Local News | Rock Music Menu: New Year's resolutions for Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Ozzy and more
Welcome to this year's edition of Rock Music Menu's "New Year's Resolutions for Rockers Who Need Them," where we offer some assistance to the musicians out there who may have trouble lining up goals for the coming year.
It's not an easy job, but one we're more than happy to take on because, hey, these folks are busy.
Last year, we recommended Oasis reunite and AC/DC come through the States for one more tour.
Now, they didn't specifically come out and acknowledge Rock Music Menu as the impetus to take those steps, but when the Britpop rabble-rousers and "thunder from down under" did just what was laid out in this very space 12 months ago, we took it as a victory.
Below are some bits of advice for a handful of our favorite musicians, those who might be trying to figure out what to do, where to go, or in which fashion to proceed as they prepare for 2025.
* Recommended resolution: Do not reunite
In February, the long-in-the-works "Becoming Led Zeppelin" will hit movie theaters.
The official documentary will be released to great fanfare and surely stir up calls for a reunion of the blues-based rock legends.
When it comes to the biggest bands in rock 'n' roll history, almost every single one of them has reunited for a tour of some sort or continued on despite the death of a key member.
The two biggest who haven't are The Beatles and Led Zeppelin. The latter has received offers of astronomical sums to get the Led out again following drummer John Bonham's death in 1980 yet refused all calls.
Following a few poorly received mini-sets at Live Aid and the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary concert, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Bonham's son, Jason, staged one final, full show in 2007 at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in England.
It was a sensational and universally acclaimed performance and the best way to go out: on top.
No matter what, this is not the time to cave in and do a disservice to the past.
* Recommended resolution: One more for the road
Next week, Aerosmith was scheduled to ring in the New Year by performing in their hometown of Boston as part of "Peace Out: The Farewell Tour."
But the trek, which began in Philly at the Wells Fargo Center in September 2023, then postponed to this year after singer Steven Tyler suffered a vocal cord injury, was canceled altogether in August for the same reason.
"We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision -- as a band of brothers -- to retire from the touring stage," read a statement from the group.
And while it's completely understandable -- and even noble -- for them to walk away at this time, they should do a final as a properly prepared goodbye.
Do it in a stadium, one in New England perhaps, and put on a last hurrah as a reminder of why Aerosmith is in the conversation as one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll acts.
After all, it's just awful for it to end the way it did, at an arena on Long Island without original drummer Joey Kramer. Make it right and walk this way one more time.
* Recommended resolution: Put it back together
Alternative rock fans were beyond stoked in spring when the original lineup of Jane's Addiction came back together on the road after a decade and a half and so many false starts.
Not only that, but new material was in the pipeline for the first time in three and a half decades.
Then things started getting weird.
Frontman Perry Farrell began to put in inconsistent performances, likely not helped by the bottle of wine he was taking pulls from at each of the gigs.
It all came to a head in mid-September when the singer took a swing at guitarist Dave Navarro during a show in Boston.
Suffice to say, the rest of the tour was canceled, Farrell put out the obligatory apology while the other three members released an exasperated statement imploring their singer to get help.
This reunion was so long-awaited, and it's a shame to see it combust like it did.
Hopefully, Farrell receives whatever professional assistance he needs and the group can return stronger than ever. It's going to take a great deal of healing, so get to it, gentlemen.
* Recommended resolution: Give us a new album already
It's been nine years since Guns N' Roses welcomed guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan back into the fold and, after taking a break in 2024, announced a couple of weeks ago that they're heading out on the road once again in the coming months.
You can say what you want about the band and frontman Axl Rose, but no one can criticize the live shows, which run nearly three hours, hit on all aspects of their catalog, and have visited every corner of the globe.
Still, there's no new album in sight. Aside from a handful of singles that were retooled from leftovers off the 2008 effort "Chinese Democracy," along with here and there hints from Slash and McKagan that a new record is in the pipeline, there's been nothing concrete.
Coming up on 34 years since the last album of original songs by GNR with 3/5 of its classic lineup -- the 1991 "Use Your Illusion" LP -- we're long overdue for something new.
Then again, the subhead for the upcoming tour is, "Because what you want and what you get are two completely different things."
Maybe concerts and the occasional new-ish song is the plan, but it shouldn't be. Let's see if some of that old magic can be recaptured in the studio.
* Recommended resolution: End it right
Anyone who saw Ozzy Osbourne's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year as a solo artist had to be struck by the sight of him sitting on a makeshift throne watching as other musicians performed his songs.
The reason the Prince of Darkness didn't get up there and sing himself is simple: he can't.
Forgetting all the damage done by substance abuse, alcohol, and biting the heads off of winged creatures, Ozzy has also endured many physical incidents and accidents making it a wonder he's even still alive.
Most recently, in 2019 while suffering from pneumonia, he had a nasty fall at his home in Los Angeles, leading to the cancellation of the remaining dates of his farewell tour and leaving the road in the rearview in general.
However, back in January, it was revealed the Oz man wanted to end it where it began, in his hometown of Birmingham, England with a pair of goodbye shows.
Adding to the excitement would be the appearance of Black Sabbath for a handful of songs, including drummer Bill Ward, who missed that group's farewell tour in 2016 because of an "unreasonable contract."
Since the original news broke of Ozzy's desire to do the gigs, there's been little news about it. But if he's up for it and isn't relegated to sitting down for the entirety of the performances, then it would be a fantastic note on which to end.
Vinyl of the Week will return in 2025.