As part of our ongoing Live Aid Week coverage in Philadelphia, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable moments—both iconic and infamous—from that historic day in music history. And while many remember Live Aid for its charitable cause and jaw-dropping performances, not every reunion hit the mark. In fact, when it comes to Led Zeppelin’s highly anticipated return to the stage, there’s no other way to put it: it was a trainwreck.
The stage was set for what should have been a monumental occasion. Led Zeppelin had disbanded in 1980 after the tragic death of their powerhouse drummer, John Bonham. His passing marked the end of an era, and fans resigned themselves to the belief that Zeppelin was done for good. So when rumors began swirling that surviving members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones would reunite for the massive Live Aid benefit concert in 1985—with Phil Collins and Tony Thompson filling in on drums—expectations immediately went through the roof.
It wasn’t just the first Zeppelin performance since 1980; it was their first appearance in North America since 1977. That tour had been cut short due to the death of Plant’s young son, and fate seemed to twist the knife even further—Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium was supposed to host the final show of that ill-fated tour. Now, eight years later, Zeppelin was finally going to play in Philadelphia, this time as part of a global effort to fight famine in Africa. The moment was heavy with significance.
Unfortunately, the performance itself fell far short of legendary. From the very start, it was clear things were off. The band had no time to rehearse properly, and the lack of preparation showed. Jimmy Page’s guitar was wildly out of tune for large parts of the set. Robert Plant’s vocals sounded strained and unsure. John Paul Jones tried to hold things together, but even his steady musicianship couldn’t save the mess unfolding around him.
As for the drumming—well, Phil Collins later admitted he had no idea what was going on. Playing alongside Tony Thompson in a double-drummer setup sounded good on paper, but in execution, it turned into a rhythmic disaster. The two drummers were completely out of sync, and the whole performance felt uncoordinated and chaotic. Collins famously flew from London to Philly on the Concorde just to be part of the show, but once he arrived, he realized it was doomed.
Critics and fans alike were merciless. What was supposed to be a triumphant return quickly became one of the most talked-about failures in live rock history. Even the band members themselves have looked back on the performance with regret. Page has called it “a shambles,” and Plant has admitted he wasn’t in good voice or headspace that day.
In the end, Zeppelin’s Live Aid set served as a harsh reminder that some legends are better left untouched—at least without proper rehearsal and alignment. Still, the performance is etched in history, if only as a cautionary tale about the dangers of rushing a reunion. For all the goodwill and excitement Live Aid generated, even rock gods can stumble.