Led Zeppelin has apparently been counting down to some kind of big announcement via a series of posts on their official Facebook page  that feature images of numbers (counting down from five to one) and a few cryptic video clips.  The countdown started over the weekend, and hit “1″ yesterday, leading fans to have high hopes for some big news today. 

In the past few hours, they have posted a video that features their “four symbols” on a black background, over the studio version of “Celebration Day” from 1970′s Led Zeppelin III.  It’s worth noting that “Celebration Day” was not performed at their 2007 reunion concert, and there’s been much speculation that their countdown will lead to an announcement of a DVD/CD release of that show. 

Another new post to Zeppelin’s Facebook page is an artist’s rendition of what looks like Big Ben.  It’s reminiscent of the cover to Led Zeppelin’s 2007 best-of, Mothership, which was designed by Shepard Fairey, the acclaimed graphic artist behind President Obama’s “Hope” posters.  (At the time he designed the Zeppelin cover, he said on his blog that “Zep is one of my favorite bands of all time and if they aren’t one of yours, you need to check that your DNA is human. If my art is 1 percent as good as this band I’m in good shape. What I’m trying to say is that the opportunity for me to hitch a ride on the coat tails of such an influential band is an honor and a coup.”)

Adding fuel to the Zeppelin fire was yesterday’s news that the group will be honored, alongside Buddy Guy, David Letterman, Dustin Hoffman and ballerina Natalia Makarova at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. While the band will be honored whether or not they attend, most recipients of the award do show up for the extremely prestigious event.  

– Brian Ives, CBS Local