It’s not new that Robert Plant isn’t planning a reunion with his Led Zeppelin bandmates any time soon, but in a new interview with The Daily Telegraph (via Radio X), he gives a little more insight into why the hugely-demanded gig is off the cards.
For Plant, it’s simple: keep moving, and never look back.
“You can’t ever really go back,” he says. “It’s tough enough repeating yourself with something that’s a year old, never mind 49 years old. I’ve got to keep moving.”
He did pause briefly back in 2007 to play the one-off Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert with his former bandmates (and John Bonham’s son Jason taking his father’s place), but otherwise it’s onwards and upwards with his new band The Sensational Space Shifters and their album Carry Fire.
Robert Plant has left Led Zeppelin behind for his brilliant new solo work
Thankfully, everything we’ve heard of it so far has been great, and he feels like he’s edging closer to his peak as a musician, his world-conquering hits with his former outfit a speck in the rear-view mirror.
“My ability to mould any frame of mind to the temperature, tempo and temperament of the music, it’s getting closer,” he explains, and he’s also begun contemplating how much time he has left to create new works in the wake of some of music’s undeniable legends passing in the last few years.
“How many voices are disappearing?” he asks. “The contributions to our time of listening and wonder. There’s always a trip going to say goodbye.
“Maybe that’s how people think about me! ‘Fucking hell! Better go and see Planty! How much longer can he keep it up?’”
He’s still going strong for now and, despite his reluctance to get the old band back together, will be playing his new interpretations of the Zep classics when he heads to Bluesfest in Byron Bay next year, along with sideshows across the country – check out the dates below.
Robert Plant & the Sensational Space Shifters
Pre-sale from 10am AEDT Wednesday 18 October / General sale from 10am AEDT Friday October 20
The Palais’ Optus Perks presale begins now, and runs until 9am Wed October 18.
Sun 1st & Mon 2nd April – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
ticketmaster.com.au (136 100)
Sun 8th April – Riverside Theatre, Perth
ticketek.com.au (13 28 49)
Mon 26th & Tue 27th March – Sydney Opera House
sydneyoperahouse.com
Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant at Bluesfest 2018
Playing Bluesfest Byron Bay 2018 on Friday 30 March
Thursday March 29 – Monday April 2, 2018
