Robert Plant Dismantles Two Classic Rock Bands in One Night
Robert Plant was the voice of Led Zeppelin during the late 1960s and 1970s. He matched Jimmy Page’s guitar, John Bonham’s percussion, and John Paul Jones’s bass.
Led Zeppelin’s legacy
The band helped shape heavy metal, prog and blues-rock boundaries. Fans and critics often place Zeppelin in a class of their own.
End of the classic lineup
Led Zeppelin ended in 1980 after John Bonham’s death. Plant and Page continued with solo work and collaborations but never reached the same peaks.
Broad musical tastes and notable collaborations
Plant has shown affection for unexpected acts. He has praised The Cure, and singled out the 1989 song “Lullaby” for its impact.
In 1995, Plant and Page invited Pearl Thompson, The Cure’s former guitarist, onstage. They performed a cover from the Disintegration album.
Camden pub incident, 2008
A 2008 report said an anonymous witness saw Plant at Camden’s Fifty-Five Bar. The witness claimed Plant asked staff to change the music several times.
The account said a Radiohead disc prompted a dismissive reaction to lyrical style. Staff later played the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which Plant reportedly likened to nursery rhymes.
Witnesses added he asked for Captain Beefheart instead. Observers said Plant’s blunt remarks dismantled reputations of two classic rock bands during that one night.
Context and perspective
The anecdote is now eighteen years old. It likely reflected a specific evening rather than a settled view.
Plant remains an honest music fan with strong opinions. His judgments have long drawn attention, for better or worse.
Image credits: Filmogaz.com / Led Zeppelin; Filmogaz.com / Heinrich Klaffs.
