Robert Plant has issued a statement putting to bed the recent spate of Led Zeppelin reunion rumors. "Contrary to a spate of recent reports, Robert Plant will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin," it said.

He says, "It's both frustrating and ridiculous for this story to continue to rear its head when all the musicians that surround the story are keen to get on with their individual projects and move forward. I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."

Plant is on tour with Alison Kraus through Sunday in Saratoga, California and has no plans to do any more touring for at least two years.

In the past few weeks, so many different rumors have been flying around - some that gave fans hope there WOULD be a reunion tour and others that dashed them. As it turns out, there seems to have been a shred of truth in mostly ALL of those rumors.

Original Zep drummer John Bonham died in 1980, putting an end to the group. Band members said they would never go on without him as Led Zeppelin. But a funny thing happened...Bonham's son.

Jason Bonham played with the band on a few occasions, including his own wedding - the first time members joined together to play since the elder Bonham's death. In the years since, he Jason Bonham played with various bands and established a great reputation as a drummer and joined the surviving members on a few more occasions - including their recent "reunion" show in London.

Most recently, Bonham's been playing with a rejuvenated Foreigner, to wide acclaim. But just last month, it was announced that he'd be leaving that band - just as rumors began to surface that Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones would be rehearsing with Bonham in London. Speculation was, they were hoping and preparing for a full-on Led Zeppelin tour.

But it all depended on Robert Plant.

Plant's been happily touring with bluegrass star Alison Krauss, playing every big summer festival and their own solo dates. The duo has won awards and praise from music fans of many genres.

Although the three other band members seemed eager for a full Zep tour, Plant wavered back and forth in his public statements. Sometimes indicating he was not interested, other times saying he wasn't ruling it out.

Then a rumor surfaced that Page, Jones and Bonham would offer the singer an ultimatum - commit to a tour or we'll find a replacement singer and tour without you. What is it they say about ultimatums? You better be willing to deal with the results if you don't get the answer you were hoping for.

Obviously, if Page, Jones and Bonham do find a replacement (there's talk it could be Foo Fighter Dave Grohl) there's no way fans would accept that band to be billed as "Led Zeppelin." But it does seem clear that the trio plans future works - a new album, a tour or both.

Would you buy a ticket to see Page, Jones and Bonham with a different lead singer? Tell us what you think by clicking the comment tabs above and below...

Stay tuned to whtq.com for this developing story.

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