Robert Plant surprised fans with a rare performance of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ on Saturday night.
Plant was a special guest at the charity night “An Evening With Andy Taylor And Special Guests” at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, England.
It was in aid of The Cancer Platform, an initiative of the Cancer Awareness Trust, organised by Duran Duran guitarist Andy Taylor.
The star-studded gig featured appearances by Pink Floyd bassist Guy Pratt, Andrew Ridgeley from Wham!, drummer David Palmer (Rod Stewart, Sting, Bryan Adams, Pet Shop Boys, Tom Jones) and the Brit and Ivor Novello-nominated artist Ella Henderson, among others.
Plant’s set included the Led Zeppelin classics ‘Thank You,’ ‘Black Dog’ and the iconic, ‘Stairway to Heaven.’
It was Plant’s first time singing the rock epic in public since 2007’s Zep reunion show at London’s 02. The show was immortalised on the “Celebration Day” concert film.
Check out Saturday’s surprise performance here:
Plant has gone on the record saying he can’t relate to ‘Stairway’ anymore, although he is not completely down on the song.
“Of course, it was a good song,” he told Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show in 2019.
“The construction of the song, the actual musical construction is very, very good. It’s one of those moments that really can stand without a vocal — and, in fact, it will stand again without a vocal, I’m sure, because it’s a fine, fine piece of music,” Plant said.
“Lyrically, now, I can’t relate to it, because it was so long ago. I would have no intention ever to write along those abstract lines anymore. I look at it and I tip my hat to it, and I think there are parts of it that are incredible.
“The way that Jimmy took the music through, and the way that the drums almost climaxed and then continued… It’s a very beautiful piece. But lyrically, now, and even vocally, I go, ‘I’m not sure about that,'” he added.
