Page-Coverdale Team: Stairway to Heaven or Hell?

Is it the ultimate supergroup? Or a cynical superstar rip-off?

Expect to hear plenty of debate in the coming months, especially from hard-core Led Zeppelin fans, as word gets out that Led Zep guitar hero Jimmy Page is teaming up for a new album (and a nationwide tour) with Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale.

The duo have been in Reno for the past month rehearsing and writing new material, with an eye on entering a studio by late summer to make a Geffen Records album for next spring. Geffen execs say a summer tour will follow that would feature Page and Coverdale performing Zep classics and Whitesnake hits as well as new material.

“Jimmy is revitalized,” says Geffen A&R; exec John Kalodner, who has worked closely with Page and Whitesnake and played a key role in putting the project together with Page manager Brian Good. “He’s very clear-headed and enthusiastic, which hadn’t always been my experience with him in the past. He seems highly motivated to make a good record--and go out on tour.”

How did the two aging rock warriors hook up? According to Kalodner, Page had gotten excited about performing again when he was involved in supervising Led Zeppelin’s box-set last year. “Jimmy really wanted to get Zeppelin back together, but when that fell through, he realized that he had a real urge to tour America and play that material for the kids here.”

Insiders say that Page is still unhappy about the way Robert Plant handled the abortive Led Zep reunion and feels he has something to prove to his old bandmate. When Kalodner suggested to Page’s manager that Page meet Coverdale, it struck a responsive chord. “Jimmy had been thinking along the same lines,” Kalodner said. “They met in New York at the end of March and hit it off so well they went right to Reno and started writing.”

Contrary to initial speculation, the new band will not include Page’s old Zep bassist John Paul Jones or late drummer John Bonham’s son, Jason. For now, the duo are rehearsing with Heart drummer Denny Carmasi and Bad English bassist Richie Phillips, but permanent band assignments are up in the air. (Asked where this leaves Whitesnake, Kalodner described the band as being “on hiatus.”)

But the rock jury is still out. Could this be the next best thing to seeing a Zeppelin reunion? Or will it be more like Page’s last joint venture, his ill-fated pairing with Paul Rodgers in the Firm, which was followed by a bo-o-o-o-ring solo album?

Some rock observers dismissed the coupling as being inspired more by business priorities than musical inspiration. “It’s a shrewd marketing move, but it’s definitely a marketing move,” said one top record exec. “It’s a rock version of a corporate merger. Geffen has two over-the-hill superstars, so why not team them up and see if it creates a spark? When Page couldn’t get Zeppelin back together with Robert Plant, he did the next best thing--he got David Coverdale, the ultimate Robert Plant wanna-be.”

Not one to mince words, Kalodner stoutly defended the duo’s motives. “First off, as a singer, David Coverdale is an improvement on Robert Plant,” he said. “Once you hear David do a Led Zeppelin song, there won’t be any debate about it.

“This is totally something Jimmy and David wanted to do for the music. This isn’t a corporate decision, like an Eagles reunion tour. Jimmy Page couldn’t spend all the money he has. It’s hard to speak for Jimmy, but I think he wants to show he still has something to say. I think he wants to enjoy being Jimmy Page again.”