As I turned each page my eyes immediately were drawn to the full page images of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, in some classic stance or a performance from the early days. Photos, concert posters and playbills I’ve never seen before. Even cooler is Jon Bream’s writing that is so involving you have to keep reading on. I found myself rereading certain sections as if I was hitting the rewind button on my tape player to repeat Stairway to Heaven or Kashmir.
I love to see another fan of Zeppelin get to review new items like this book, and reviews like this help to see how other fans of Zeppelin think about the band.
Okay folks, here is what I have been waiting on to post for all you fans of Virtual Zeppelin ~ the Interview with the Singer, James
Q: What inspired you to become a musician?
A: When I was 6 I had a crush on a girl named Susan O’Connell who loved David Cassidy… I figured the best way to her heart was through music. Me and some friends would put on concerts for the neighborhood. We couldn’t actually play yet, but we put on some great shows faking it to the record, hahaha
Q: When did you begin your journey as a Zeppelin Fan.
A: My sister played the guitar and one of the songs she played was “Stairway to Heaven” I didn’t know who Led Zeppelin were at the time, but I remember thinking “Stairway to Heaven” sounded beautiful and somehow ancient like a long forgotten song from another time. It left an indelible impression on me. A few years later I saw “The Song Remains the Same” in a theater and I was an instant fan.
Q: How did you discover you were a perfect match for Robert Plants vocals?
A: When I was in High School I played guitar and my band used to play a lot of Led Zeppelin. We had the music down really well, but none of the singers we had could ever sing like Robert Plant. At one of our rehearsals I was trying to show our singer, Joe, the correct way to phrase one of the lines in a Led Zeppelin song. The guys were like WTF? …They didn’t know I could sing until then. Shortly after that I became the singer for that band.
Q: Have you ever considered recording in a studio together, if so what would you record?
A: Virtual Zeppelin has not recorded in studios yet. The distance between us makes that proposition a difficult one, but the process we are using is not terribly different from a studio recording. The only difference is that we don’t ever see each other.
Q: How did Virtual Zeppelin come about and when?
A: About 8 months ago I came across Jun’s channel and I wrote him a comment that I wanted to collaborate with him. He found the other members.
Q: Who are the band members and where do you all hail from?
A:
Keyboards – Karl – Texas, USA
Drums – Frank – New Mexico, USA
Bass – Bill – Canada
Guitar – John – Texas, USA
Guitar – Jun – Japan
Vocals – James – Virginia, USA
Q: When did you begin placing the videos on YouTube and is that the sole place you publicize your music.
A: About a year and a half ago I met a beautiful girl on MySpace and she was really into Led Zeppelin, so I wanted to leave her a video as a comment on her MySpace page. It was the song “That’s the Way.” I have been dating her since then and I’ve made several other videos for her.
Q: Do you play any instruments besides the guitar?
A: Yes, I play bass, mandolin and drums
Q: When did you all begin playing together?
A: We started working on our first video “Ten Years Gone” in March of 2008.
Q: Do you write your own music as well as play covers of Zeppelin?
A: Yes, I write my own music.
Q: Do you tour or play live?
A: Yes, I have been performing live since I was 18 and have toured with two bands. I am not in a band at the moment.
Q: Who is responsible for your technology side of making the videos and producing the music?
A: John, Jun and Karl do the video editing. Jun, John and I mix the music, but we all make contributions.
Q: Have any of the members of Led Zeppelin contacted you?
A: Haha, People keep asking me if I am the “American singer” who will be touring with Led Zeppelin in 2009. I went to Robert Plant’s official Web site and Robert Plant says the whole thing is a bunch of rumors regarding the “American singer” and plans to tour. If anyone else in Virtual Zeppelin has been contacted by the members of Led Zeppelin, they have not told me about it.
Q: Even though this is a totally unfair question to ask of a Zep fan, I would love to know … which Album or Song of Led Zeppelin’s is your most favorite?
A: Haha, yes very unfair… If I had to pick a favorite album it would be “Houses of the Holy”. Picking one song is going to be far more difficult… I will pick 4
1. Four Sticks
2. No Quarter
3. The Battle of Evermore
4. Ramble On
Now those answers will surely change in a day, lol
Q: For those of us who are waiting, will we be seeing a new video soon?
A: Yes, we have recorded “Black Dog” and will be posting it late October early November.
Q: Finally, are there any plans to bring Virtual Zeppelin to a more live band experience?
A: There aren’t any immediate plans to perform live together, but that could change should the stars align.
________________________________________________
Lisa, thank you for thinking to do this with me it was a lot of fun.
Talk soon, my friend.
~ Jamie
To contact James, or view more of his work please check the following links ~
This Interview was a total blast, and one that I am so proud to have been a part of, my thanks to James and the band for not only the Interview but for some of the best music we have been treated to in a long time. I hope to get in touch with the other band members soon for Interviews.
And now the video that started my journey into being a Fan of Virtual Zeppelin ~
Sometimes the Internet is a most amazing source of great information on a wide array of topics, such as the Death of Rock Radio! I found an article in a really round about way actually, that dates from 1998 concerning the death of Rock Radio titled Who Killed Rock Radio?. A real Gem.
Take for instance this quote from mid way in the article, one that is on topic with what I have found to be true…..
Must commercial radio suck?? Increasingly, the answer appears to be a resounding, disheartening yes. “Ratings matter, and that’s all,” says Shawn Stewart, who worked as music director at REV 105 in Minneapolis before it was purchased by Disney. “If you’re reporting to Mickey Mouse, Mickey’s got a big bottom line.” Stewart now works at a public station, WXPN, in Philadelphia.
Yeppers, those pesky ratings will get ya each and every time you make a move, but I do understand the need for something like ratings. This article while dated in its mentions of the Bands of the Day, is as relevant today as back in 1998 ( whoa, wait a sec, need to place my head between my knees…….. this was done 10 years ago! Arggh)
To read the rest of this article, here is the link to Radio Diversity.
Okay, now on to the latest gossip, er news of Led Zeppelin and the now famous on again off again romance between Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Come on boyz, make up your mind, Page either choose a new front man or wait on Plant, he will eventually see the light. And you Plant, what the hell? You can sit and sing for ever with Allison Crause but you can’t reward the 3 + decades of loyal fans you and the band built with a freaking tour? What , are you too busy for the fans now?
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham are reportedly rehearsing with Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy for a potential tour. This is according to online reports and an interview done by MuchMoreMusic with Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, whose manager also works with Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant.
Plant has so far refused to commit to a full-blown Zeppelin reunion tour following the band’s one-off charity show last December in London. Snider said in the interview, “They’re saying (to Plant), ‘We’re all rehearsed, we’re ready to go, here’s a gazillion dollars on the table. If you don’t do it, we’re going out with this kid. And he can sing the s*** out of Zeppelin.’”
Hmm, seems RP better figure out what he really wants, I think he also had better consider the fans in his move. We are after all responsible for the 300 million albums sold.
I have just one pick for tonights favorites because I am working on an Interview and I think you all will be pleased with my chosen Topic! That I hope to have up very soon.
The Who ~ Eminence Front * one of my favorites of the groups entire repertoire.
October 18 2010 Monday ~ Blazy and Bob
Currrently rocking the airwaves on 99.7 KIOO Visalia CA
:)
and also ~ 104.3 The Hippo
along with Laurie Roberts !
Call the NEW Blazey & Bob comment line anytime: (888) 483 - 2865
* tell them Lisa says hey from Kentucky :) *
