What was the secret to Led Zeppelin’s success? The truth is there wasn’t one. Multiple factors had to work for the band to achieve the kind of sound that they did and cement the legendary status they developed. All four members had to be experts in their field but willing to work with others to make something connected and cohesive.
When the band first rehearsed, it was clear that they were on to something special. As Jimmy Page tried to get the band to play something he described as having “lots of light and shade”, a bit of time was needed to flesh out the sound before each member let loose and realised their full potential.
Robert Plant said he felt as though they stumbled upon something powerful and fragile, that it was a moment he didn’t want to pass them by. “I remember the little room, all I can remember it was hot and it sounded good – very exciting and very challenging,” he said, “Because I could feel that something was happening to myself and to everyone else in the room. It felt like we’d found something that we had to be very careful with because we might lose it.”
Of course, one of the components that added to Led Zeppelin’s unique nature was Robert Plant’s exceptional vocal range. He was a lyrical acrobat with a talent that very few were aware even existed, going from slow and subtle to exuberant and outlandish in a matter of moments.
It’s no surprise that so many people put Robert Plant forward as one of the best singers in rock music. While a lot of Led Zeppelin’s instrumentation stood out for listeners, it wouldn’t have amounted to as much without Robert Plant being able to match it beat for beat, word for word. He knew vocals better than anyone, and anyone he complimented as a singer was undoubtedly worth listening to.
One singer he complimented in high regard and toured with was Alison Krauss. “Alison [Krauss] is a miracle,” he said, “There was no real ‘Let’s do it like this’. The two of us step up to the microphone, and she’s amazing, she can just follow my voice. She said, on ‘When the Levee Breaks’, ‘If you want to go up, I’ll come up with you, just give me one split second’.”
The two artists certainly complement one another. While it’s fair to assume that not many people can match Robert Plant’s vocal stylings, Krauss can go toe to toe with him. Given that Plant’s singing partner throughout Led Zeppelin was the guitar player Jimmy Page, meeting someone who could match that and work with him was nothing short of miraculous. Their tours were unbelievable, as they brought musical excellence worldwide and showed people that the magic that made Led Zeppelin is still present, even if the band aren’t.
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