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Queen honors Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant
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Robert Plant
Perhaps England’s Queen Elizabeth II hasn’t read the Led Zeppelin tell-all “Hammer of the Gods,” which documents Zeppelin's storied debauchery. Maybe she has. Either way, QE2's New Year’s Honours list has bestowed upon Zeppelin singer Robert Plant the considerable honor of CBE. The title -- Commander of the Order of the British Empire – is for his services to his country in the realm of entertainment.
Though he's best known as the golden-haired, swaggering singer of the ‘70s hard rock juggernaut that was Led Zeppelin, perhaps Plant's 2007 (softer) collaboration with bluegrass babe Alison Krauss turned the royal ear. The pair's much Grammy nominated “Raising Sand” -- album of the year, record of the year, best contemporary folk/Americana album, best pop collaboration with vocals and best country collaboration with vocals – is a far cry from Zeppelin’s stunning rock riffs and thundering beats.
Plant’s critically acclaimed work with Krauss seems to have rejuvenated the 60-year-old singer creatively and given him artistic respectability beyond the rock scene. Who would have ever thought that Plant would be featured on CMT – Country Music Television! Now that seems more far-fetched than the thought of him tripping across the graveled forecourt of Buckingham Palace to receive his medal.
Plant is not the first Zeppelin member to be honored. In 2005, guitarist Jimmy Page, who formed the band in 1968 after leaving the Yardbirds, was awarded an OBE – Officer of the Order of the British Empire – for his work with poor Brazilian children, not for music.
Still, Plant’s CBE must be a further slap in the face for his Led Zeppelin bandmates, which also includes bassist John Paul Jones and longtime stand-in Jason Bonham, the son of notorious partying drummer, the late John Bonham. After performing one huge concert in London at the end of 2007, Plant refused to reform and tour. The rest of the band is said to be interviewing a replacement singer and will not using the Led Zeppelin moniker as such.
Plant’s caterwauling wail and his “cock rock” stance was the archetypal sound and image for a ‘70s heavy rock frontman. He is the model for the fictional singer in the movie “Almost Famous,” which was written and directed by Cameron Crowe (“Jerry Maguire”). Crowe was the first journalist to give the popular Zeppelin a fair hearing and he loosely based the film on his experiences as a young Rolling Stone writer.
Shortly after Bonham’s accidental death, reportedly from alcohol poisoning, a shocked Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980. Plant and Jones pursued solo careers, while Page eventually hooked up for two albums as The Firm with old pal, Paul Rogers, the former Free and Bad Company singer currently doing the rounds as frontman for the “Queen plus Paul Rogers” project. Jones has worked quietly, often behind the scenes producing. Notably, in 2004, he too went a little country and toured with bluegrass superstars Nickel Creek as Mutual Admiration Society.
Significantly, Jones and Bonham are thus far ignored in these honors. The spotlight reticent Jones was a solid Zeppelin component, providing not just bass parts, but also keyboards and skills as a writer and arranger. Bonham is readily credited as being one of the heaviest hitting drummers of all time, but take a listen to his nimble syncopated percussion on the faux reggae song, “D'Yer Mak'er.”Clearly, the establishment is ready to acknowledge some notable musical parts, but unlike that of the Beatles, Rolling Stones or even The Who, Led Zeppelin’s musical significance remains sidelined. But then, was its mighty, visceral, sexual music created for royal tea parties?
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