Robert Plant (born August 20, 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin. With his powerful, wide-ranging voice and charismatic stage presence, he helped define hard rock and heavy metal in the late 1960s and 1970s. After the band’s breakup in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham, Plant embarked on a successful and adventurous solo career, exploring blues, folk, world music, and Americana. He has collaborated widely, most notably with Alison Krauss on the Grammy-winning albums Raising Sand and Raise the Roof, and remains one of rock’s most respected and innovative figures.
Musician and collaborator Alison Krauss has spoken highly of working with him, praising his openness and artistic curiosity. Below, we list some words of wisdom from Robert Plant, drawn from his interviews and public statements.
“The past is a stepping stone, not a millstone.”
“You can’t give up something you really believe in for financial reasons. If you die by the roadside — so be it. But at least you know you’ve tried.”
“Music is for every single person that walks the planet.”
“I like the idea of being alone. I like the idea of often being alone in all aspects of my life. I like to feel lonely. I like to need things.”
“My vocal style I haven’t tried to copy from anyone. It just developed until it became the girlish whine it is today.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself. And take as many chances, risks, as you can.”
“How can you consider flower power outdated? The essence of my lyrics is the desire for peace and harmony. That’s all anyone has ever wanted.”
“There’s still time to change the road you’re on.”
“Music means communication to me. I say ‘listen you people out there, listen to my music, let’s be one.’”
“It’s OK to quote from your past. But I’m more interested in quoting from my present and pointing towards the future.”
“I’m not a sad old hippie — I’m a joyous old hippie.”
“There’s nothing worse than a bunch of jaded old farts, and that’s a fact.”
“I absolutely adore and idolise women. All women. I think they are all amazing.”
“The whole idea of music, from the beginning of time, was for people to be happy.”
“I’m not saving lives. I’m singing and I should go placidly and joyously through the whole thing and work hard and not take it for granted.”
“You have nothing. One should never allow themselves to think that they have — to have is to lack appreciation, to touch is to want to touch again.”
“I’ve got so much more to learn, to steal from, to plagiarise, to be.”
“I don’t know how much more expressive you can get than being a rock and roll singer.”
“The calendar and the mirror; they’re bastards.”
“Life isn’t moving quickly; time moves very quickly.”
“Some people are completely trapped in their achievements, and that must be real hell.”
“Be good. Be truthful.”
“You can’t define music ’cause music is cosmos and it knows no barrier or definition. You have to feel music to dig it.”
“Since I was a kid, I’ve had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music.”
“I think that passion and love and pain are all bearable, and they go to make love beautiful.”
“There’s no real boundary to where we can and cannot go.”
“Live it, be kind, do your best, don’t hurt anybody.”
“If I’m not going to be absurd, why am I here?”
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