Led Zeppelin will forever be remembered for defining rock classics like “Black Dog” and “Stairway to Heaven,” but Robert Plant believes some of the band’s most powerful music still hides in plain sight.
In a recent conversation with Mojo Magazine, Plant reflected on the overlooked gems in Zeppelin’s catalog — songs that, in his view, show just how groundbreaking the band really was.
“Most people have missed some of the best Zeppelin stuff,” Plant admitted, pointing to tracks from their 1976 album Presence. “For Your Life, on Presence. Achilles Last Stand! F***ing hell. Just extraordinary that three people and a singer can do that.”
Plant praised the chemistry between his late bandmates John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and Jimmy Page, recalling the almost otherworldly energy of their sessions. “Really, they were pulling so much stuff out of the unknown, Bonham and Jones together on For Your Life. It’s just insane. And Jimmy, just…” he said, trailing off with clear admiration.
Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin reshaped the sound of rock by blending blues, hard rock, and sheer power, leaving behind essential albums like Led Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy, and Physical Graffiti. But as Plant notes, deeper cuts like those on Presence deserve just as much recognition as the hits that made them legends.
Plant also reflected on the complicated legacy of “Stairway to Heaven,” a song he both honors and keeps at arm’s length. “What were the hits? How can they be related to now, where do they fit? They fit as a sort of memoir,” he explained. “When people say that I don’t like Stairway to Heaven, I just don’t like the idea of it. These iconic things – they’re just what they are.”
Though Led Zeppelin’s story ended after Bonham’s death in 1980, Plant’s journey didn’t stop there. His solo career has carried him through decades of experimentation and growth. Today, at nearly 77 years old, he continues to evolve musically. In 2019, he formed Saving Grace, an acoustic, folk-inspired band that marked a new creative chapter. Their debut studio album arrives September 26, 2025 — proof that Plant’s voice and vision remain as restless and alive as ever.
