For many, the arrival of Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s was a seismic moment in rock history. Their electrifying mix of blues, soul, and unrelenting power introduced countless listeners to a whole new world of music. With Robert Plant’s soaring vocals, Jimmy Page’s masterful guitar work, and the thunderous rhythm section of John Paul Jones and John Bonham, the band defined an era.
But while Led Zeppelin’s music was groundbreaking, they weren’t creating in a vacuum. They were heavily influenced by the pioneers of rock and roll who came before them—artists who fused blues, R&B, and raw energy into the foundations of the genre.
In a 2005 interview with Charlie Rose, Plant reflected on the songs that shaped his own musical journey. Naming four key tracks from the first wave of American rock and roll, he singled out Elvis Presley’s “A Big Hunk O’ Love,” Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightnin’,” Link Wray’s “Rumble,” and Dion’s “Lovers Who Wander.” He credited these songs for paving the way for “so much beautiful, extravagant music.”
One of the biggest influences on Plant—and Zeppelin as a whole—was Howlin’ Wolf. Reflecting on their attempt to capture his magic, Plant admitted, “We hammed it up, trying to get as black as we could. As they say in England, a miss is as good as a mile, but occasionally we got there.”
But his appreciation for rock’s evolution didn’t stop at the 1950s. He also named Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” Love’s “A House is Not a Motel,” and Bob Dylan’s “One More Cup of Coffee” among his all-time favorites. Speaking about Dylan’s importance, Plant declared, “He was the guy who woke us all up.” He added, “Out of all of those people who were around, Dylan made it sexy, and he also brought it home in such a vital way.”
While plenty of other artists, like Woody Guthrie or Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, could have easily made the cut, it was Dylan who left the deepest impression on him. And as Plant’s own career proves, the music that influenced him didn’t just shape his sound—it helped define an entire generation of rock.
