Unexpected Facts About Robert Plant, The Voice Of Led Zeppelin
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Robert Plant established himself as a force to be reckoned with early in his career. He would go on to become a legend of rock music in every sense of the word—but it took mountains of scandal, controversy, and tragedy to get there.
1. He Was Born In A Modest Situation
Robert Anthony Plant was born on August 20, 1948, in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England. He had one sister named Allison, who didn’t follow his lead into the music industry. In fact, Plant's family was downright normal, even though their son Robert was anything but.
2. He Didn’t Have A Musical Childhood
Plant's family wasn’t musical, at least not the same way he wanted to be. His father, Robert C. Plant, was a British engineer who worked in the army during WWII, while his mother Annie was of Romani descent.
But while they didn't share his musical ambitions, Plant's parents supported his love of music—and as we’ll see, this support allowed him to flourish.
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3. He Found His Passion Early
His enjoyment of music began at a young age, and he was especially fascinated with Elvis Presley. “When I was a kid I used to hide behind the curtains at home at Christmas and I used to try and be Elvis…I always wanted to be…a bit similar to that". His attraction to flamboyant aesthetics only grew from there.
4. He Had Suspicions About His True Calling
Plant studied at the King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys until he was 16. But he left school after he developed a love of blues music, especially Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson. “I could hear this kind of calling through the airwaves".
Robert Plant wanted to make music like his idols—but he had no clue where it was going to take him.
