Robert Plant Puts Creativity Over Money
Money must not matter much to Robert Plant. Because according to the Chicago Tribune, Plant would've had a much bigger financial windfall had he chosen to go on a Led Zeppelin reunion tour instead of making music with Alison Krauss. The story alleges that veteran bands like Zeppelin could make lots of money on a nostalgia tour because no new music is required. According to the Tribune, "Tour promoters have been salivating for decades about the prospects of a Zeppelin reunion. Many predict it would be the highest-earning rock tour of all time." Yet Plant chose Krauss. And together they won five Grammys on Sunday night (Feb. 8) for their collaborative effort on Raising Sand. Proving that Plant has a whole lotta love for music.
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Mel says:
Congrats Robert and Alison! So well deserved and I am so proud of the both of you!!
Tim says:
Huge fan of both artists…this is where Robert needs to be…he sounds great….”They” are having FUN! I have followed Roberts’ career…before Led Zeppelin…this guy has nothing to prove. His voice sounds good singing with Alison and Alison sounds great singing with Robert. Let the past be the past and the future be the future! Congratulations to all.
Mark says:
“Hey, hey, Alison Krauss
Said the way you move
Gonna make you sweat
Gonna make you groove”
Nope, it ain’t working. Get the Led out, Percy. Do it for free if the cash disturbs you.
Rick says:
More light can be shed on this subject from a recent online article at Billboard titled The Grammys 2009 - What You Didn’t See on TV:
When asked where Krauss keeps all her Grammys, Plant interjected, “That’s silly. She keeps them in the back of my car.”
Backstage, Krauss, Robert Plant and T Bone Burnett were jubilant: “Yes, we’re doing another record!” Burnett yelled. Plant’s only hint was that some of the songs were in the key of E.
On a serious note, Plant says the diversity of their musical inspirations served them well. “We ostensibly come from such different places on the musical map,” Plant said. “Alison showed me so much I never been exposed to.” “There are a limited number of people who like music and the record industry got in the business of trying to sell music to everybody,” Burnett said. “We care about music, so we tried to make music we care about.”
And will Led Zeppelin tour? “How old are you, man?” Plant asked. “Because you look older than me. You try to do ‘Communication Breakdown’ in these pants.”
solongsowrong says:
Plant also said his favorite Grammy from Sunday was not the all-genre best album trophy, but rather the Grammy for Contemporary Folk/Americana Best Album of the Year.
He said it’s great to be considered to be part of the movement that is healthy and has some discrimination. He’s glad for his exposure to the Americana Association in Nashville, because they have some great stuff there, and he’s so pleased to be associated with it.
RedMaZ says:
So true solongsowrong. I read that article too where Plant said he was most proud of winning the Grammy for “Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album”
It’s all about musical integrity. Art over enterprise. It’s one of many aspects of Americana music that draws me to it.
“Raising Sand” was the first Americana album in history to win “Album of The Year” at the Grammys, all genre. Congratulations to all involved in this project.
solongsowrong says:
RedMaz: An argument could be made by some, that since the Dixie Chick’s “Not Ready To Make Nice”, had so much Americana airplay, they were the first to win the all genre award. But you are correct. “Raising Sand”, was the first to win, that was actually registered with the Grammy’s as an Americana album.
Thumbs up to Alison, Robert and T-Bone for understanding it’s the music that should matter.
RedMaZ says:
Good point solongsowrong, but as you said NRTMN as far as I know was not listed as an Americana album by Grammy, even though the album’s first nomination was at the AMA Honors and Awards, and was in heavy rotation on Americana radio. And we all know that the AMA Honors and Awards show is a good indication of who the Grammy nominations and winners will be. Was that ever true this year!
Darren says:
sad what they consider country nowdays and neither one of them is
solongsowrong says:
Yes Darren, thank you for recognizing that. It is sad what many consider Country music these days, and thankfully Robert and Alison aren’t part of that scene.
They are Americana artists, and the album covers the whole spectrum of Americana….music based on the Roots of Rock, Country, Bluegrass, The Blues, and Folk.
“*RED*” says:
I AGREE WITH YOU MARK!! I LOVED YOUR LITTLE POEM! BUT YOU’RE 100% CORRECT…PLANT KEEPS MAKING UP EXCUSES AS TO WHY HE CAN’T GET THE LED OUT…(A) HE’S TOO OLD TO TOUR WITH ZEPPELIN BUT NOT TOO OLD TO TOUR WITH KRAUSS!! (B) HE CAN SING REMAKES OF ZEPPELIN SONGS WITH OTHER ARTISTS BUT HE CAN’T SING THEM WITH HIS OWN BANDMATES!! (C) THAT ZEPPELIN HAS BEEN “INCOMPLETE” SINCE 1980…JOHN BONHAM (RIP) WOULD BE VERY THRILLED THAT HIS SON, JASON HAS TAKEN OVER THE REINS…OH YES ONE FINAL THING..”PLEASE READ THE LETTER” WAS CO-WRITTEN BY JIMMY PAGE…PERCY NEEDS TO STOP PLAYING (CONWAY TWITTY) AND GET THE LED OUT!!! “*RED*”
Matthew says:
:( i wish he would do a tour with led zeppelin :(
Thats really sad…
solongsowrong says:
He’s about going forward, not backward. He’s moved on from his youth…. Zep fans should do likewise.
Art over enterprise. His choices…. his career.
Ron says:
I watched the crossroads show on tv and it was not that great. He doesn’t do bluegrass very well. He doesn’t do Zeppelin very well anymore either, but one last tour with Jimmy would be monumental. I am a long time Zeppelin fan. He owes it to his fans to give them what they want since their money has allowed him to do this bluegrass project. If he wasn’t Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin, Alison Krauss wouldn’t give him the time of day.
RedMaZ says:
Who ever claimed he was doing “Bluegrass”? Where did that come from? If he doesn’t do LZ very well anymore, then why bother? I am a longtime LZ fan too. From the beginning, and he owes me nothing. And since John is gone, and even though Jason plays now…it really wouldn’t be LZ now would it?
As far as Krauss not giving him the time of day…apparently you don’t know Alison’s musical integrity. I have a feeling she does many projects you are unaware of.
solongsowrong says:
I guess one reason Robert doesn’t do Bluegrass very well, is because he wasn’t trying to do Bluegrass. You’ve been reading too many Blabbermouth articles if you think that was Bluegrass.
As far as Alison only singing with Robert because he was from Led Zeppelin, I wonder why she has done so much work with artists like Darrell Scott, Mary Gauthier, Gordon Mote, Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Rod Picott, Jeff White, Michele Shocked, Larry Sparks, Susanne Cox,or Kathy Hill, if she was just looking to cash in on a big name? 26 total Grammy’s say, people come after her, not visa versa. I highly doubt if you know much about Alison Krauss, if you’re making statements like that. Robert wasn’t even with a label when he teamed up with Alison.
And since it’s his career, his choices, why does he owe his fans anything more? Weren’t you already compensated for the money you spent on records and concerts, by the hours of listening enjoyment you got for the money you shelled out? That’s like me telling a contractor who remodels my bathroom, that he now owns me kitchen work as well, because I kept him employed for awhile.
Ron says:
I appreciate all the enjoyment that LZ brought to me over the years. Their fans are among some of the most loyal of any rock band. We stuck with them during the 1977 tour when they really sounded bad. We cheered them when they made us wait 2 hours after the opening act to come on stage.
I am very greatful to my employer for allowing me to live the lifestyle that I have. I earned it but I am very loyal to them. Robert should show the same consideration if he is able.
I know Krauss is a class act but I believe Robert owes his fans a tour if he can pull it off. Page seems to be clear minded and playing very well lately.
We are all entitled to our opinion.
solongsowrong says:
Yes, and I was loyal to my employer for 30 years too, but that didn’t stop them from shutting their doors last Spring. I don’t see where comparing apples to oranges about loyalty is the issue here. Robert wasn’t your employer, you were a customer.
Just as you’re “entitled” to your opinion, Robert should be “entitled” to make the decisions on what music he does.
jake says:
She is nothing more than a modern day Yoko Ono.
May she take it hard by a “brother” in her “jimmy hole” for all of eternity.
cunt
solongsowrong says:
Yes jake, and you’re just an immature turkey who’s too young to get the job done yourself.
reddrag says:
Hey Jake, I think she is way better than Yoko! After all, Yoko was an adult and had to use seduction to get John to leave the Beatles. Now Alison…she managed to break up LZ at only 9 years old, all the way from Illinois and without ever meeting them!;D
KW says:
I’m 28 years old and would love to see Led Zeplin with Plant as the front man (only Plant will work, no Steven Tyler, etc). I think he should do it just to show the “rock” bands of today how its done. Outside of a few bands, its all garbage today. I love that AC/DC came around, I was able to catch them and guess what they actually put on a show instead of standing up there like a bar band. One more, then ride off into the sunset.
Although I can’t even begin to imagine how bad the ticket prices would get with today’s greed. I was lucky enough to get AC/DC tickets before the legal scalpers did (ticketmasters “sister” company).
Larnel Lark says:
Listening to Plant and Krauss is akin to watching concrete set. Only in America would they reward such mediocrity.
Plant’s weather beaten face says it all, he is to old to rock n roll!
solongsowrong says:
Sorry Larnel…. “Raising Sand” won a few awards in the United Kingdom and Canada, too.
And Robert admits himself he doesn’t want to Rock and Roll anymore. Guess that’s why he’s enjoying himself in the Americana genre so much. People who are fans of that genre, still respect the Legends, and understand about music as art, not enterprise.
Mark says:
Something is fishy about this whole thing. Someoone made the point he is not too old to tour with Krauss 23 years his junior or play Zeppelin songs with other musicians. I think the gloves need to come off here. Plant is making himself out to be BIGGER then Led Zeppelin. He needs to realize he is pissing people off and my hat is is off to Page and Jones for not criticizing him but this is going to get old soon. Plant, get over yourself and give the world what they want. Stop thinking of yourself for ONCE.
solongsowrong says:
Plant is making himself out to be about creativity…. a musical concept some obviously have a problem understanding. Six total Grammy’s during the album’s elegibility period, for a fast growing genre, says he made the right choice.
Obviously, touring and making music isn’t what Robert is too old to do. Plant is about going forward, not back. His so called LZ fans need to get over themselves, and let an artist give the world what he wants. Stop thinking of yourself for ONCE! Read what the man has to say about the whole situation, instead of being a cry baby about a man not being interested about trying to relive his youth.
Wonder how many of his “fans” know about his most recent projects, now that Alison is getting ready for her next Union Station album and tour?