White Stripes frontman Jack White has distanced himself from reports which suggested he was keen to replace Robert Plant in Led Zeppelin.

White is one of a number of artists who has been linked to the supposedly vacant position since Plant announced that he had no plans to return to the band.

However, a source close to White told the Daily Star newspaper: “I do not believe you can have a band called Led Zeppelin, singing Zeppelin songs, without Plant.”

Speculation about Led Zeppelin's future has increased after Plant released a statement saying he found the constant speculation around the band's future “frustrating and ridiculous”

In a bid to quash reports that he had agreed to a full reunion tour, Plant insisted that he “will not be touring or recording with Led Zeppelin”.

Last weekend, new reports suggested Myles Kennedy, who currently fronts Alter Bridge, was ready to tour with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham in Plant's place.

Calls for a Led Zeppelin reunion tour have been consistent since the bands reunion show at the O2 Arena last December, which attracted 1 million applicants for just 9,000 pairs of tickets.

(by Jason Gregory)