Page/Plant: Bulgarian TV Interview #1

[maven2blue]

During their 24-hour stay in Sofia, Page and Plant appeared on BNT (Bulgarian National Television, state-run) and NTV (New Television). The BNT interview was shown in the news-covering Panorama, Bulgaria's ever most watched TV program running Friday nights on Channel 1, unprecedented for a Rock act, and featured some live footage . It was dubbed in Bulgarian, so what follows is English - Bulgarian - English translation and may vary in wording but (hopefully) not in meaning. The host was a surprisingly unfamiliar young girl who seemed somewhat inexperienced but got some more than friendly hugs from Plant during the intro. The guys looked very co-operative, nice and inventive, and they managed to impress intelectually even when asked silly questions. Plant was more talkative, Page shy as usual; both were apparently sincere.

Panorama, BNT 6th March 98

Let's start with a joke. Have you stopped eating little girls for breakfast, as you were accused back in the 70ies?

RP: "Stopped eating them? At least before lunch, that is not a good idea. Only for supper."

Making music today, how do you prevent yourself from taking part in Rock's grand manipulation as you call it, or do you take part?

RP: "Basically, we still do what we have always been doing: making music for ourselves, regardless of changes in fashion and style both in Europe and America, and we seem to remain deaf for them. And we still carry on with that combination of techniques, styles and texts which we have always considered our own. In this respect, we do not bother at all that we could be manipulating or manipulated in our music. We are very very happy people because we are still happy with what we are doing."

I know you don't like questions about the past, but do you still feel you belong to the beat generation?

RP/JP: "Yes, absolutely beat."

That feeling for self-destruction, why is it so inherent to the big ones of this generation? How could one get out of the Bermuda triangle "on the road - drugs - Zen Buddhism"?

RP: "Oh how did we survive? Again, we were lucky because both now and then we had a fantastic feeling of achievement. And this is totally separate from success. You know you write great music and you play it well, and this is a fantastic feeling which does not push you towards self-destruction. But when you get success added to it, you get a rather strong cocktail which esily makes you drunk. This combination is poisonous. The more successful you become, the more remote your previous life seems to you. So you get a huge vacuum between success and your human nature. There's a big lonesome street, and people tend to become very lonely, agressive, nervous, to get upset about reality or the past. This is the danger that pushes towards self-destruction: if success overcomes achievement."

JP: "This does not concen us very much. But you mentioned suicide. Another thing in this industry is the great pressure, beyond all limits. What Robert was talking about, that great euphoria, that huge amount of adrenaline. It not only pumps the audience, it also fills you up to explosion. The audience shout and fill you up to explosion. You'd like to open the stopper, but even backstage you can't get relief, and there is no escape from music. Anyway, we have a big advantage: in the end of the day, when the euphoria is gone and the lights are off, home, home to come back to. England, our marvellous home. This is the balance."

Your music resembles Shakespearean drama: few refrains, compositions with inceptions and finals. Shakespearean drama is against kings and authority. In your music, what do you fight with, if you do at all?

RP: "Now, it's 29 years of making music. So if there is a battle, the enemy has changed many times. There had been a lot of enemies. Most important to all people in showbiz is negativity and sadness. Otherwise a show is supposed to relieve you. Because when you go and listen to Elvis Presley or Bob Marley you expect to go through a new experience, to make you feel good. For my part, I have tried to write lyrics which on one side are fairy tale, romantic and alternative, but at the same time they talk about the political problems which we've been facing in the 70ies. Music can talk about everything, but it's like a fairy tale, it should not be direct. As far as the enemy is concerned, he really often changes, often he is within ourselves."

Is that the greatest enemy?

RP: "No no, not at all."

You mentioned politics. Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal are generally described as left oriented, against the bourgeois order. Are you yourselves left politically?

RP: "Probably more left than right."

JP: "Yes, left from the centre."

RP: "I wouldn't like to be someone making an amateurish talk about politics. Every country has it's own political tradition. You can't have somebody from the outside to teach you. I know my own country."

JP: "I'm alwas on the side of the oppressed."

Is there anything that would make you change your guitar for a gun?

JP: (terrified) "Oh no. But it would be different if the guitar would explode in my hands. Because it is my weapon, my means of communication, my world."

Does music have to carry a big message?

RP: "It depends, depends on the passion of the message, on the passion of perception. But of course it could."

What is your music message?

RP: "It's anybody's music message. We are trying to make music for people to celebrate. And you will see that tonight also here in Bulgaria people will celebrate." (And hell we did - M. T.)

In No Quarter, you use a lot of Indian and African motives. Are you trying to redeem the white man's historical guilt?

RP: (laughing and repeating the question for JP) "Where did you take this question from? I mean, it is a question but ...I don't think we are white, and I don't think we represent the white. Whatever we are, we've been in touch for too long with so many cultures, we've mixed in so many customs that I dont think we are English any more. But if there is guilt, we all have to go back to religion. But we don't have enough time for this now."

Yet what do you think about the Bible saying, 'Do not make yourself an idol', you yourselves being the idols for more than one generation?

RP: "I believe that's true, and that God is the Creator. And that He is so abstract that there can be nothing between Him and myself. So all these terms like idol, amulet, etc, they are artificial and I am not responsible for them. We are just entertainers. Many years ago, people like us, the troubadours, travelled from town to town, told jokes, brought news. Musicians are always, all over the world, an extension of ... of ourselves."

Are you still looking for the Angel with the broken wing?

JP: "No, I've found it."

Could you touch it, or was it just in your imagination?

JP: "No no, I really did, I really did."

[eternal light]

RP: "We are just entertainers. Many years ago, people like us, the troubadours, travelled from town to town, told jokes, brought news. Musicians are always, all over the world, an extension of ... of ourselves."

Thank you for the article.

[SilverVishnu]

Yet what do you think about the Bible saying, 'Do not make yourself an idol', you yourselves being the idols for more than one generation?

RP: "I believe that's true, and that God is the Creator. And that He is so abstract that there can be nothing between Him and myself.

Robert = Einstein? Or am I misinterpreting that and suddenly Robert is deeply religious?

[SunChild]

Thank you for that, wow! Not your run of the mill interview, for sure.

Are you still looking for the Angel with the broken wing?

JP: "No, I've found it."

Could you touch it, or was it just in your imagination?

JP: "No no, I really did, I really did."

Awwwww... that's so great.

[Angel With A Broken Wing]

Are you still looking for the Angel with the broken wing?

JP: "No, I've found it."

Could you touch it, or was it just in your imagination?

JP: "No no, I really did, I really did."

ah yes, that's right dear Jimmy.......

and I have found my Bodhisattva With a Broken Finger.

[MadScreamingGallery]

Those sure as hell were uncommon questions! I would have loved to have seen the expressions on the guys' faces when some of those questions were asked.

[SteveAJones]

Robert = Einstein? Or am I misinterpreting that and suddenly Robert is deeply religious?

Actually his comment would suggest he is deeply spiritual but non-religious. I recall in 2005 a Swedish television host asked him where he thought John Bonham and his son

were now. "I don't know" he replied without hesitation. I religious person would have

responded in a manner consistent with the conventions of their particular religion.

[maven2blue]

Actually his comment would suggest he is deeply spiritual but non-religious. I recall in 2005 a Swedish television host asked him where he thought John Bonham and his son

were now. "I don't know" he replied without hesitation. I religious person would have

responded in a manner consistent with the conventions of their particular religion.

I think you're right.

I liked this interview and posted it because it was so different from most interviews.

[Jicata]

Those sure as hell were uncommon questions! I would have loved to have seen the expressions on the guys' faces when some of those questions were asked.

Their expressions were priceless.

I remember how excited I was during the interview because things like that didnt happen everyday back then. Robert himself said last year ,when I had the chance to talk to him, that he really liked the interview because of the questions

[MadScreamingGallery]

Their expressions were priceless.

I remember how excited I was during the interview because things like that didnt happen everyday back then. Robert himself said last year ,when I had the chance to talk to him, that he really liked the interview because of the questions

Thanks for sharing that Jicata!

[Angel With A Broken Wing]

Their expressions were priceless.

I remember how excited I was during the interview because things like that didnt happen everyday back then. Robert himself said last year ,when I had the chance to talk to him, that he really liked the interview because of the questions

You were the one who interviewed them on Panorama, is that correct??? Please do tell us more.....about their expressions or whatever you remember. Or about when you spoke with Robert last year. No details are too small. Errr, unless it's too personal, that is. Then please share with me in a PM.

[maven2blue]

You were the one who interviewed them on Panorama, is that correct??? Please do tell us more.....about their expressions or whatever you remember. Or about when you spoke with Robert last year. No details are too small. Errr, unless it's too personal, that is. Then please share with me in a PM.

Trying to monopolize Jicata, are'nt you?

Yes, please tell us more, Jicata. If you were the interviewer, you did an excellent job.

[Otto Masson]

Wonderful interview - thanks for posting it.

Reading this makes you realize how run-of-the-mill all the other interviews are...

[Jicata]

Oh ,guess I didnt express my self right xD Sorry to disappoint you guys but I didnt interviewed them. I watched it ,though.

I can't remember everything very clear. I've watched it twice - once it was taken (I was 5) and then when I was 11. I dont have a strong memory when it comes to my childhood but I do remember some things.

As I'm a fan of Jimmy ,I didnt really pay much atteintion at what Robert said or did so I can only tell you about Jimmy. Um ,he acted like the shy one ,as always. I can tell that he really liked the last question and wanted to say more but there wasnt enough time. His `terrified` look wasnt actually terrified but he was very serious when he talked.

At the moment my memory doesnt serve me right because I'm really tired but if anyone is interested I could try and find the interview. I dont promise anything ,though.

As for meeting Robert.

Well ,the media actually was pretty quiet about his concert ,dont know why. It was in Kavarna ,Bulgaria's so called `rock town`. He came in June ,after the first rehearsals for the O2. There werent many people ,only the ones who heard about the concert and that's why I got the chance to talk to him. He was very surprised when he saw me waiting backstage. Probably because 99% of the people around were 40+ and I was 14.

I have to say that he is a really sweet guy ,not a rock star with a huge ego.

I was really excited and at first I couldn't say anything. I mean ,THE Robert Plant was right in front of me. The Golden God. We shook hands ,got an autograph. Then I asked him if he liked Bulgaria ,the fans and etc. Nothing interesting here. Then I asked him about Led Zeppelin. He said that he was excited about it and looked fowrad to the concert. I asked him if there are going to be other Led concerts and he got kinda quiet and said `Time will show... but dont worry` Sadly ,he had to go and I couldn't ask him more about it and what's the meaning of what he said. I dont want to give any hopes by saying this. As he said ,time will show and what we can simply do is wait.

When reality kicked in I wished I had asked him a hundred other question but now there's nothing I can do

[Angel With A Broken Wing]

That is awesome Jicata, I enjoyed reading it very much. You are one lucky gal to have had that one-on-one with Robert.

[AlexKx]

Thank you Jicata that was special. You rock!

[MadScreamingGallery]

Jicata, thank you for sharing all of that with us. It sounds like your meeting with Robert was an incredible experience!

[maven2blue]

Thank You, Jicata. I'm so happy that you got to meet Robert. What a wonderful experience.

[Jicata]

Glad you all liked it. I wish I could tell more about the interview but as I have a bad memory I cant

It was indeed an incredible experience! One of the best moments in my life.

[AllisonAdler]

JP: "This does not concen us very much. But you mentioned suicide. Another thing in this industry is the great pressure, beyond all limits. What Robert was talking about, that great euphoria, that huge amount of adrenaline. It not only pumps the audience, it also fills you up to explosion. The audience shout and fill you up to explosion. You'd like to open the stopper, but even backstage you can't get relief, and there is no escape from music. Anyway, we have a big advantage: in the end of the day, when the euphoria is gone and the lights are off, home, home to come back to. England, our marvellous home. This is the balance."

Can't be anything too far wrong with the man who appreciates how marvelous a home it is.

[Melanie_72]

Thanks for sharing this article, great read!

[beatbo]

excellent post! thank you!