Estranged rockers might reunite
Massive paydays and a bit of late-career relevancy are responsible for the great wave of rock band revivals these past few years. The trend has turned sworn enemies into pussycats, resulting in reunions that seemed, just a few years ago, impossible: Van Halen, The Police, Rage Against the Machine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Iggy and the Stooges, Wire, Gang of Four, The Pixies, Simon & Garfunkel, Fleetwood Mac and, yes, thanks to the inflexibility of girl power, even the Spice Girls.
With the concert industry desperate for excitement at the box office, expect the trend to heat up this year. Who will set aside differences and comb through their back catalog of hits to fill seats in 2008? Odds are, these few:
Led Zeppelin
Who: The UK rock gods made the front page of The New York Times in mid-December when they united to play a tribute show to former Atlantic honcho Ahmet Ertegun. That single show won unanimous praise from critics and fans.
Who's left: Drummer John Bonham died in 1980, leaving Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones to play together only intermittently since.
Danger: Plant is touring with fiddler Alison Krauss in 2008 to promote "Raising Sand" (Rounder), their recent hit album.
Reality check: No confirmed dates yet. But insiders say the band is under contract to play the major U.S. festivals this summer and Jones told Rolling Stone recently that the band held a meeting to talk dates. Suspected drummer? Dave Grohl.
The Pogues
Who: An Irish Clash, the Pogues produced some of the most fiercely romantic drinking music in the early 1980s through the early '90s, earning them a loyal following in the States. Due to the bacchanal tendencies of lead singer/slurrer Shane MacGowan, the band disbanded in 1996.
Who's left: All original members including MacGowan and co-founder Spider Stacy.
Danger: Band's lead singer continues to have no teeth.
Reality check: Confirmed. The band headlines the Riviera March 5 and 6.
The Kinks
Who: The beloved architects of British garage rock, The Kinks are the only British Invasion band with all original members still alive. Leader Ray Davies told the British press last month that he'd like to get together with the original lineup for a reunion to commemorate a long-overdue box set due this year.
Who's left: Brothers Dave and Ray Davies, bassist Pete Quaife and drummer Mick Avory, the original lineup that has not played together as a whole since 1969.
Danger: Ray and Dave are rock's most famous feuding brothers, making the Gallaghers in Oasis look like the Hardy Boys.
Reality check: No confirmed dates yet. On his Web site, Dave Davies wrote, "I wouldn't mind or rather consider doing some shows with Ray purely in respect for the great body of work we have both been fortunate to have been involved in over the years. And for the fans, of course. And the money. Don't forget the money."
The B-52s
Who: Quirky, New Wave Southerners responsible for manic hits such as "Rock Lobster" and "Love Shack" have not released a new album in 16 years.
Who's left: Guitarist Ricky Wilson died in 1985, leaving original drummer Keith Strickland to pick up a guitar, joining singers Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson.
Danger: Last reunion effort resulted in the band recording the theme for a Scooby Doo movie.
Reality check: Confirmed. New album "Funplex" (Astralwerks) is scheduled for release March 25. Strickland calls the new songs "loud, sexy rock 'n' roll with the beat pumped up to hot pink."
My Bloody Valentine
Who: The famed UK art-noise band is best regarded for "Loveless" (Creation/Sire), its 1991 masterwork that defined shoegazing psychedelics, with considerable influence on Radiohead, The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails and other epic-minded alternative nation bands.
Who's left: Leader Kevin Shields with bassist Debbie Googe, guitarist Bilinda Butcher and drummer Colm O'Ciosoig.
Danger: Since the band turned distortion into a fine art, bring earplugs.
Reality check: Confirmed. The band has dates set in Europe this summer and a long-awaited third album is due later this year.
The Jam
Who: British pop punks are the middle point between The Kinks and The Arctic Monkeys and are best known for their 1978 album "All Mod Cons," a touchstone of the era that combined punk energy with R&B.
Who's left: Paul Weller is not joining this reunion, which will feature remaining members Bruce Foxton on bass and drummer Rick Buckler.
Danger: This reunion is officially titled, for legal reasons, "From the Jam."
Reality check: Confirmed. Their U.S. tour started in January.
The Verve
Who: Jam-oriented British psychedelic band from the 1990s that made a string of brilliant albums before losing a royalty battle with The Rolling Stones for samples on their breakthrough hit "Bittersweet Symphony."
Who's left: Frontman Richard Ashcroft, bassist Simon Jones, guitarist Nick McCabe and drummer Peter Salisbury.
Danger: Strategize for tickets. A six-date UK tour in November sold out in 20 minutes.
Reality check: Confirmed. The band played UK dates late last year and is headlining Coachella this summer. A new album, the first in 11 years, is due soon.
The Jackson 5
Who: Gary, Ind.'s favorite dysfunctional family clan.
Who's left: Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Jackie and, believe it, Michael.
Danger: Jermaine Dupri (Janet Jackson's fiance) said the brother group would reunite this past New Year's Eve to celebrate their sister's engagement. Didn't happen.
Reality check: Rumored. If it's a go, it'll be their first since 1984's glitter-studded "Victory" tour. In November, Jermaine Jackson told the BBC that the group "is in the studio at the moment" and a full-scale reunion is set for "sometime in 2008." "We feel we have to do it one more time. We owe that to the fans and to the public," he said.