Is Led Zeppelin worth credit card debt?

October 1, 2007 7:30 PM

Is Led Zeppelin worth credit card debt?

So, I won tickets to see the Led Zeppelin reunion next month in London. I'm in the US, and problem is, I don't really have the cash to buy plane tickets/hotel/etc. I do have a credit card, but, I'm feeling uneasy about using it to purchase the trip, especially when the dollar isn't doing so hot. But then again, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for me (being born 5 days after John Bonham died). I've never been to England and would like to go. So, what would you do?

(I guess I should note I do currently carry a balance, but I've been paying it down like crazy lately, hence the lack of cash)

posted by disaster77 to work & money (70 comments total)

Could you take on extra work to pay off the tickets?

Also be on the lookout for good fare rates, stay in a hostel rather than a hotel, etc - the tickets might not be *that* expensive.
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:35 PM on October 1, 2007

Sell the tickets. Go to England when you can afford to go and really see it. If the show is a success, Led Zeppelin will likely go on tour, and then you can see them.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:36 PM on October 1, 2007

And I should add, if they go on tour, the show will likely get better.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 7:36 PM on October 1, 2007

Yes, I have some extra work I can squeeze in, but it's rough as I already work full-time and go to school part-time.
posted by disaster77 at 7:37 PM on October 1, 2007

being a die-hard Zep fan, I know where you're coming from.

Of course, only you can decide if it's "worth it."

However, I wouldn't be so sure about the "once in a lifetime" thing. When bands do a reunion show, assuming it doesn't implode horribly, a tour tends to follow.

I know Zep has had a "no reunions" stance in the past, but since Page and Plant did two tours in the 90s, I see a chance of all three of them touring after this show. I could be wrong, though.
posted by drjimmy11 at 7:39 PM on October 1, 2007

From multiple anecdotes and stories I've heard time and time again, including from my dad when he saw them in their heyday, Led Zeppelin sucks live. This is mostly because Jimmie Page can't do the kind of stuff he did in a studio on stage. Add in the fact that I'm sure Robert Plant's vocals are probably not what they used to be, and I think you have your answer. Credit card debt sucks.
posted by Mach5 at 7:40 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

"Is Led Zeppelin worth credit card debt?"

Nope. And I say this as a man who remembers the soundtrack to his first love affair being Led Zepplin...
posted by paulsc at 7:42 PM on October 1, 2007

No, not worth it.
posted by Manhasset at 7:43 PM on October 1, 2007

Um, I disagree with Mach 5. But, you could probably sell the tickets for a pretty mark up. And pay off even more of the debt that you have. Go rent a copy of The Song Remains the Same, get high, and as a reward for showing some discipline, purchase the $80 dollar Radiohead set that was just announced. Then get high again.
posted by |n$eCur3 at 7:46 PM on October 1, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

I'll be the contrarian. Absolutely worth it. Oh, not the Zep necessarily - they will probably be good, not great. Definitely not the Zeppelin of their heyday. But this is not just swinging down to the local arena to sit in the upper deck and see the aging Plant and Page through binoculars. This is a chance to fly to another country, see a legendary reunion, and have a story to tell. Several times I've flown to other cities to see bands (although usually because their local show has sold out, and for the price of two scalped tickets I could get a plane ticket and go somewhere interesting), and those have always been my favorite trips. You have a pair of tickets, yeah? Hit London, find a cool pub, and invite a cute bird to the show with you. Enjoy a weekend of '70s-Zeppelin-tour style debauchery in the UK. Yeah, you'll be paying it off for a year or two, but if you do it right, the story will well outlast the bills.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 7:48 PM on October 1, 2007 [6 favorites has favorites]

(I might add that when I was 16, I went to the UK with my high school band. Plant was playing in London while we were there - on the "Now & Zen" tour, I believe - and my buddy & I tried to get to the show. We were denied, and I *still* regret that to this day. Even though that album was "meh" at best, and I can't imagine the show would have been much better.)
posted by Banky_Edwards at 7:49 PM on October 1, 2007

I think it's totally worth it. How much money are you talking about, total?
posted by anildash at 7:51 PM on October 1, 2007

It'll probably be like $2500 total, based on a quick lookup I did tonight.
posted by disaster77 at 7:55 PM on October 1, 2007

Sitting here right now today and sagely stroking my wise-old-man beard I decree, Not Worth It.

But you only live once and you'll at least be buying a story that you can bore your friends with for the rest of your life. Too bad it's Led Zep, and not a good band. Do it anyway!

No, no. I don't really believe that. You should sell the tickets and pay off the rest of your credit card balance and then plan a nice vacation when you can afford it, and do England right.

C'mon, it'd be sooooo much fun! You should totally do it!

I have no idea what you should do. I wouldn't go, cuz I couldn't care less about Led Zeppelin. I wouldn't go if it was a band I liked a lot if it was going to drive me into massive high-interest debt. I WOULD go if it was a band I liked a lot and I could pay the debt off within six months.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:59 PM on October 1, 2007

Sell the tix. Pay off your balance.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:04 PM on October 1, 2007

If they can somehow guarantee that John Bonham will show up and play the drums, it is worth it, otherwise, no.

You're a student? You could be paying that debt (compounded with what I am sure is a fat APR) for years.
posted by 4ster at 8:05 PM on October 1, 2007

Nope
posted by that girl at 8:09 PM on October 1, 2007

you can't afford to go.

you're just looking for affirmation so you'll go anyways.

good luck with that.
posted by Mr_Crazyhorse at 8:20 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I really want to say yes, but no. Sell the tickets. Pay off more of your debt.
posted by spec80 at 8:28 PM on October 1, 2007

Not worth it, not even for the story. If it was a couple hundred, yeah, but not $2500. Sell 'em and use the money to do something else interesting--take a road trip, maybe, or go to some MLB playoff games, or whatever...
posted by equalpants at 8:32 PM on October 1, 2007

i would go to London and see the show.

i am pretty reckless with my money, but i love live music.

it depends on how much you like/love/admire Led Zeppelin. for me, it would have to be Bob Dylan, Coldplay, or Cat Stevens to warrant a plane ticket.

if you do go, and you need something to think about to ease the potential guilt,

"believe me, 'i shall live' is not the saying of a wise man. tomorrow's life is too late. live today." -martial
posted by gursky at 8:33 PM on October 1, 2007

I would go. But were I still a student, and were I already carrying debt that would be problematic, then I would probably do the responsible thing.

Oh, who am I kidding. I would totally go.
posted by Peecabu at 8:39 PM on October 1, 2007

When I was in college I probably would have went, but in retrospect every time I charged something with the I only live once excuse, it was a mistake.

As you probably already know, every time you charge something, you're essentially stealing money from future you. Paying far more in the future for a memory. Building up debt now will lead to limiting what you can do in the future.

Plus, you're not seeing the "real" Led Zeppelin anyways.
posted by drezdn at 8:43 PM on October 1, 2007

From multiple anecdotes and stories I've heard time and time again, including from my dad when he saw them in their heyday, Led Zeppelin sucks live.

from various live recordings, (of which "the song remains the same" is actually one of the weakest), this is blatantly untrue.

just to give you my two cents on the page/plant tours of the 90s: the '95 tour was great, amazing, best live show I've ever seen. There was something special in the air and everyone in the arena knew it.

the second tour- not so much. still "good," and I'm sure amazing for those seeing them for the first time, but for me, the magic was gone. they played the same exact set every night, it wasn't loud enough, and Page had cut his hair.

In short, they were kind of going through the motions. Those guys going through the motions is still better than 99% of the bands ever, but still...

seeing as 10 more years have passed since then, that's the kind of performance I would expect in London, even with JP Jones on board.
posted by drjimmy11 at 8:45 PM on October 1, 2007

oh and while I'm here, here is a vaguely relevant anecdote about why I missed the 2nd Washington DC night of the '95 tour...
posted by drjimmy11 at 8:52 PM on October 1, 2007

the real led zeppelin died with john bonham

enjoy the old recordings and footage of shows

imagine how you'd feel about the debt if they disappointed, and perhaps even worse, how you'd feel about led zeppelin
posted by Salvatorparadise at 8:55 PM on October 1, 2007

I'm not that into Zepplin, and I don't know where you are in the U.S. But I will say this... as a budget traveler I can assure you that a quick trip to London doesn't have to cost $2500! No way! Unless you live nowhere near a hub city with an international airport or there are some kind of extenuating circumstances or something. Or you're including lost wages. I'm basing this statement on my own experience of going for five days on a spur of the moment whim in 2003, and adding inflation.

So let's see... the concert's on November 26th so that's over a month's notice. You definitely would want to go for more than just a day or two. So on away.com, you can check a bunch of airfare sites at once, and let's see... I don't know where you are but from Los Angeles it's around $300 roundtrip (plus taxes) right now for a non-stop on United leaving the US on Thursday and leaving London on Wednesday. Let's say $30 to shuttle into town from Heathrow (I forget the exact price, so I'm probably wrong but it's something like that). You can get a cheap room at the Garden Court Hotel with a shared bath to cut costs (you'll just be sleeping there anyhow) for around $65 a night (tiny rooms but it's in a really great neighborhood). Add onto that food & entertainment and take the tube or walk everywhere you can (cheaper than taxis). Unless you buy a lot of stuff, it's not going to be $2500.

Whether or not it's a good idea for you to go is a different issue. Just know that a trip to London doesn't HAVE to cost your life savings if it's something you DO decide you don't want to miss out on.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:56 PM on October 1, 2007 [3 favorites has favorites]

Do you have ticketS or A ticket. If you have two, just maybe you'll be able to barter one for airfare/hotel? Even if you can't sell it for the 2 thousand the trip will cost you, there's someone out there with a deal or works for the airlines who can provide you with that at a much lower cost to them.
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:57 PM on October 1, 2007

*zeppElin.* sorry.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:58 PM on October 1, 2007

Also, keep in mind... since you're a student you can get an international student ID card and that qualifies you for student airfares that are generally HELLA cheaper than anyone else can get. Plus you can use that student ID card to get discounts on a zillion things in London. That's how I afforded all of the travel I did in my 20s.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:01 PM on October 1, 2007

And if you get an International Youth Hostel Card, you can stay in London hostels for under $30 a night.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:04 PM on October 1, 2007

Is Led Zeppelin worth credit card debt?

No. Credit card debt should be used for emergencies only.
posted by dhammond at 9:07 PM on October 1, 2007

Yeah, I'm going to have to add to the chorus of 'no.' Such a difficult amount of money shouldn't go on a credit card. If you can't save it up, I think you should skip it. And, yes, I am a Zep fan and would love to see them live.

For my money, however, I think they can never recapture the magic of the original four and despite their best efforts, the song won't be the same.

Man, that equally sucks and rocks. ;-) / ;-(
posted by tcv at 9:22 PM on October 1, 2007

hell, go to
the generator

$25-30 a night, and 1 pound brews in the bar till 9 or so

they're usually booked up way in advance
and it's nuts there

you might actually see some bonham-level drinkers if you hang out at that place for a few days
posted by Salvatorparadise at 9:22 PM on October 1, 2007

Is Led Zeppelin worth credit card debt?

No. Credit card debt should be used for emergencies only.

well, Davey, apparently that's a thumbs-down from your faithful pal Goliath.

(miss Lynnster has some good advice on budget travel- look into it!)
posted by drjimmy11 at 9:26 PM on October 1, 2007

No. Credit card debt should be used for emergencies only.

Man, considering the amount of credit card debt in this country, seeing Led Zeppelin probably qualifies as more of an emergency than most things.

I say do it, what the hell. Worst case scenario, in the future when you are breaking the ice with someone you're attracted to, you can ask "what's the craziest thing you've ever done" and have something suitably crazy to contribute that doesn't end up with you in jail or an emergency room.
posted by Nabubrush at 9:26 PM on October 1, 2007

I think this kind of comes down to how much does $2500 mean to you and by this I mean do you make a decent living or are you just scraping by. If you can afford a $1500 vacation every year, then I say make this that. Or if you can afford the new gadget from apple, then forgo that and do this. But if this is seriously going to be a weight hanging over your head for the next year as you slowly and painfully pay it off, don't do it.
posted by whoaali at 9:33 PM on October 1, 2007

I say go for it!

Check out Kayak.com for cheap flights, then book direct from the airline. Stay in a B&B, Guest House, or a Youth Hostel to save on costs. Or tryJury's Inn London, a reasonably priced Irish chain of Hotels. Looks to be about 70 quid (pounds) a night, so about $140 a night. Reviews on Tripadvisor seem favourable.

Have a look at this NYTimes article called Affordable London for some tips.

Alternatively, you might be able to fly with Icelandic Air via Reykjavik and stay a day or there too. They have a deal going on you might be able to use:
http://airfare.travelzoo.com/european-airfare/324625

Go for it, and report back and make us all envious.
posted by zaphod at 9:40 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

misslynster's got a great point. How are you coming up with $2500 for a couple of days in London? You can almost certainly do it for a lot less than that with almost 2 months notice.
posted by mediareport at 9:45 PM on October 1, 2007

I would say do it except that it seems like lately the stories I hear of plans like this end in "Then my plane on the European budget carrier I used to save money was delayed for 8 hours, I slept in the airport in random European country/Newark, and I missed the concert and was out $2500".

Okay actually that was mostly me that it happened to. I wasn't out $2500 (more like $300 or maybe a little more), but I had pretty spectacular plans in July that were fucked up royally when Vueling cancelled my Venice-Paris connection. If you do decide to do it, fly with an established carrier that is a member of some big, reliable alliance. It may cost extra money, but oh my GOD you will hate yourself if you go into debt and don't even make it to that damn concert. And let me tell you, if you think airports suck usually, they suck unimaginably more if you could be seeing Led Zeppelin and instead you are at the airport. I don't even like Led Zeppelin and I am still sure, absolutely sure that they are better than the airport. Travel not on a weekend, not near a holiday. Try not to check a bag.

Basically if you do this, think of airlines as an evil adversary trying to get in the way of your good time and do everything you can to outwit them, because they are inadvertently doing the same to you. It will probably be better flying into Heathrow and just staying there since you probably won't have to connect anywhere on the continent...but still, keep a weather eye open.
posted by crinklebat at 9:51 PM on October 1, 2007

I think you can do this for way way less than $2500. Stay in a hostel for 30 GBP per night, book your tickets on kayak, etc. I have a friend who's doing 17 days in the UK and Ireland, and he's planning on spending $2500. I assume you wouldn't stay that long.

That being said, I personally probably wouldn't do it for Led Zeppelin, because I don't like their music enough to make that kind of sacrifice for them. Scalp the tickets, pay off your credit card debt, and go to London when you can afford it.
posted by !Jim at 9:58 PM on October 1, 2007

What will you regret more in five years - missing the show, or still being in debt? I've spent downright stupid money going to shows over the years, and I think it was worth every cent. I value the experience I had over the money I didn't save, but only you know your own priorities.

Good luck with your decision!
posted by Space Kitty at 10:02 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

It isn't worth credit card debt.

However, it is worth selling unnecessary stuff you have laying around, it's worth taking on extra menial work for a few weeks, and it's worth trimming your travel budget down to bare minimal. $2500 sounds more like taking two people to London and staying at a fairly nice hotel.

If you're adventurous, go couch surfing for a week, give yourself a couple of days padding in case the connection is messed up, and live cheap. The experience alone will be as interesting as the concert.

Don't put it on a credit card though. If you can't pay it off in a month, you'll have it eating at you a year later.
posted by Saydur at 10:13 PM on October 1, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

take the trip. geez.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:02 PM on October 1, 2007

How did you win the tickets? If you're in the US, and the tickets are for London, shouldn't you be given all-expenses-paid trip tickets as well? That's always been the case for myself and friends that won tickets to concerts in other cities.
posted by divabat at 11:06 PM on October 1, 2007

Ultimately there's no way for us to say because the same amount of money means such very different things to different people. I mean, I've known guys who could run up a bar tab of nearly a grand and think nothing of it.

But if you want more concrete ways to balance the costs & benefits, think of it this way. First of all, use the excellent suggestions above to pare down the airfare and hotel expenses; there's no reason a weekend (or even a week) in the UK needs to cost $2500.

When you get a final price, figure out how many extra hours you'll need to work over the next month or two or three\, how many pizzas or sixpacks you'll need to go without in order to repay it, and break those down into a weekly increase/decrease, and ask yourself if it seems worth it.
posted by rkent at 11:19 PM on October 1, 2007

Go. No question about it. This is from someone who while knowing every word to the band's catalogue (at least most), isn't a big fan of concerts. I get bored at them. But every now and again a band of some note (whether mainstream or indie) comes around and shows me just how good live music can be. Though before my time, from what I've seen and heard, Led Zeppelin was that kind of band. Even if they are an iota of what they were, they would still be worth seeing, and yes, maybe even going into debt for. You're young with no real attachments (to people you support): you have nothing but time, which can be spent recounting your tale of flying to London and seeing Led Zeppelin or spent wishing you had done one more fun thing in your youth before you had a family and real responsibilities and entered the adult realm.

I don't know if anyone mentioned this ('cause I got a little tired reading through all the responses), but have you thought about contacting the record label and/or MTV or other things like that about getting a free ride. Perhaps a sponsor of the contest or radio station. My friends have done things like that and had surprising amounts of success. Just a thought. Worst comes to worst, put a fund on the internet. I'd give you ten bucks, problem.
posted by Cochise at 11:41 PM on October 1, 2007

Also, I lived in London for a bit and everybody is right: it can be done way cheaper than $2500. Food can be had cheap if you know where to go, and room could be free (couchsurfing.com for example). Let us know your decision and I can help you with making London more affordable.
posted by Cochise at 11:44 PM on October 1, 2007

Visiting London for cheap.

In case you haven't gotten the clue... I could care less about Led Zeppelin. But I do believe that it would be a better world if every human being had the experience of traveling the world a bit, and that it is totally unnecessary for travel to break someone financially if you plan well. (Especially when you're a young student and there are more opportunities for you to budget travel than there are for anyone else!)
posted by miss lynnster at 1:54 AM on October 2, 2007

Go, but only go for a few days, stay in a hostel, and take public transport. You should be able to keep everything under $1000, frankly, if you're just there for a couple nights and watch your money; airfare from Boston (not to be all stalkerish, but your posting history seems to indicate that's where you are) to Heathrow on November 24th and back the 27th on Virgin Atlantic will run you about $560, taxes included - I couldn't link to the fare page, so here's a screenshot. It's an expensive city, but there are plenty of ways to get there and entertain yourself for less than $2500.
posted by mdonley at 2:14 AM on October 2, 2007

Think about it. Debt. For a concert. Debt.
I would say no.
posted by fredoliveira at 2:24 AM on October 2, 2007

2nding salvator-- no bonham=no zeppelin.
posted by Rykey at 3:21 AM on October 2, 2007

I live in London and would love to go. If you decide to pass on the tickets then drop me an email and maybe we can work something out.
posted by urban greeting at 4:05 AM on October 2, 2007

Even if you could afford it, I seriously doubt it would be worth it.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:25 AM on October 2, 2007

It's not worth it at all. Going into debt for a luxury is never a good idea. Sell the tickets and sock the money away for when Zeppelin or some other band you like comes to the US.
posted by reenum at 5:35 AM on October 2, 2007

I'd go... How about applying for one of those zero interest for 12 (or more) months credit cards, and then make a plan to pay it off before the interest payments kick in?
posted by AwkwardPause at 5:47 AM on October 2, 2007

As others have mentioned, you can do this for well under $2500. I was in the UK for 1 1/2 weeks last year during very busy travel season and made it for well under $2000, and that includes a fair amount of travel to other areas and being loose with my money (I suck at being judicious with my money). The key is to find a good flight for <>
I'd think about it as a trip to London where you'll also happen to be seeing LZ.
posted by jmd82 at 5:48 AM on October 2, 2007

I should have specified the $2500 figure is for 2 people. I'm married, so my husband would be going as well.

I'm still undecided about it now that I've slept on it, but leaning more towards no.
posted by disaster77 at 5:50 AM on October 2, 2007

Dang brackets. Flight less than $1000 is very doable if you pay attention.
posted by jmd82 at 5:51 AM on October 2, 2007

You can be boring and responsible after you graduate. Go.
posted by dame at 7:07 AM on October 2, 2007

DUDE!

I'm going! ... I haven't even left yet and I've dropped 2600 easy…

BUT

I have a job where I know I'll be able to pay off the tickets, plane, hostels, food, booze... etc... before I even get over there. I also had some money in savings to help cover the original costs.

AND

I have great seats with my best friend amongst other things.

BUT

I recently traveled in Europe backpacking for three weeks and this trip to London for Led Zeppelin for 6 days could possibly cost the same if not more.

ALSO

Be aware that depending on your ticket they will not let you resell these, so you may not be able to change your mind. Read into it, it all depends on the terms they have for your seat.

My last thoughts:

If you think you can budget yourself and make sacrifices where by the end of the trip you think you can be in the same financial situation as you are now, then go. (Start drinking 40oz, eating peanut butter, eggs, pasta, ironing your own shirts…)

But if you are in a real grind for cash, don't have a job, aren't financially responsible, then you should pass and just buy the live CD. Have an honest evaluation with yourself.

I could also believe that they would have eventually some more shows on tour after this. (If I were a betting man I would bet Vegas already has odds on their possible tour).
posted by thetenthstory at 8:44 AM on October 2, 2007

Oh and ps, I have special tickets, so thats why I have so much into it so far.
posted by thetenthstory at 8:48 AM on October 2, 2007

Sell them. No band is worth credit card debt.
posted by zackola at 9:12 AM on October 2, 2007

PS: Except perhaps a band you are part of.
posted by zackola at 9:13 AM on October 2, 2007

Figure out the most fun/best story to tell that you could buy for cost of trip + what you could sell these tickets for, and decide if you would rather do that, or go to London. If you want an experience, compare it to other experiences.

Now if you want a story...
throw a party for your friends that is so terrific that you won't even have to tell the story of "disaster77's party back in '07" yourself.
posted by yohko at 9:54 AM on October 2, 2007

Thank you for the input everyone! We decided to sell them on Ebay and get some cash and save for a nice trip to England next year.
posted by disaster77 at 5:30 PM on October 2, 2007

Great decision. And next year in England, you'll stumble into some club and the greatest rock band you never heard of will be playing and you'll think, fuck Led Zeppelin.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 7:49 PM on October 2, 2007

Well that sounds good! :)

Don't waste $2500 on it though, okay? And before traveling for the first time, read this.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:47 PM on October 2, 2007

disaster77 > you may be out of luck. According to this article...

"....promoters now say that tickets will be cancelled if the password holder's name is not the same as the one on the card used to pay for the tickets."
posted by Lucinda at 1:32 PM on October 6, 2007

bummer dood, it's rescheduled! shoulda listened to all the smart people on here!
posted by Salvatorparadise at 6:30 AM on November 6, 2007