Robert Plant is currently touring the world. You might remember him as the former lead singer of one of rock’s most iconic bands... Tin Aircraft, was it? These days, he’s an older gentleman. His once-flowing golden mane is now silver, and his face bears the wisdom of decades. If you squint, you might catch a glimpse of the “Golden God” he once was. But Plant isn’t one to dwell on the past, however glorious it may have been.
What he does now is make music, and he does it exceptionally well. His current band is outstanding. No, they don't serve up the loud, riff-heavy fare that still fills arenas. And even if they wanted to, Plant’s voice likely wouldn’t accommodate that style anymore. After all, it’s 2018, and he’s in his seventies. He’s evolved, and so have we... most of us, at least.
Of course, the set included a few classics associated with Zeppelin. It would be unthinkable not to. But nostalgia wasn't the focus. What we witnessed instead was a richly varied performance, pulling from blues (naturally), as well as rave, rockabilly, country, North African traditions, and more.
There are many aging rock legends touring on the fumes of their former glory, but Robert Plant is not among them. While some peers announce yet another farewell tour, singing songs about dying before getting old, Plant continues to explore new territory.
What sets him apart? What makes him different from his contemporaries, many of whom seem content recycling their greatest hits every few years? Perhaps it’s honesty. Or a lingering sense of curiosity. But above all, it’s something rarer still: a little thing called class.
