Jason Bonham

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Pictures speak louder than words

A lot can be said for nonverbal communication, which happens to be the subject I studied in college two semesters in a row. So much is being made of the posture and facial expressions of the Led Zeppelin members who turned out to pick up their GQ award in London last night. Both the mainstream press and Zep fans in multiple online forums are taking stabs at interpreting what can be gleaned from examining a few photographs of the event.

The Sun uses a visual analysis of Robert Plant at the event to weigh in on any future collaboration among all three 60-somethings: "Hopes of a full-on LED ZEPPELIN reunion took a knock on the night. Bassist JOHN PAUL JONES and guitarist JIMMY PAGE both said they were keen to reform the band. But ROBERT PLANT, who had a long chat with Gavin & Stacey stars ROB BRYDON and RUTH JONES, looked unimpressed."

On both the official discussion group at LedZeppelin.com and on For Badgeholders Only, fans today have been taking the phrase "Every picture tells a story" quite seriously. One user of both forums pointed to the photo shown above (from left, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant) and said that "the body language doesn't look real cozy." Pressed for further explanation in FBO, the user continued, "Look how Jimmy is posed facing slightly toward the middle of the pic as one would tend to do. Robert is clearly leaning away from Jimmy and has placed his foot and shoulder firmly in front of Jimmy as if trying to be dominant." Some agreed with such naysaying analyses, while others commenting were less skeptical.

Any comments from the LedZeppelinNews.com peanut gallery?

About the author

Steve "The Lemon" Sauer is a writer and musician based in Boca Raton, Fla., who has dedicated a portion of his life researching the history of rock group Led Zeppelin and monitoring the ongoing careers of the band's surviving members. Although he was barely a year old when Led Zeppelin broke up and it took him until his teen years to appreciate the music, it didn't take long to make up for it.

Steve is currently a contributing writer and consultant for Get the Led Out, a weekly syndicated radio program hosted by Carol Miller and syndicated in 100 U.S. markets including New York and Los Angeles. He also provides content for a Web site associated with the radio show, www.LedZepOnline.com.

In 2007, Steve launched Lemon Squeezings: Led Zeppelin News to cover the lead-up to the band's reunion concert at the end of that year. Since then, he has closely examined every rumor of a followup tour since then, often dispelling or clarifying misinformation perpetrated by the mainstream media. Using his journalistic training, Steve has also uncovered some facts and accounts previously unreported elsewhere.

At age 18, he began publishing On This Day In Led Zeppelin History, a daily newsletter detailing the interactions of members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and their manager, Peter Grant. The newsletter is located at www.OnThisDayInLedZeppelinHistory.com.

He enjoys uncovering stories and has employed various methods to communicate those stories to Led Zeppelin's vast fan base, utilizing terrestrial radio and the many facets of the Internet: from Usenet newsgroups to plain e-mail and now Facebook and Twitter. Steve also connects with live audiences when performing as a backup vocalist and keyboard player with various bands, including past onstage appearances with three cover or tribute acts performing the music of Led Zeppelin.

Do you have a news tip to share with Steve? Do you have something you would like him to write about? Would you like to book him for a speaking engagement? He can be contacted by e-mail at Steve at LedZeppelinNews.com.

Other Led Zeppelin information from Lemon Squeezings

Lemon Squeezings archive

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