Who Are the ‘Big 4’ of Potential Rock Reunions?

Previously two months, each Oasis and Rush have shocked followers by saying beforehand unthinkable reunion excursions. Which begs the query… who’s subsequent?

With apologies to Aerosmith, who appear to be heading in direction of no less than an Ozzy Osbourne-style farewell present, listed here are the 4 greatest traditional rock reunions which can be nonetheless technically attainable, if nonetheless not possible:

Journey and Steve Perry

Steve Perry hasn’t accomplished an album and touring cycle as Journey’s lead singer since 1987. Whereas the band stays among the many greatest touring sights within the style, followers nonetheless go into overdrive upon listening to any trace or rumor that the unique voice behind “Do not Cease Believin'” or “Faithfully” may someday return.

Perry has been very constant about his lack of curiosity in doing so, declining the prospect to carry out with the band throughout their 2017 Rock Corridor of Fame induction, praising the work achieved by present Journey frontman Arnel Pineda and stating just some months in the past that he “take pleasure in(s) the solitude and privateness that my life has proper now.”

In a 2012 interview with UCR, guitarist Neal Schon said that he was merely hoping to re-establish private communication with Perry: “I hope that sometime, that we will get to the purpose to the place I can decide up the phone and I can speak to him with out speaking by administration and attorneys,”

Earlier this month, Schon informed Sirius XM’s Eddie Trunk he had tried inviting Perry to a baseball recreation, however didn’t hear again. He now appears resigned to that indisputable fact that the duo have certainly gone their (sorry) separate methods: “I imply, you’ll be able to’t maintain chasing one thing that is simply not enthusiastic about, you already know, correlating with you.”

Fleetwood Mac

The 2022 demise of Christine McVie means a full reunion of Fleetwood Mac’s traditional Rumours-era five-piece lineup is now sadly inconceivable. In 2023 Stevie Nicks declared the loss to be the top of the group. “With out her, what’s it?,” she requested. “When [Christine] died, I figured we will not actually go any additional with this. There is no motive to.”

Here is the place you say, “However wait, did not Fleetwood Mac tour and even file as a four-piece band with out McVie from 1998 to 2014?” True! However bear in mind there’s additionally the Lindsey Buckingham matter to type out.

The guitarist and singer was compelled out of the group in 2018 after apparently enraging Nicks by mocking her throughout an award ceremony. “I handled Lindsey for so long as I may,” she declared in 2024. “You possibly can not say that I didn’t give him greater than 300 million probabilities.”

Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope has emerged in latest months, as the previous bandmates and ex-lovers teamed up no less than lengthy sufficient to advertise the reissue of their lengthy out-of-print 1973 Buckingham Nicks album. Earlier this month Nicks even wished Buckingham “one of the best birthday ever,” concluding her Instagram put up with “Love’s ya!”

Learn Extra: Why 38 of Rock’s Greatest Reunions Have not Occurred

Pink Floyd

As with Fleetwood Mac, a full classic-lineup Pink Floyd reunion is now inconceivable, on this case as a result of 2008 demise of keyboardist Richard Wright.

Additionally, to borrow a line from the Eagles, hell hasn’t frozen over but. If something, the feuding between David Gilmour and Roger Waters, who departed the group in 1985, has gotten worse lately.

Whereas each musicians have maintained profitable recording and touring careers, Gilmour has made it completely clear he has little interest in a reunion.

In 2023, Gilmour’s spouse and collaborator Polly Samson tweeted that Waters was a “Putin apologist and a mendacity, thieving, hypocritical, tax-avoiding, lip-synching, misogynistic, sick-with-envy megalomaniac.” “Each phrase demonstrably true,” Gilmour mentioned whereas sharing his spouse’s message.

The next yr Gilmour expressed aid after promoting the rights to Pink Floyd’s recorded music, identify and likeness for $400 million. “I’ve spent the final 40-odd years attempting to battle the nice battle towards the forces of indolence and greed to do one of the best with our stuff that you are able to do. And I’ve given up that battle now… It is beautiful to say goodbye to.”

Led Zeppelin

Quickly after the 1980 demise of drummer John Bonham, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin declared they might not think about occurring with out him.

Apart from a handful of charity present appearances – most notably the implausible 2007 full-length live performance that was chronicled on the Celebration Day dwell album and residential video – they’ve held true to that promise, though two of the three surviving members had been apparently tempted.

After the Celebration Day present, Jimmy Web page and John Paul Jones had been keen to increase their reunion, with John’s son Jason on drums. Nevertheless, Robert Plant remained doggedly decided to depart the previous previously, and to maintain transferring ahead along with his creatively fruitful solo profession.

“You are going again to the identical outdated s—,” the singer declared in 2014. “A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested pursuits and the very essence of every thing that is shitty about about big-time stadium rock. We had been surrounded by a circus of individuals that might have had our souls on the hearth. I am not a part of a jukebox!”

After jamming with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler – who says he in the end turned them down – and Myles Kennedy – Web page and Jones deserted the undertaking, which Kennedy mentioned wasn’t going to make use of the band’s well-known and sacred moniker. “They weren’t certain what it was, however it was by no means going to be Led Zeppelin with one other singer, I imply, clearly.”