Myles Kennedy reveals his biggest regret about his Led Zeppelin jam sessions
'I probably shouldn't have said that’
Slash and Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy has recalled an awkward moment that happened during his famous jam sessions with Led Zeppelin back in the late noughties.
Led Zeppelin, of course, reunited for the one-off Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in December 2007 and despite massive demand from fans for a world tour, Robert Plant ruled out a full-scale reunion.
The following year, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones famously held some sessions where they jammed with potential new vocalists including Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy.
Heart’s Ann Wilson also threw her hat in the ring, however, as she exclusively told Planet Rock in 2021, she was met with “crickets.”
In a fresh interview with US radio station 95.5 KLOS, Myles Kennedy revealed how the jam sessions came into fruition and he reflected upon his biggest regret about the experience.
Explaining how he first met Jason Bonham on the set of the 2001 musical comedy Rock Star, Myles Kennedy said (via Blabbermouth): "We got to talking about his father's (John Bonham) legacy and how much I appreciated it. And he was genuinely… I was really impressed with him and just how proud he was of his dad and everything that he achieved. And that was really beautiful to see.
“So, fast forward about - I don't know; was it six, seven years, whenever it was, I get this text from Jason, and he's, like, 'Can you call me?'"
He continued: "So I buzzed him. It was at night. And (Jason) was just basically, 'Look, I'm here in London. Would you be interested in coming over this weekend? I'm jamming with some friends.' And I'm, like, 'I'm on tour. Just out of curiosity, who are your friends?' So when he lays out who his friends are, I'm just, like, 'Okay. Yeah, I think we can make that work!'
"So, yeah, it was crazy. I flew to London a few days later. And they let me know what songs to kind of have prepared. And we jammed - we jammed for a day - and it's something I will never, ever forget.
"Then they reached out and asked if I'd be interested in coming back a few months later, and we jammed some more - I think four more days or something. It was the stuff dreams are made of. If someone would have told me when I was a kid listening to 'In Through The Out Door' or any of those records, like, 'You're gonna be in a room jamming these songs with those guys someday' … It was just such a trip."
Commenting on the one cringeworthy moment that happened during the auditions, Kennedy said: “There was one moment where I had a bit of a Chris Farley (late US comedian) moment.
“You know when Chris Farley, when he's interviewing Paul McCartney (on Saturday Night Live in 1993) and there's that moment when he kind of smacks himself on the head, like, 'How could I have been so stupid and said that?' I had one of those moments. I'd been in the room for a few hours, and we were taking a little break.
"I just had to say it, 'cause I'm such a fan. I just looked at them both and thanked them and I was, like, 'You guys basically wrote the blueprint for everything that guys like us…' I just had to get it out. And they just kind of looked at me. They were very sweet about it. But it was one of those things where I was, like, 'I probably shouldn't have said that.' But it was great."
Don't forget, Alter Bridge embark on a headline UK arena tour this December with special guests Halestorm and Mammoth WVH. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
See Alter Bridge, Halestorm and Mammoth WVH at the following shows:
DECEMBER 2022
Nottingham Motorpoint Arena – Mon 5th
Glasgow OVO Hydro – Tue 6th
Dublin 3Arena – Thu 8th
Manchester AO Arena – Fri 9th
Birmingham Resorts World Arena – Sun 11th
London The O2 – Mon 12th
Buy Alter Bridge tickets
Rock stars immortalised as statues, including John Bonham:
Marc Bolan statue in Barnes, London
In September 2002, a bust of legendary T. Rex singer Marc Bolan was unveiled at the location of the car crash that claimed his life aged 29. The T. Rex Action Group (TAG) launched Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine in 1997 (the 20th anniversary of his passing) with a memorial stone, and five years later the bronze sculpture of Bolan was revealed. It was paid for exclusively by T-Rex Action Group founder Fee Warner, sculpted by Canadian sculptor Jean Robillard, and unveiled by Bolan's son Rolan Bolan. The sculpture features lyrics from Tyrannosaurus Rex's 1968 song 'Child Star.'
Brian Johnson statue in Namur, Belgium
AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson was immortalised in statue form in the Belgian city of Namur on 16th April 2023. The life-size statue made from Belgian Blue Stone commemorates Brian Johnson's first ever AC/DC concert, which took place at the city's Palais Des Expositions on 29th June 1980 four months after the death of Bon Scott. The fan-funded statue was the brainchild of AC/DC aficionados Michel Remy, Mike Davister and Georges Boussingault with support from the local radio station RTBF Classic 21. On the day of its unveiling, Brian Johnson said: "I'd like to say a very special thank you to all the donors and fans in Namur. It's a very special place for me. It was the first might I sang with AC/DC, and I was a very nervous boy. So that memory will stay with me forever, and now that you've built this statue, honestly, I'm not worthy of it. I thank you and I'll take it in good grace. I'll never forget what you've done for me."
Freddie Mercury statue at Lake Geneva
The iconic Freddie Mercury statue overlooking Lake Geneva in Montreux. Standing three metres high, the Irena Sedlecka sculpture was unveiled five years after Freddie's death by Montserrat Caballé and Freddie's mother Jer.
Freddie Mercury statue at Lake Geneva
A close up of the incredible Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards statues
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards were honoured with statues in their hometown of Dartford, Essex on 9th August 2023. The bronze sculptures, named The Glimmer Twins in homage to Jagger and Richards' song writing partnership, are the creation of sculptor Amy Goodman. The statues capture both Jagger and Richards in the midst of live performance, and they were commissioned by Dartford Borough Council to celebrate two of the town's most famous former residents.
Keith Richards statue in Dartford
Mick Jagger statue in Dartford
Rory Gallagher statue in Cork
Irish blues-rock legend Rory Gallagher has been honoured twice with a statue. The first was unveiled in the newly renamed Rory Gallagher Place in Cork in 1997, and was created by local artist Geraldine Creedon. The unqiue bronze sculpture takes the form of a guitar on one side, while the other features overlapping Rory Gallagher song lyrics.
Rory Gallagher statue in Ballyshannon
Created by artist David Annand in 2010, this life-sized bronze statue of Rory Gallagher was unveiled in Ballyshannon town centre. Standing proudly at 7ft tall, beneath the statue are the opening lyrics from Rory Gallagher's 1979 song 'Follow Me', which read: "I want to plant a star on the sky / One you can find at the end of the night."
Ronnie James Dio statue in Bulgaria
After Dio's untimely death in May 2010, the metalheads on the town council of Kavarna in Bulgaria immediately commissioned a statue in his honour. It was unveiled in October of that year.
Bon Scott statue in Fremantle
On 25th October 2008, a bronze statue of Bon Scott was dedicated at Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour in Western Australia, where the late singer was brought up. The life-size statue depicts Bon standing on top of a Marshall speaker. Bon is buried in the town's cemetery, and is apparently the most visited grave in Australia.
Phil Lynott statue in Dublin
Philomena Lynott poses with her son's statue on Harry Street in Dublin in 2013. Erected in 2005, the 2.4-metre bronze statue was repaired twice in 2013 after a motorist crashed into it and vandals knocked it off its plinth.
Jimi Hendrix statue in Isle of Wight
In honour of Jimi's fabled 1970 Isle of Wight Festival performance, a bronze statue was unveiled at Dimbola House in 2006. Created by John Swindells, the plaque comes with the Jimi quote "It's funny how most people love the dead, once you're dead you're made for life."
Elvis Presley statue in Mississippi
Such is his profound legacy there are numerous Elvis statues across the globe. However, arguably the most poignant is this statue of a 13-year-old Elvis outside the church he attended as a child in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Chuck Berry statue in St Louis
Sculptor Harry Weber's in-motion sculpture of Chuck is located right across the street from Blueberry Hill in St Louis. The late-great Chuck himself launched the sculpture in July 2011.
Frank Zappa in Baltimore
Launched in 2010, the statue of the musical maverick's head is situated right by Frank Zappa Way in Baltimore where he was born.
Johnny Ramone statue at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Unveiled three months after Johnny's death in September 2004, the statue marks is burial site at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in California.
Buddy Holly statue in Clear Lake, Iowa
The creation of Michael Connor, a large steel set of Wayfarer-style glasses that were Buddy Holly's trademark are situated at the plane crash site near Clear Lake, Iowa where Buddy, Ritchie Valens, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson & pilot Roger Peterson lost their lives in 1959.
Kurt Cobain statue in Washington
On what would have been Kurt's 47th birthday in February 2014, a statue was unveiled in the Aberdeen Museum of History, Washington as part of Kurt Cobain Day. The memorial featured a single tear rolling down Kurt's face prompting criticism from some quarters.
Freddie Mercury statue in London
This 20-foot high fibre-glass statue of Freddie Mercury that stood outside London's Dominion Theatre for We Will Rock You's 12 year run from 2002 to 2014. It now resides in Roger Taylor's back garden.
Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir
Such is their adulation for the late singer, AC/DC fans themselves raised £45,000 to fund the life-size bronze statue of Bon Scott in his home town of Kirriemuir, Scotland. Created by John McKenna, it was unveiled by former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans in May 2016.
Jimi Hendrix nail statue
Created by Boris Deheljan from Belgrade, this uncoventional Jimi statue weighs 200 kilograms was made of 4000 screws and 40 kilograms of wire. It took six months to complete.
Lemmy statue at Rainbow Bar & Grill
The 6ft bronze Lemmy statue was unveiled at his favourite drinking establishment, West Hollywood's Rainbow Bar and Grill, on Wednesday 24th August 2016. Fans raised $23,000 to fund the sculpture.
David Bowie statue in Aylesbury
The fan-funded David Bowie 'Earthly Messenger' sculpture in Aylesbury was unfortunately was vandalised just hours after being unveiled in March 2018. Here the clean up operation is taking place.
Chris Cornell statue in Seattle
Chris Cornell's life-sized bronze sculpture at a ceremony at Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture. Commissioned by Chris' wife Vicky, the six-foot statue was created by sculptor Nick Marra and depicts the singer throwing a 'rock god pose' while clutching a perfectly detailed Gibson guitar. It was unveiled in October 2018 and sadly vandalised in 2020.
John Bonham statue in Redditch
The statue of the late Led Zeppelin drummer is located in Mercian Square in Bonham's birthplace of Redditch. Created by sculptor Mark Richards and unveiled on what would have been Bonham's 70th birthday on 31st May 2018, the vast bronze sculpture weighs around 2.5 tonnes and depicts Bonzo in live action behind the drum kit.
The Beatles statues in Liverpool
The bronze statues of all four members of The Beatles – John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison – were unveiled on Liverpool's Waterfront in December 2015. Donated by The Cavern Club, the statues were created to mark the 50th anniversary of the Fab Four's last gig in Liverpool at The Liverpool Empire. Slightly larger than life, the statues way a combined 1.2 tonnes! John Lennon is also honoured with a statue on Mathew Street and at John Lennon Airport.
Buddy Holly statue in Texas
Created by sculptor Grant Speed in 1980, a huge 8.5-foot-tall bronze statue of Buddy Holly playing a Fender guitar resides in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. The sculpture was created to mark the 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly's untimely death in 1959 - The Day the Music Died.
Stevie Ray Vaughan statue in Austin, Texas
Late-great Double Trouble blues rocker Stevie Ray Vaughan is immortalised with a bronze statue on the shore of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas near to the location of his last concert in the city. It was opened in 1994, four years after Vaughan's death, and was created by sculptor Ralph Helmick.
Jimi Hendrix statue in Seattle
Depicting Jimi Hendrix throwing an iconic pose and playing a Fender Stratocaster, the life-size Jimi statue is named The Electric Lady Studio Guitar and it's located in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of Seattle. It's the work of sculptor Daryl Smith.
Phil Lynott statue in West Bromwich
A Phil Lynott statue was unveiled in his birthplace of West Bromwich on what would have been the Thin Lizzy legend's 72nd birthday on Friday 20th August 2021. The monument stands at six feet tall and features a large metal plinth featuring the words: 'Phil Lynott. Son of West Bromwich. Born in this town. 20th August 1949.' On top of the sizable plinth is a bust of Phil Lynott made from bronze and galvanized steel. The whole monument was created by local sculptor Luke Perry.
Freddie Mercury statue in Jeju, South Korea
A 5ft 9in statue of Freddie Mercury standing on the shoreline in Jeju, South Korea. The figure cost over £28,000 to make and was the labour of love for businessman and Queen fan Baek Soon-yeob, who emailed the band every month for 8 years to seek their permission.
Lemmy statue at Hellfest
A colossal statue of Motörhead legend Lemmy was unveiled at French metal festival Hellfest in Clisson, France in June 2022. Created by French artist and sculptor Caroline Brisset (pictured), the impressive statue was created from steel and concrete, and it replaces the previous Lemmy statue at Hellfest that was erected six years ago.
Till Lindemann statue in Germany
Created by animator and designer Roxxy Roxx, this 40-kilogram statue of Rammstein frontman Till Lindemann was unveiled outside the singer's childhood home in Rostock, Germany on 3rd January 2023. Unveiled to coincide with Lindemann's 60th birthday the following day, the statue was stolen just hours after it was erected.