Thursday, December 30, 2010

Jimmy Page's 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year

“I’m desperate to be playing, but it won’t be ‘til next year”
- Jimmy Page
November 10, 2010


Jimmy Page’s comment - at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour Awards in November - that he plans to play shows in 2011 was named hennemusic’s “Rock News Story Of The Year” by music fans.

Page was at the event to present “The Innovator” Award to legendary U.K. band Killing Joke, but it was his talk of plans to play concerts in the New Year that overshadowed all rock news in 2010.

“The mighty Led Zeppelin casts a huge shadow in the new millennium, and music fans want more,” says Bruce Henne. “Everything Zep-related draws a crowd – from Robert Plant to John Paul Jones to Jason Bonham – but the master of mystery remains the elusive Jimmy Page.”

Jimmy Page’s comments took the hennemusic Rock News Story Of The Year honor ahead of features on Keith Richards, Roger Waters, Slash/Steven Tyler and Metallica.

Winners of the hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers – rock fans around the world – who voted with their most valuable resource: their time. Categories are tabulated by page views in a salute to the artist/fan relationship.

hennemusic Rock News Story Of The Year
Final Results

1 - Jimmy Page planning to play shows in 2011

2 - Keith Richards book due Oct 26

3 - Slash slams Steven Tyler over American Idol

4 - Metallica guitarist accidentally kicks child during Sydney show

5 - Roger Waters kicks off The Wall Live in Toronto

It’s too early to know what Page has up his sleeve for 2011, but you can be sure that all eyes and ears will be waiting to find out.

One thing it won't be is a Zeppelin trip.

Fans are split on whether or not the Zeppelin thing could work, given how the band members have moved on. While Robert Plant reportedly remains the lone holdout for a reunion, even he admitted to Jason that the footage of the band’s 2007 show at London’s O2 Arena – which we’re all waiting to be released – “sounded great.” Plant has referred to the show as “the best Led Zeppelin gig since 1975.”

News about Keith Richards hugely-anticipated autobiography, “Life,” was named runner-up for hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year. The book, documenting the history of the “Human Riff,” did not disappoint.

Steven Tyler’s decision to join American Idol as a judge drew huge reactions from fans – and rockers – alike. Following Kid Rock’s public lashing of Tyler for doing “the stupidest thing he’s ever done in his life,” Slash was drawn into the debate during an interview in early November.

A seemingly scary incident at Metallica’s November 11 show in Sydney, Australia made headlines everywhere. Guitarist Kirk Hammett accidentally kicked a small child, standing on the edge of the stage, while following through on one of the huge black balloons that fill the stage for the band’s encore. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the process, but the incident reinforced the strength of fan-filmed video.

In mid-September, Roger Waters kicked off his tour of The Wall in Toronto, traditionally one of Pink Floyd’s strongest cities. The first performances of the fully-staged Wall in 30 years certainly drew a crowd – in person and online. I pulled some YouTube videos of the performance for the story, but was careful not to give too much away for fans who anxiously awaited the show’s arrival in their town.

This month, fans took part in the 2010 hennemusic Rock News Awards poll to guess who they thought would win Rock News Story Of The Year; here’s the results of the fan poll:

1 – Jimmy Page (37%)
2 – Roger Waters (22%)
3 – Slash / Steven Tyler (18%)
4 – Metallica (15%)
5 – Keith Richards (5%)

Thanks to hennemusic readers for their ongoing dialogue, encouragement and support; onwards and upwards into 2011 !

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
02 Arena – London, UK – December 10, 2007