Paolo Nutini Gets the Led Out

Posted on Sep 18th 2007 5:00PM by Steve Baltin
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Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini has played some high-profile gigs since releasing his debut album, 'These Streets,' last year. But as big as Bonnaroo or Austin City Limits are, the festivals don't quite compare to opening for Led Zeppelin when the veteran rockers reunite at London's O2 Arena on November 26. Nutini joins a line-up that also features Who guitarist Pete Townshend and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, in a tribute to late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.

"Basically it was put, 'Do you want to support Led Zeppelin?'" Nutini explains to Spinner on how he landed the gig. "I said, 'Yes.' My first thought was, 'I can't wait to see that show. I can't wait to see Zeppelin reform and play again for one night."

One of the reasons Nutini was asked to play the bill was because of his relationship with Ertegun. "The first time I met him it was last year," Nutini says. "I did a show in New York at the Mercury Lounge, and he came. It was an amazing thing to see Ahmet Ertegun at one of your shows -- trust me. I was in awe of anything he had to say to me. When I speak to other people and they say, 'Ahmet spoke very highly of you,' it's a pleasure. There aren't a lot of people like that anymore."