Robert Plant Plots Intimate Solo Shows Across the U.S.

Legendary vocalist Robert Plant has long been known for exploring new musical directions in his solo career. In a recent interview with Mojo, he opened up about why he largely avoids performing Led Zeppelin’s most iconic hits during his live shows.

Reflecting on Zeppelin’s Legacy: Hits as Memoirs, Not Mainstays

When asked about his reluctance to revisit Zeppelin’s chart-topping classics, Plant questioned the relevance of those hits today. “What were the hits? How can they be related to now? Where do they fit? They fit as a sort of memoir,” he told Mojo. He specifically mentioned the iconic “Stairway to Heaven,” saying, “I just don’t like the idea of it. These iconic things—they’re just what they are.”

Instead, Plant urges fans to delve deeper into Zeppelin’s catalog, highlighting tracks like “For Your Life” from Presence and the epic “Achilles Last Stand.” “It’s extraordinary that three people and a singer can do that,” he said, emphasizing the band’s often overlooked musical gems.

Saving Grace: A New Chapter and Tour Approach

Plant’s forthcoming album, Saving Grace, named after his current backing band, marks a fresh chapter in his career. The band recently wrapped a European tour and will launch their first North American dates in October, playing intimate venues that suit the album’s tone.

Their setlists include lesser-known Zeppelin tracks such as “Friends,” “Four Sticks,” and “The Rain Song.” But Plant has made it clear he has no interest in fully resurrecting Zeppelin’s massive hits or reuniting with the surviving members after their brief 2007 reunion for an Atlantic Records tribute.

“To do it for the sake of it was never what Zeppelin was about,” he said, reflecting on that one-off show. He acknowledged the “smell of fear” on stage that night and described the band’s live history as a mix of shambolic and great moments, a natural result of taking musical risks.

Declining Black Sabbath’s Farewell and Choosing Intimacy

Plant’s selective approach extends beyond Zeppelin. He notably declined an invitation from Tony Iommi to appear at Black Sabbath’s farewell concert in July, despite it being Ozzy Osbourne’s final show before his death.

“I said, Tony, I’d love to come, but I can’t,” Plant shared. “I don’t know anything about what’s going on in that world now. I found other places that are so rich.”

This preference for intimacy is reflected in the smaller venues Plant chooses for the Saving Grace tour. “The gigs are small enough so that if nobody wants to go, it’s not the end of the world,” he said.

Having performed at historic events like Live Aid and for President Obama, Plant acknowledges the high points of his career but remains grounded in his current artistic path. “I felt the tug of doing this—Saving Grace needed just to move on up in glory. We’ve got to be very careful now that we make sure it stays closer to Bert Jansch than Axl Rose,” he concluded.

Robert Plant & Saving Grace Tour Dates
October 30 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theatre Wheeling
November 2 – Charlottesville, VA – The Paramount Theater of Charlottesville
November 3 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
November 5 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
November 6 – Boston, MA – Boch Center Shubert Theatre
November 8 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
November 10 – Toronto, ON – Massey Hall
November 12 – Chicago, IL – The Vic
November 13 – Chicago, IL – Old Town School of Folk Music
November 15 – Denver, CO – Ellie Caulkins Opera House
November 18 – Seattle, WA – The Moore Theatre
November 19 – Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre
November 21 – Oakland, CA – The Fox
November 22 – Los Angeles, CA – United Theater on Broadway