Cat Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 "Rap Up" King Features Syndicate "Plant Throws Away His Crutches" Oakland, CA Tribune 2-22-1976 Led Zeppelin's lead-singer Robert Plant made the most out of his last days in the States. Before flying home to England, he saw Deep Purple in New York, caught two LA shows by a teen-age girl rock group called the Runaways, and spent a night bantering with Richard Pryor at a Hollywood club. One of his final stops was Berkeley, where he caught the Pretty Things, the British band that Plant "and fellow Zepper Jimmy Page brought to their label, Swan Song Records, a year ago. Making the most out of this last chance to talk to Plant about his health (he was still walking with the help of a leg brace), his convalescence in Malibu, Led Zep's new album, "Presence" (which will ship platinum in March), and the group's plans, we approached him in the Pretty Things' dressing room. He happily agreed to a quick interview, the first he's given since breaking his ankle and elbow in that auto accident last August. Q-How are you feeling? A-Well, doctor, everything's improving better than expected. I've slowly put more weight on my foot until New Year's Eve, when I just threw down my crutch and walked without it for the first time. Q-Why did you choose to rest up in L.A.? You said a year ago you had become bored with the city. A-I felt a lot of negativity had set in... the presence of a lot of people doing a lot of dope. Bit by bit I saw the shine on the surface fade away. But when we stayed in Malibu, my trip was to develop a state of mind whereby I could combat the physical problems. Malibu is good for that. Q-You and the rest of the group must have found Malibu a good place to work in too, having written the new album there. A-My only alternative was to turn around and stand against the storm and make an album. All the energy that had been smoldering inside us, getting ready for a lot of gigs, came out in the writing and later in the studio (in Munich). So what we have is an album that is so Zeppelin. In this time of trouble, it all came together like a dream, and the music bursts off the vinyl. It sounds like the Hammer of the Gods. Q-Is there a deference to the trial you've been through? A-It's apparent, but it's shrouded. I was without my old lady (who fractured her pelvis in the accident and had to remain in England), and the realization that I could not get back to her immediately led to one song, "Tea for One." Q-It'll be "Tea for Two" shortly, though. A-In four days I should be treading on the Island of the Blessed. For the first three months I'm not going to get out of bed! Q-A Led Zeppelin tour has been ruled out until next year. So what are your plans? A-We can't think now towards the future as easily as we could in six months time. All we want to do is see the people that we love. And I want to take it easy with this foot. No soccer until August. "Rock Talk" Lisa Robinson Independent Press Telegram Long Beach, CA 7-4-1976 When will Led Zeppelin perform again?. "When we tour is a subject I'm a bit superstitious about." Jimmy Page told me. "Since Robert's auto accident last summer (Robert Plant, lead singer) I won't even ask him. When the doctors say he's ready, that'll be it. "It's not as if we have nothing to do. I have a whole lot of stuff to write. There's a long, almost classical guitar piece I've been kicking around for a year that needs to be orchestrated." A rock opera? "Well, not exactly" He smiled. "It's one of those things that could use four or 20 voices. I'd like it to be on the next Zeppelin album." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonOfDarkness Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Led Zeppelin's lead-singer Robert Plant made the most out of his last days in the States. Before flying home to England, he saw Deep Purple in New York, caught two LA shows by a teen-age girl rock group called the Runaways, and spent a night bantering with Richard Pryor at a Hollywood club. Two shows by The Runaways? I wonder which one of them he fancied. Interesting read-up. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 What song is Jimmy talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detigers09 Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 What song is Jimmy talking about? Swan Song, possibly? I was wondering the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatbo Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Two shows by The Runaways? I wonder which one of them he fancied. Interesting read-up. Thanks. update on the runaways film, from variety.com: River Road Entertainment has stepped in to finance "The Runaways," the rock 'n' roll biopic about the '70s all-female rock band featuring Joan Jett, Cherie Curie and the late Sandy West. Film will be written and directed by Floria Sigismondi, best known for helming musicvids for David Bowie, the White Stripes and Marilyn Manson. Art and John Linson are producing alongside Bill Pohlad. Jett will exec produce the film (Daily Variety, April 17, 2007). "The Runaways" is casting and is slated to go into production in late fall. "It's great to be in business with River Road again," said Art Linson. "Bill and his team were fantastic partners on 'Into the Wild,' and we were looking for an opportunity to work with them again." Film follows the rock band from its early days on the Sunset Strip through the girls' meteoric rise to their dissolution and disillusionment. River Road's credits include "Brokeback Mountain," "Lust, Caution" and "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus." The indie production and finance company is in production on the Terrence Malick-helmed drama "The Tree of Life," starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainydaywoman Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Two shows by The Runaways? I wonder which one of them he fancied. Interesting read-up. Thanks. I believe his shirt actually says "Robert loves Kim" (Kim Fowley), but I can't find the photo that shows all the lettering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainydaywoman Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 And what's not to love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Was trying to post that he was mates with Kim Fowley but was hit by flood control. Always thought that one was an odd meeting of minds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swandown Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Swan Song, possibly? I was wondering the same thing. It's close to Jimmy's descriptions of "Swan Song" (20+ minutes with occasional vocal sections), although he never indicated that "Swan Song" would feature an orchestra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leandar Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Maybe it was something he conceived of later? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxie Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Two shows by The Runaways? I wonder which one of them he fancied. I believe one of them fancied him. I can't remember which girl, but she was interviewed in a magazine - I think it was Classic Rock - about how Plant very politely turned her down stating he had a good woman at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Thanks for the article Cat I inquired awhile back about Plant's accident and this is the best response. The reason for the inquiry is that I severely injured my right ankle last april and have been on the mend since, so I was just curious as to Robert's ankle. Also, did not know he also broke his elbow. Must have been one hell of crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lzzoso Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 Robert Plant and Richard Pryor. Now that is one hell of a meeting of the minds (and Great Cocaine, I am sure). If I ever met Robert Plant this would be one of the first questions I would ask Robert about. Robert meeting and partying with Richard Pryor. The Greatest singer of all-time with the Greatest comedian of all-time. Imagine that. Apparently, each was most likely a fan of each others works. Led Zeppelin big fans of Richard Pryor. Richard Pryor a big fan of Led Zeppelin. I would like to think so. I would really like to know if Jimmy was there also or if Jimmy ever met Richard Pryor at this or any other occasion. Nevertheless, Robert Plant and Richard Pryor hanging out together at some Hollywood nightclub in 1975 is good enough for me. Long Live the Mighty Led Zeppelin and the Mighty Richard Pryor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levee Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 This brought back a lot of good memories, thanks for posting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 On 8/4/2008 at 2:37 AM, Knebby said: Was trying to post that he was mates with Kim Fowley but was hit by flood control. Always thought that one was an odd meeting of minds! Kim discusses Robert Plant's passion for record collecting at 17:50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babysquid Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 On 8/4/2008 at 4:57 PM, swandown said: It's close to Jimmy's descriptions of "Swan Song" (20+ minutes with occasional vocal sections), although he never indicated that "Swan Song" would feature an orchestra. I don’t think he used the term orchestrate to infer that it would require an orchestra, more that the piece needed arranging ( multiple guitar parts etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pagemeister Posted December 29, 2018 Share Posted December 29, 2018 On 8/3/2008 at 12:30 PM, Wolfman said: What song is Jimmy talking about? If not Swan Song, could have been "10 Ribs in All/Carot Pod Pod (Pod)" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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