Led Zeppelin legend says The Damned was one of his favourite bands in the 70s.
“New Rose, Neat Neat Neat: what brilliant songs. They quite rightly kicked juggernauts like Pink Floyd into touch for a couple of years,” Plant said in an interview with The Guardian.
Truth be known, they also kicked Led Zeppelin’s arse. The Damned released ‘New Rose’ in October, 1976, just six months after the second last Led Zeppelin album ‘Presence’. Led Zeppelin only had one more album ‘In Through The Out Door’ in 1979 and then they were done.
In all fairness to Pink Floyd, their album prior to ‘New Rose’ was ‘Wish You Were Here’ in 1975 so there is really no comparison. The next album in 1977 was the dark and deep Roger Waters creation ‘Animals’ that historically is considered a masterpiece but at the time was a difficult listen.
Fun Fact: Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason also loved The Damned debut. He called it a “punk rock insurrection” and “a welcome return to where Pink Floyd originated. In fact, Mason was so into The Damned that he produced their second album ‘Music For Pleasure’
Robert Plant has played one show so far in 2017 giving fans an indication of where his 2018 live shows may be heading. The show was half Led Zep, half new material. Plant included Led Zeps’ ‘In The Light’ in his set. He hadn’t played the ‘Physical Graffiti’ song live since 2002. Led Zeppelin never played it live.
Robert Plant will headline Bluesfest in Australia at Easter 2018.
Robert Plant setlist, 6 October 2017, London
What Is and What Should Never Be (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969)
Turn It Up (from Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar, 2014)
New World… (from Carry Fire, 2017)
Misty Mountain Hop (from Led Zeppelin IV, 1971)
The May Queen (from Carry Fire, 2017)
Carry Fire (from Carry Fire, 2017)
In the Light (from Physical Graffiti, 1975)
Rainbow (from Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar, 2014)
Bones of Saints (from Carry Fire, 2017)
Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
Whole Lotta Love (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969)
Encore:
The Lemon Song (from Led Zeppelin II, 1969)
