This was the year in which we were tortured by continual will-they-won't-they reports about a possible Led Zeppelin reunion – everyone in the world convinced the one off benefit gig at The O2 in 2007 wouldn't be, in fact, a one-off. Everyone, that is, except Robert Plant, who's been pretty consistent on this – no reunion is upcoming. Of course we've since heard the rest of Led Zepp – so Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham's son Jason – are planning on touring with a different front man, though that, surely, doesn't count.
On a similar logic talk of a Jackson Five reunion, but without Michael, is also not counted here at CMU, though we did report on the chatter, but only because they initially said that Michael was involved before he said he wasn't. I suspect they were trying to present him with a fait accompli in hopes he would just play ball.
Another ridiculous reunion rumour doing the rounds of late is the one about The Smiths, which seems to have arisen simply because Johnny Marr has actually been speaking to Morrissey. Conversation does not a band reformation make, as Marr has recently confirmed, telling NME: "The stories circulating about a Smiths reunion are, as usual, untrue. I'm currently very excited about writing and recording with The Cribs for a new album to be released next summer and we're playing shows in February, so going back in time isn't in my plans".
Another Manchester band rumoured to be reforming, The Stone Roses, are, we're told, actually quite up for it. Well, all but Ian Brown, which kind of puts them in the same category as Led Zepp doesn't it? Except I don't think any of the other Roses are suggesting they'd do anything without their frontman. Which is a good thing.
As to reunions that are in fact happening - yes, finally, after months and months of speculating about it, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree have confirmed that they will in fact reunite as Blur for a couple of Hyde Park performances next year.
The Faces have been in rehearsal and plan to take it out on the road next year, The Specials have announced a series of spring dates (somewhat controversially, because original member Jerry Dammers says he wasn't invited to join the reunion, and is a bit cross about it all), Yazoo reformed this summer for a number of live dates coinciding with the release of their four disc box set, Stone Temple Pilots went back on the road in the US, New Kids On The Block got back together and released a new album in September, and Utah Saints came back this year, thank goodness, though I'm not sure they ever officially split up.
As for new splits, of the band rather than banana variety, the aforementioned Stone Temple Pilots reunion led to the end of frontman Scott Weiland's other band Velvet Revolver. Well, it did as far as he was concerned. His bandmates, led by Slash, made it quite clear they intended to continue with a new man up front while dissing Weiland a little in the process. Though, it has to be said, they haven't found anyone yet.
Talking of dissing, when UB40's management announced that frontman Ali Campbell was leaving to concentrate on "solo projects", he quickly hit back saying he was doing no such thing, rather he was quitting because his management were shit, or words to the effect. Much ranting followed from either side, despite the fact the band were still touring at the time. One last album followed – as a giveaway with the Mail On Sunday – before it was announced Ali's brother Duncan would replace him in the band. I don't think we ever found out what Ali thought of that.
Other bands calling it a day for one reason or another this year included The Long Blondes, Be Your Own Pet, Plans & Apologies and I Was A Cub Scout. Dirty Pretty Things also promised to call it a day once their current tour is up. LCD Soundsystem, however, are not splitting, even if Hot Chip's Al Doyle (an LCD collaborator) implied they were. And Godspeed You! Black Emperor, reported as splitting earlier in the year, are also still together – if a band that has been on hiatus since 2003 can still "be together".