Ann Wilson’s Embarrassing Led Zeppelin Audition Story

Heart singer Ann Wilson recently admitted that she once offered to audition as Led Zeppelin‘s vocalist and replace Robert Plant.

Wilson approached the band after they reunited for the final time in December 2007 at the O2 Arena in London. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones wanted to push forward with further performances, but Plant was focused on his solo career.

In 2008, Page and Jones decided to hold auditions and jammed with potential new vocalists including Alter Bridge’s Myles Kennedy and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler. Wilson was interested to join the band, but didn’t get any response.

During Wilson’s appearance on U.K. radio station Planet Rock, she shared:

“Zeppelin always was a boy’s club. I know that because there was a minute when the rumor was that they were auditioning singers and I just threw my hat in the ring. I went, ‘I’m here!’ and it was crickets.”

When asked further about her experience, she revealed:

“Who knows what went on there? But anyway, who would want to hire somebody that could sing just like Plant? I don’t think that’s what they were into, you know? I don’t think they want it to be a caricature of Led Zeppelin.”

Although Wilson didn’t hear back from Zeppelin, she remained a fan of the band. In 2012, many fans told Wilson that she could be the next Plant after her powerful performance at the Kennedy Center Honors singing her rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”

Wilson said in 2014:

“Hypothetically, if they ever needed a lead singer and Heart was not active at the moment, then, sure, I would. I would go and play with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones any day of the week.”