Robert Plant: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page & The Solo Years
by Neil Daniels

A missed opportunity

This is, surprisingly, the first biography of Robert Plant and should therefore be a treat for fans of the great man. Should be, but isn’t. Although startlingly up-to-date, everything about the book, from the title onwards, suggests a rushed job. This is a real shame as, as Daniels points out, Plant’s rich, varied post-Zep career deserves to be more than a footnote in the biography of his old band.

The book is not devoid of interest. As an overview of what Plant did and when, it is useful for reference, although even here it is more tantalising than satisfying, making one long for a really thorough exploration of, for example, his pre-Zep career. The book is also littered with inaccuracies (“[Love’s] 1967 debut album Forever Changes...”) and pointless, sometimes inappropriate interjections from minor celebs such as that from Tony Harnell (of TNT) following the sobering details of John Bonham’s tragically early death: “I was supposed to see them in New York the year Bonham died. Bummer.” Not unreadable, but Percy – and his fans – deserve better.

ISBN 9780955282270

Reviewed by William Pinfold
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