Imagine this: Two titans of rock, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, joining forces in the 80s. A supergroup of epic proportions, right? But what if I told you the reality was a bit… different? Let's dive into the story of The Firm, a band that, despite its potential, didn't quite reach the heights everyone expected.
Formed in 1984, The Firm was, in many ways, a lifeline for Jimmy Page. After the tragic loss of Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham in 1980, Page found himself adrift, struggling with personal and professional demons. The band was, as Page himself put it, what "saved" him.
Following Bonham's death, Page retreated into a dark period. Friends worried he might never recover. There were a few tentative projects, like a soundtrack for the movie Death Wish II and a one-off appearance at a charity concert. But it wasn't until Page met Paul Rodgers on the US leg of the ARMS tour in 1983 that things started to look up. Rodgers, a contemporary of Led Zeppelin's from the late 60s, was one of the few people Page still felt comfortable around.
Rodgers himself was also navigating the aftermath of a split with Bad Company. As Rodgers recalls, the two musicians had crossed paths before, even jamming together at a concert. This shared experience forged a connection, leading to the formation of The Firm. The band also included Chris Slade on drums and Tony Franklin on bass.
Interestingly, the band's name, which was also the name of the infamous Krays' gang, didn't reflect any grand ambitions beyond Page's desire to "get out and play and just really enjoy ourselves." Rodgers saw it as a means to help Page regain his footing musically.
But here's where it gets controversial... The Firm released two albums: The Firm (1985) and Mean Business (1986). While both albums sold respectably and the single "Radioactive" reached the US Top 30, critics found their sound to be a bit… tame, especially compared to the raw power of Led Zeppelin and Bad Company. The band's approach to their music was different from what many fans expected. Page explained that the guitar parts in The Firm's songs, like "Live In Peace," were more reminiscent of Zeppelin. However, the band refused to perform any of their older, signature songs live, which resulted in them touring Europe with a set of unfamiliar material.
There were also echoes of their musical past, with songs like "Midnight Moonlight" (which had been a Zeppelin track) and their version of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." Ultimately, the band decided to call it quits in the summer of 1986, after another successful American tour.
Page wanted to "start branching out with some of my own ideas." Rodgers felt that the band had served its purpose, helping Page get back on track.
And this is the part most people miss... The fact that Robert Plant was secretly hoping to reunite Led Zeppelin with drummer Tony Thompson also played a role in the situation. Rodgers has said that The Firm was always intended to last for just two albums. "By the end, I felt that Jimmy was up and running and in great shape – he was in fantastic form," he said. "And I sort of thought, ‘Well, job done’, really. We left it on a high note, thinking, ‘Well, we’ll come back at some point and do something’. But we haven’t actually done that. Maybe we will, who knows? It’s always on the cards."
What do you think? Did The Firm live up to its potential? Were the critics too harsh? Do you think a reunion is still possible? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
