Led Zeppelin frontman described in an interview how “Hound Dog” changed his life and recalled when he could sing for the king of rock himself
Some younger fans are starting to get a sense of the size of Elvis Presley from the biopic elvis(2022). Even so, it is difficult to have a proper dimension of the impact caused by the so-called king of rock in popular culture as a whole.
Amid so many reports, a declaration of Robert Plant in an interview with Jools Holland (via Far Out Magazine), in 2020, helps to show how Presley’s work was able to change people’s lives completely. The eternal vocalist of Led Zeppelin described, in an incredible way, how he felt when he heard the idol for the first time.
Born in England, Plant highlighted that the BBC, the main local media outlet, “wasn’t very kind to youth culture at the time”. Music and other entertainment products were designed for the elderly, who, naturally, were the most consumed audience in the period.
Occasionally, however, a little something aimed at young people “leaked out” on the radio program Two Way Family Favorites, always broadcast on Sundays, at lunchtime. While listening to the attraction, little Robert — 8 years old at the time — was introduced to the hit “Hound Dog”, a blues composition originally released by Big Mama Thorntonbut made famous in the voice of Elvis Presley.
“I felt a kind of blockage. It was like an opiate, a drug. Something happened when I heard the sound of that song. Surely that made me put my stamp collection aside a bit.”
Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley
From there, it was love at first listen. Robert Plant instantly became a huge fan of rock and roll, a genre that was beginning to grow in popularity not only in the United States (Elvis Presley’s birthplace), but also in the rest of the world.
Over a decade later, lo and behold, Plant found himself having a career in music. He joined Led Zeppelin, one of the greatest bands of all time. And he ended up having the chance not only to watch the so-called king of rock live, but also to meet him in person.
In one of these situations, Elvis was backstage at a Led show. In the midst of a more technical conversation, Robert ended up expressing his admiration for the idol’s work, as he recalled in an interview with BBC Radio 4.
“Us [Led Zeppelin] we went to see him several times. He was talking to us and he was saying things like, ‘well how do you do soundcheck and stuff like that?’ I replied that Led Zeppelin didn’t do many things like that, but when we did it to test some equipment or whatever, I always wanted to sing some Elvis song. Then he asked me what song it was usually. I replied that it was ‘Love Me’.”
The conversation ended and Elvis Presley apparently left the space before Led Zeppelin started their gear set up. That day, he happened to have the band do a soundcheck—and Robert Plant sang “Love Me,” but was upset to think that Presley couldn’t hear him perform the song.
To his surprise, however, Elvis was still backstage and got to hear his version of the song. The King of Rock approached the illustrious fan to say that he had enjoyed his performance. Imagine receiving a compliment from your biggest idol?
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
