Led Zeppelin held their US press conference Tuesday for their forthcoming concert film, “Celebration Day.”
Prior to the premiere at the historic Ziegfeld Theater in New York’s theater district, founding members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham, for a press event at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Rolling Stone reports Zeppelin clashed with reporters at the media event. Tension began when an Associated Press reporter asked if the new film will possibly anticipate something bigger from the band. The Zeppelin members became uncomfortably silent. "I mean, we've been thinking about all sorts of things," Plant said. "And then we can't remember what we were thinking of. Schmuck."
From the beginning, Plant seemed uncomfortable. "There are some people in here who are not journalists," he said early on. "There's a masseuse in here who's not a journalist. I think that's ever so exciting." The room erupted in uncomfortable laughter.
Minutes later, a radio host praised the film but added, "I don't know if it's going to quench the thirst of those who wished to see you in the flesh." Again, the band was silent until Plant said simply: "Sorry!"
Later, Plant clarified himself. "We were so happy we were getting it right and taking it beyond what we thought we were about that night," he said of the O2 gig. "There were moments where we took off . . . But the responsibility of doing that four nights a week for the rest of time is a different thing. We're pretty good at what we do but the tail should never wag the dog, really. If we're capable of doing something, in our own time, that will be what will happen. So any inane questions from people who are from syndicated outlets, you should just really think about what it takes to answer a question like that in one second. We know what we've got, you know."
Read more at Rolling Stone here.
Following the New York event, “Celebration Day” will premiere in London on Friday, before similar events take place next week in Berlin (Oct 15) and Tokyo (Oct 16).
The film will see a worldwide theatrical release on 1,500 screens in over 40 territories on October 17 before it goes on sale November 19.
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