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Now that Robert Plant officially said thanks but no thanks, the idea of a Led Zeppelin tour is no more.
But speculation of Plant rejoining Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham has effortlessly morphed into speculation about who will step in to become the trio's lead singer.
So while dozens of names have been bandied about, there is one which might make so much sense Page and Jones might consider altering Zeppelin song titles to the following: White Mountain Side, White Dog and White Country Woman.
That person is Jack White and for a few good reasons.
Although having wrapped up touring with The Raconteurs this week, there isn't anything confirmed for 2009 that White has committed to, meaning he could be available.
Added to that, White's main group The White Stripes are reportedly working on a new studio album, the follow-up to 2007's Icky Thump. But would they tour behind it?
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Well, that's up for debate. The band's trek supporting Icky Thump last year was halted when drummer Meg White began suffering from acute anxiety. She's since been onstage briefly during The Raconteurs show in Detroit last June, but a brief cameo and months on the road are two entirely different things.
Thirdly, White and Page (along with U2's The Edge) worked and performed together in the forthcoming documentary It Might Get Loud. While it was an all too brief jam, the two guitarists seemed to gel immediately, coming basically from the same musical foundation.
Page once said he wanted Zeppelin to be a "marriage of blues, hard rock and acoustic music," something White has been marrying quite successfully for the past decade.
And to those who think it wouldn't work or would be an incredible stretch for White to pull it off, just ask country legend Loretta Lynn. In a move that left many scratching their heads, White produced and performed on Lynn's 2004 critically acclaimed "comeback" album Van Lear Rose which ended up on several year-end lists, including Rolling Stone.
All of these reasons (not to mention White's vocals) would fit quite nicely into the plans of Page, Jones and Bonham.
However, there are other names which deserve attention, some more than others.
They include:
Dave Grohl
The Foo Fighters singer was in tears when Jones and Page recently performed during a Foos show at Wembley Stadium, but Grohl's manic energy is his biggest weakness as much as his biggest strength. After five or six songs, Dave Grohl would become Dave Growl, leaving the distinct possibility for a 95-minute version of No Quarter.
Chris Cornell
Having fronted Soundgarden and Audioslave, Chris Cornell has the pipes to do the job. However, Cornell is reportedly working on a new studio album entitled Scream with Timbaland which is tentatively set for release this November. A solo tour of some sort would most likely be in the works for 2009.
Axl Rose
Rose would make the most sense for the following reason: What better way to delay the reportedly upcoming release of Chinese Democracy for another two years than touring with Page, Jones and Bonham?
Sammy Hagar
Possible, but unfortunately it's no longer 1987, Eddie Van Halen disowned him and Duff McKagan said he'd like Hagar to replace Scott Weiland in Velvet Revolver.
Paul Rodgers
He's known for work with Free and Bad Company but Rodgers is on tour with Queen, so that's a no.
Ann Wilson
The singer from Heart (who reportedly has pitched the idea to the band on being the new singer) has a lot of heart and vocal prowess and is known for covering The Battle of Evermore. Yet Wilson wouldn't draw much of a younger demographic the way White would. Nice idea but better left, well, alone.
Myles Kennedy
Powerful, dynamic singer for hard rock band Alter Bridge. Before Plant made the announcement, reports circulated the trio had chosen an American as the vocalist.
David Coverdale
Been there, done that, bought the album but not the T-shirt.
Robert Plant
See the first paragraph. If still unconvinced, seek professional help.