last night, pounding out the beat before the surviving founders joined in on a near-perfect “Good Times Bad Times”.

After the lights went down at London’s O2 Arena, and with thousands of fans worked into a frenzy, drummer Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham, began thumping the skittering beat, soon to be joined by guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones and singer Robert Plant.

The song, rarely played live in the band’s heyday, proved a perfect starting point for this performance: “In days of my youth, I was told what it means to be a man,” sang Plant, showing no trouble reproducing his trademark wail at 59. “Now I’ve reached that age, I’ve tried to do all those things the best I can... No matter how I try, I find my way to the same old jam.”

It was Zeppelin’s first full set since 1980, the year John Bonham died after choking on his own vomit. Robbed of “Bonzo’s” pulsing drums, the band decided it couldn’t go on and split up on December 4, 1980.

Fans arrived from around the world for the eagerly anticipated one-off reunion gig in memory of “a giant of music” Ahmet Ertegun.

The band performed for the first time in 19 years in tribute to the man who signed them to his Atlantic Records label in 1968.

More than 20 million fans from across the globe rushed to register for the £125 (€175) tickets, which were allocated by lottery.

For Leslie Wilde, 55, and her brother Steve, 43, getting a chance of a ticket was a dream come true a second time. The siblings from Chicago had been due to see the band in the American city 27 years ago when the tour was called off because of Bonham’s death.

Steve said: “I thought I would never ever get the chance to see Led Zeppelin again. When I found out I’d got the tickets we just rushed to sort out everything else like flights and hotels. To be honest, I think we’d have swum here if we’d had to.”

His sister said: “I suppose you could call me an old hippy because I was a huge Zeppelin fan the first time round but I too never got to see them. This whole evening is in a way about memories.”

Her brother added: “I heard about the last tour being cancelled on my car radio and I couldn’t believe it when this one was delayed. I’ve hardly dared to look at the TV before coming here.”

Rafa Mella flew in from Madrid on Saturday.

“Zeppelin are very big in Spain — even among people my age,” said the 27-year-old.

“I don’t think maybe they will ever come to Spain so I have to come to them.”

The concert should have been staged last month but was rescheduled after Page fractured a finger.

Since 1980 the band have performed only a handful of gigs, including Live Aid in 1985 and an Atlantic Records anniversary gig three years later.