Robert Plant Admits Led Zeppelin Owed Their Sound to This Female Blues Pioneer

Memphis Minnie’s Lasting Influence

Robert Plant remains committed to exploring new sounds. His new album Saving Grace shows he isn’t focused on recreating the past, yet one artist continues to guide his work: blues trailblazer Memphis Minnie.

It was Minnie, along with Kansas Joe McCoy, who first wrote “When The Levee Breaks,” a vivid account of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Led Zeppelin became fascinated with the song, transforming it into a dramatic rock statement that pushed the limits of studio production. The track was famously recorded at Headley Grange, where drummer John Bonham’s thunderous rhythm was captured in a stairwell and has since been widely sampled. Over the years, “When The Levee Breaks” has influenced artists ranging from Jack White to Eminem.

Revisiting a Classic

Plant later revisited the song with Americana singer Alison Krauss, revealing new sides of the original blues composition. His appreciation for Minnie’s music surfaces again on Saving Grace, which includes the track “Chevrolet.”

“Chevrolet” takes inspiration from Donovan’s 1965 song “Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness),” but its roots reach back even further. The tune was originally adapted from Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy’s 1930 recording “Can I Do It for You?” Plant explained the discovery in a Radio 2 interview: “We all knew Donovan’s version. I know Don pretty well, and I asked him what the title meant. I think it has to do with how slowly a cigarette burns down. They had listened to some old Alan Lomax recordings, but until two years ago, I didn’t know they had also drawn inspiration from Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy.”

Searching Beyond the Mainstream

Plant says his approach reflects a desire to move away from pop culture trends. He wants to “skip so much of the epidermis of contemporary music and find these amazing corners,” continuing to uncover connections between classic blues and modern sound.