Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant loved watching talent rise to the top of the ladder and many of his associates become superstars. However, talent alone does not always result in a fruitful lifelong career, as the story of one singer Plant described as having “one of the finest voices” sadly demonstrates.
Alannah Myles, a Canadian artist, made a breakthrough in 1989 with her self-titled debut album. It topped the charts in her home country and sold over a million copies in the United States alone. Myles appeared to have complete control of the world at this point. Following the success of the album, she won three Juno Awards, including ‘Album of the Year’, and a Grammy for ‘Best Female Rock Performance’.
Myles continued to receive offers, including an invitation to support Plant on a series of arena dates in the United States. The tour provided her with the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the rock landscape. And her performances astounded the English vocalist.
Robert Plant praised Myles in a television interview while on tour when asked about contemporary acts he admired. The singer said, “I like Prince a lot, and I listen to a lot of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and rockabilly. I like the Seattle band Soundgarden, and I also like Faith No More. I like Alannah Myles’ voice; I believe she has a great voice. She’s touring alongside us. She sings beautifully.
They became close while on the road, and in a 1993 interview with Network, Plant was asked if she was the inspiration for his song ’29 Psalms’. In response, he stated, “We did tour together. We are good friends. I think highly of her. She’s a great and powerful lady. She has one of the best voices in the idiom. She was always very nice to me and very warm-hearted.”
“But the road remains the road. Forget about all the rumors; everything is true and false. ’29 Palms’ was written on tour, the last time we were in California,” he explained.
Despite the success of her debut album, Myles struggled to replicate sales and faded into obscurity after leaving Atlantic Records in 1995. She was then involved in a lengthy dispute with the label for many years. This hampered her career and resulted in releases that failed to chart, even in Canada.
After several years of silence, Myles revealed in a 2023 interview with CityNews Calgary that she had been battling spondylitis. The condition had kept her bed-bound for the last five years and prevented her from performing music.
“Now I have trouble sitting. That is why, when you see me in concert, you will notice that I am sitting down. I am sitting upright. It hurts for me to sit down, so I can’t really go anywhere”. Myles explained.
She continued, “I can’t sit in a wheelchair. I can’t attend a concert, party, or even medical appointments without a padded stretcher. I have no life now because I can’t get up on my own, which makes it even worse, I can get up and walk, but I need help.
Unfortunately, it appears that Myles’ health problems will continue to put her career on hold for the foreseeable future, despite the singer’s desire to return someday.
