Every musician indeed has different tastes in music and sources of inspiration, but Keith Richards is undoubtedly pickier than most. The guitarist for the Rolling Stones has previously been very forthright about his tastes. Particularly when it came to the singer whose voice he finds objectionable for whatever reason.
Richards has denigrated everyone from David Bowie to Black Sabbath and even his frontman, which is a measure of his rock ‘n’ roll indifference. He loves Aretha Franklin’s smooth voice, but most other singers are seriously in danger.
It may surprise you to learn that the singer Keith Richards dislikes is also considered a legend. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin is the vocalist who grinds his gears. To put it mildly, it’s an odd situation considering how many people like their music. In 1974, the two even collaborated on a once-lost project called “Scarlet.”
However, Richards had this to say about the singer when questioned: “The guy’s voice started to get on my nerves.” Maybe he is a little too acrobatic; I’m not sure why. Of course, this was in 1969, long before the collaboration, so it’s probably safe to assume that he had a change of heart before 1974. A few years later, he even went back to the band’s feelings, shifting the focus once more away from Plant. “If you want to shorten the story, Led Zeppelin is Jimmy Page.”
This does not, however, imply that you should interpret it incorrectly. As evidenced by remarks he made in 2004, Keith Richards is still not the biggest fan of the group as a whole. “As a band, I felt aptly named, it never took off for me musically,” he once bitterly stated.
Subsequently, I added: “Jimmy Page is among the greatest guitarists I have ever encountered. Although I believe Bonham to be somewhat heavy-handed, he was still a tremendously powerful drummer; that’s where the “Led” enters the picture. Plant and Robert are both exuberant enough to be classified as lead vocalists for LVs. They both lean heavily toward the English style of Roger Daltrey, complete with fringes and microphones that make them seem like Rod Stewart or even Mick Jagger.
Richards was skeptical of this style, favoring the more sentimental soul of artists like Gregory Isaacs, Sam Cooke, and the late Mavis Staples. He also preferred the more relaxed reggae sound.
And while some people do seem to soften with time, it appears that Richards‘ views have only changed in focus. In an interview from 2015, he continued to praise Jimmy Page, but said little more about the rest of Zeppelin than that: “I love Jimmy Page, but as a band, no, with John Bonham thundering down highway in an uncontrollably large 18-wheeler.” There, he had the market all to himself. Jimmy is an excellent player, I should add. However, I’ve always thought it was a little empty, you know?
You can listen to the seductive song “Scarlet” below if you’d like to see when the two got together. Hopefully, the voice of the much-admired Robert Plant will appeal to you slightly more. Keith Richards’ style at the time may not capture your attention as much.
