The newswire contains breaking news about Robert Plant, as well as related news and asides. Posts are compiled and written by a HUMAN, not mechanically scraped. For extensive news article archive visit thePressbook.
Bev Bevan and his band Move hosted a charity bash on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. The purpose was to raise funds for Birmingham’s Children’s hospital. The fundraiser was part of the BBC WM Kidney Kids Appel to purchase a new renal unit. So far more than £1 million of the £1.5 needed has been raised.
Robert’s impromptu performance opened as he joked: “Seeing how old you are I’m surprised you’re out so late.”
The BBC spoke to various music personalities on Monday, October 26, 2009 as the strolled the red carpet for the Q Awards. When asked if he was presenting an award or was just there for a laugh, Robert Plant said he was there for everything.
Watch the video. Robert’s appearance starts at the .40 mark.
NME reports that Robert Plant has been talking with Glastonbury Festival coordinator Michael Eavis about appearing at the festival in 2010. Robert says he’s interested in appearing but that he doesn’t know who will be appearing with him. Asked if he would play solo, he quipped: “Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I’m good at card tricks.”
Robert Plant won a Q Award for his outstanding contribution to music. He thanked, among others Damon Albarn, Julian Cope, John Peel, Ahmet Ertegun, Alison Krauss and Stourbridge Town Hall and joked that the award was his “long service medal”.
Robert was presented his award by Ibrahim from Tinariwen and Bob Harris. Alison Krauss sent a video message.
Robin Denselow, writing for guardian.co.uk, offered an interview with Justin Adams. Adams spoke about his music and collaborations, including his work with Robert Plant. Denselow writes:
And then, of course, there’s his “very different” work with Robert Plant. Adams says he gets on well with the Zeppelin star, because he’s got over all the initial shyness one might have of working with a legend: “Plus, we’ve got passions in common – the blues, and Moroccan music and Egyptian classical music. So we have Little Richard and Bukka White, and then berber and gnawa music as reference points.” When they last performed together the line-up consisted of “two Algerian bendir players, Juldeh on his fiddle, drums, bass, me on guitar, and Robert – and we played a spooked-out version of Led Zep’s Black Dog that was almost unrecognisable. I hope we record that stuff”.
Dominic Beaumont interviewed Francis Dunnery, and Francis had nice words about Robert Plant:
I love Robert, I think he’s a brilliant man. He is incredibly knowledgeable about a whole load of things. The guy is brilliant, his mind is unique and he’s incredibly interesting. He’s a straight talking guy, down to earth and people almost resent him because he doesn’t act like a rock star.
When we were flying around America, Robert would go back into economy and have a drink with the people back there. I think he feels comfortable amongst the working man, but I’m not sure the working man feels comfortable with him treating them as equals. He just doesn’t have the arrogant Ego that people accuse him of. He’s completely real. He is not trying to sell you an image of himself.
So far as Robert is concerned, I was never a Zeppelin fan growing up. His personality and energy are what attracts me to him. He’s a fucking nutcase in the nicest possible way. I also know that he gives millions of dollars to charity all the time and never says a thing about it. You have to respect that.
You can read the whole massive interview on Dunnery’s website:
Sun Media’s James Reaney posted a story in the Standard-Freeholder about Mel Tillis’ reaction to his song “Stick With Me Baby” being recorded by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The story says in part:
“It was just recorded by a person that I’ve never of, Robert Plant,” Tillis says. “He cut a duet with Alison Krauss. He did it and last count it’s over two million albums.”
British rock superstar Plant and roots music superstar Krauss teamed on the multi-Grammy-winning Raising Sand. Tillis carefully checks the album’s title with his staff.
He doesn’t need to check where Plant found Raising Sand’s 10th track. “He heard that song in England. I’ll tell you how he heard it,” Tillis says. “That was on the back side of Temptation by the Everly Brothers … Over in England, Stick With Me Baby was the hit and he heard that over there away back when he was just a young man.”
The Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund (CKDCF) is a charity organization that raises funds for the health, wellness and educational needs of children in Egremont, Cumbria. The fund was started by Francis Dunnery and honors Dunnery’s parents. To date the charity has raised more than £50,000 and funds have been used for things like hospital beds for children’s oncology wards, constructing libraries, purchasing educational supplies and more.
Robert Plant has donated a signed guitar and will be recording a video message for attendees of the CKDCF Friday night dinner and Saturday night concert. Francis Dunnery, who toured with Robert Plant on the Fate of Nations tour says he never thought of asking Robert for help until now. From the CKDCF website:
CKDCF President, Francis Dunnery says, “Everyone knows how much I love Robert, I had the time of my life working with him. I have never really asked him to help out because it just didn’t enter my head. We don’t get to speak very often because he’s all over the place and so am I but when I saw him with Prince Charles recieving his Royal seal of approval I had to contact him and give him my congratulations”. Dunnery jokes ” Robert’s a Leo so Prince Charles was lucky to meet him”.
Robert has been involved with various charities, including the Nordorf Robbins fund for quite some time. Dunnery says, ” I am very grateful that Robert would lend a hand. It will bring some focus to the CKDCF and help us to support various children’s needs. Everyone at the CKDCF is buzzing that Robert is donating the guitar and video message. Personally, I think this is absolutely fantastic. I’m psyched “.
Green Fuse Media, a Kidderminster College-based organization, have made a 10 minute promotional film with the help of Robert Plant and some local students. The film premiered in Kidderminster and will be available through various websites.
