Jimmy Page has said that it was a mistake to enlist Phil Collins to fill in on drums for Led Zeppelin at Live Aid. (NME)
Collins and drummer Paul Martinez both played live with the reunited Led Zep – Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones – at the legendary 1985 concert, as did bassist Tony Thompson.
Speaking in a new interview with The Times and The Sunday Times, Page admitted it was “not very clever” to reform the band, who had split in 1980 following the death of their drummer John Bonham.
“The drummer couldn’t get the beginning of ‘Rock And Roll’,” Page explained about Live Aid. “So we were in real trouble with that.”
He also told The Times that Led Zeppelin had less than two hours to rehearse for their three-song set, which included the classics ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Stairway To Heaven’.
In an excerpt from his book Not Dead Yet, Phil Collins reveals what it was like being the spare wheel as Led Zeppelin ‘s Live Aid set failed.
Collins has a multitude of fans, but some music critics regard him as a hack. Page, however, is an undisputed rock god. It turns out the two haven’t always gotten along. Here’s what happened when they performed together at Live Aid.
I know the wheels are falling off from early on in the set. I can’t hear Robert clearly from where I’m sat, but I can hear enough to know that he’s not on top of his game.
I do remember an awful lot of time where I can hear what Robert decries as ‘knitting’: fancy drumming. And if you can find the footage, you can see me miming, playing the air, getting out of the way lest there be a trainwreck.
Collins discussed working with Led Zeppelin for Live Aid. “I’d played on Robert Plant’s solo records and he said: ‘Are you doing this Live Aid thing?’ And I said: ‘Yeah.’ And he said: ‘Can you get me on it? [US promoter] Bill Graham doesn’t like me and he doesn’t like Zeppelin. Maybe you, me and Jimmy can do something?’”
Onstage I don’t take my eyes off Tony Thompson. I’m glued to him. I’m having to follow – he’s taking the heavy-handed lead and has opted to ignore all my advice.zeppelin
Putting myself in his shoes, he’s probably thinking, “This is the beginning of a new career. John Bonham isn’t around any more. They’re gonna want someone. This could be the start of a Led Zeppelin reunion. And I don’t need this English fuck in my way.”
Collins added “So I didn’t rehearse when I got there, but I listened to ‘Stairway to Heaven’…I arrived and went to the caravans, and Robert said: ‘Jimmy Page is belligerent.’ Page says: ‘We’ve been rehearsing!’ And I said: ‘I saw your first gig in London, I know the stuff!’ He says: ‘Alright, how does it go, then?’
