There’s Only One Singer That Intimidates Robert Plant

The kind of music best recognized for virtuoso singers isn’t heavy rock & roll. Technical proficiency is not necessary, as Liam Gallagher, Johnny Rotten, and Bob Dylan have taught us. The secret to success is creativity, passion, and poetic content. Before we leave the technical prowess to Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, one cannot help but draw attention to Robert Plant, the former leader of Led Zeppelin, who has unmatched talent.

Plant deserves a prominent spot next to Freddie Mercury on the rock singer hierarchy. Plant was first chosen for his singing prowess despite the fact that he later proved to be quite the wordsmith.

Invitation to Join Led Zeppelin

In an interview with Classic Rock from 2008, Plant recalled his first encounter with Jimmy Page:

“I was appearing at this college when [manager Peter Grant] and Jimmy turned up and asked me if I’d like to join the Yardbirds. I knew the Yardbirds had done a lot of work in America – which to me meant audiences who would want to know what I might have to offer – so, naturally, I was very interested.”

During their first encounter, Plant sang Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love.” Page remembered this moment, initially wondering why Plant hadn’t already achieved fame given his talent. After spending some time together, they found they got along well, and Page invited Plant to join the band that would eventually become Led Zeppelin, marking the start of an illustrious partnership in rock history.

Beyond Stage Presence

At his peak, Plant wouldn’t have worried about a performance play-off against many of his contemporaries because of his strong stage presence, but Prince seemed to have him beat. The first time Plant discussed the “Purple Rain” vocalist in public was in a 1988 interview with Rolling Stone.

The lead singer of Led Zeppelin praised Prince for his “sheer entertainment and audacity.” He also praised Prince’s remarkable entertainment style and boldness, even suggesting that a collaboration between Prince and Page would be exceptional.

Discussion About Prince’s Artistic Influence

During a later TV interview two years later, Plant admitted that Prince was the most intimidating performer he had encountered. He clarified that he was more impressed than intimidated by people, but Prince’s creativity left a lasting impression

Plant described Prince as incredibly inventive, drawing inspiration from various musical eras and blending them into a unique, sensual sound. While Plant admired Prince’s artistry, he confessed that Prince’s powerful presence might make collaboration a bit intimidating for him.