Ageing gracefully in rock music is no small feat, but Robert Plant, former Led Zeppelin frontman, is proving it can be done. While many artists chase the allure of big paychecks and nostalgia tours, Plant continues to seek artistic growth, keeping his creative fire alive.
After Led Zeppelin’s legendary one-off reunion at London’s O2 Arena in 2007, Plant was offered a blank check to reunite the band for a world tour. Despite Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones being ready to hit the road, Plant refused, feeling deflated after the reunion and unwilling to revisit those emotions nightly, no matter the financial gain.
For Plant, the thought of performing in Las Vegas casinos or rehashing Zeppelin’s glory days is far from appealing. Instead, he prefers intimate theatres for his solo material, which aligns with his current artistic vision. While his Led Zeppelin days define his legacy, Plant has released more solo albums since the band ended in 1980 than he ever recorded with them.
Over the years, Plant has expressed a disconnect with some of Zeppelin’s iconic tracks. Speaking with Ultimate Classic Rock, he admitted to feeling detached from his lyrical contribution to “Stairway to Heaven.” Though he still praises the song’s musical composition, he confessed, “Lyrically, I can’t relate to it. It was so long ago. I would have no intention to write along those abstract lines anymore.”
Plant’s evolution is perhaps best exemplified by his partnership with Alison Krauss. Their 2007 collaboration, Raising Sand, was a pivotal moment in his post-Zeppelin career. On the BBC radio show Desert Island Discs, Plant selected their song “Your Long Journey” as one of the eight tracks he’d take to a desert island, calling it “killer beautiful.”
Originally penned by Doc Watson, “Your Long Journey” became one of Plant’s favorites and represents the seamless blend of folk and bluegrass he now champions.
Reflecting on his first duet with Krauss, Plant remarked on her precision as a vocalist, joking, “I was thinking: help, I’m a rock singer, no matter what I do. But, of course, I’m not—I’m just a guy that sings songs.”
This journey into folk and bluegrass not only suits Plant’s vocal range but also aligns with his artistic soul. In stepping away from the heavy riffs of “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love,” Plant has carved out a space where his voice and creativity thrive, embracing a new chapter that’s as authentic as it is inspiring.
