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LONDON - Rarely can the wiggle of a little finger have meant so much to so many.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page says a broken finger on his left hand is healing well and he is confident of performing in a reunion concert on Dec. 10, rescheduled from November to give him time to recover after a fall.
It has also been reported Led Zeppelin will tour with '80s rock powerhouse The Cult next year. According to MTV, Cult frontman Ian Astbury let the news slip during a concert in Cincinnati, Ohio.
"We'll be back next year because we're opening for a band you may have heard of... The name starts with an 'L' and has a 'Z' in it."
When a fan shouted, "Led Zeppelin?" Astbury nodded to confirm the fan's guess, and raised his arm in the air.
The classic British rock band, which has sold around 300 million albums, plans to perform one track for the first time at the gig, 27 years after they split, Page says.
"I suppose something like a Zeppelin reunion wouldn't be right without a bit of drama," the silver-haired 63-year-old Led Zeppelin guitarist told Reuters in an interview, referring to the recent accident.
"I'll tell you now, this is 2-1/2 weeks from the injury and there we are, it's doing that," he said, holding up and moving the injured finger.
"It's going to be fine for the concert.
"I'm able to do what I ought to be able to do, it's just a bit bruised and a it's bit painful still, but with this two weeks' postponement ... it's going to be fine."
Page said he would resume rehearsals this week.
Led Zeppelin are getting back together to pay tribute to the late Ahmet Ertegun, who originally signed them in 1968 before they became one of the world's biggest bands.
Demand for tickets was so great that the website crashed when millions of fans tried to log on. One paid £83,000 pounds ($228,000) for two tickets in a charity auction.
"I was told at one point that there were half a billion hits. I don't know how true that is, but it sounds better than, you know, five, doesn't it?" Page said.
Ticket holders will be treated to a 90-minute set at the domed 02 Arena where the band is expected to play seminal hits like Whole Lotta Love, Communication Breakdown and Stairway to Heaven.
Page expects one track to be new to everyone.
"There's one number that we rehearsed, I assume that it will make it to the Dome, that we never played at any point in time."
It dates from when the band was together between 1968 and 1980. "It's a really intense number."
As well as the concert, Led Zeppelin have released a compilation album Mothership, a remastered version of the concert film The Song Remains the Same and the soundtrack to the DVD.
The Dec. 10 gig has led to speculation in the media and among fans that the band, which has played only a handful of times since it split, could tour together, following in the footsteps of countless other heritage rock acts.
Page has been quoted as hinting at a full reunion although some industry sources say that lead singer Robert Plant, who has enjoyed a successful solo career, may be reluctant to sign up.
Page and Plant play alongside bassist John Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham, son of John Bonham, whose death in 1980 prompted Led Zeppelin to break up.
"Let's just do the O2 and we'll see what happens from there," said Page. "I haven't got a crystal ball here and nor have you."
- REUTERS
