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Whole lotta herb tea of Led Zeppelin's stairlift to heaven
Last updated at 15:37pm on 11.12.07In their heyday they were the lords of excess - with vodka for breakfast and champagne for supper fuelling a 24-hour party habit.
Yesterday, however, it was clear that Led Zeppelin had come down to Earth after a very long high.
Instead of the notorious "coke" lady employed on their 1973 U.S. tour to keep the rockers rocking, last night's reunion gig was more in need of a tea lady.
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Back together: The trio have reunited after 19 years
More than one million people applied in a lottery for one of the 20,000 seats
The band - reformed for the first time in 19 years - requested little more than a constant flow of caffeine-free herbal tea and sparkling water for their backstage dressing room.
The one-off performance by Robert Plant, 59, Jimmy Page, 63, and John Paul Jones, 61, at London's O2 Arena was in honour of Ahmet Ertegun, the late Atlantic Records founder who first signed them in 1968.
Concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith said: "They are much older now obviously and are very low maintenance. They've asked for cups of tea. We'll have some beer and a bottle of wine for them backstage but they have said they require very little.
"They are extremely focused and have been rehearsing. They know that a lot of people have been waiting a long time for this gig."
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Rock on: Frontman Robert Plant warms up his vocal chords at the rehearsal
The three originals teamed up last night with Jason Bonham, 41, the son of their deceased drummer John Bonham, who died after a breakfast vodka binge while rehearsing for a tour in 1980.
Perhaps aware of their greying temples both Plant and Page have put effort into their appearance as well as their playing in the run-up to the concert.
Plant has been seen working out with a personal trainer while Page was spotted leaving a London tanning salon. More than 20million fans are believed to have applied in a lottery for one of the 20,000 seats.
Early yesterday tickets with backstage passes were still open for bids on eBay starting at £4,000.
The reunion performance was originally scheduled for November 26 but the audience was kept waiting for an extra month after guitarist Page broke his finger when he tripped over a slab in his garden.
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Rehearsals: Guitarist Jimmy Page warms up
One man, Kenneth Donnell, 25, who was not even born when the band rose to fame, paid £83,000 for two tickets in a charity auction during Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 show.
Last night, hundreds of fans from around the world queued up at the arena in Docklands waiting to hear classics such as Whole Lotta Love and Stairway to Heaven.
Security steward Lisa Irvine said: "I've seen people travelling from Canada, Israel and Brazil to see the group. There is such a buzz here."
Jens Nielsen, from Oslo, Norway: "I have been here for three hours.
"It doesn't matter how long I wait because I've been a fan for over ten years. I think I'm going to cry when I actually see them on stage."
Hey day: rock icons Led Zeppelin in 1975
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Good he is taking care of himself. I love tea.
- Kathy, Eureka USA
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