Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson revealed details about an early encounter with Robert Plant in 1968. The future Led Zeppelin vocalist was brought to jam with his band in what Anderson perceived as a potential replacement scenario. The revelation emerged during an interview featured on Classic Album Review.
Anderson described how blues musician Alexis Korner introduced Plant to the band during a club performance. The Jethro Tull leader sensed an ulterior motive behind the introduction.
“He [Alexis Korner] brought Robert Plant along to some club date that we did in early 1968 and produced his protegé, and more or less insisted that Robert was allowed to come up and jam with us,” Anderson said. “You know I remember at the time, ‘wait a minute, there’s something else going on here’, and I saw myself in the situation of being potentially replaced by Robert Plant in the early Jethro.”
Anderson chose not to participate in the jam session. Instead, he observed Plant’s performance from the sidelines.
“I didn’t join in. Robert got up and sang – I think he played some harmonica as well – he got up and did the standard blues thing that everybody could play, and straight away you knew this was a voice from another universe,” he continued. “He had some qualities, not only in terms of his vocal ability but in terms of his charisma.”
Anderson recognized Plant’s exceptional talent. However, he noted that no formal approach was made to replace him, though he acknowledged the possibility remained.
“He obviously was someone who was going to do very very well, which Alexis had noticed and was nurturing, but it didn’t come to pass,” Anderson said. “As far as I know, Alexis didn’t actually make any overture to the other guys to be Robert’s backing group, but it wouldn’t be inconceivable that he [Plant] might have made some noises to some of them.”
The encounter highlighted the interconnected nature of the British rock scene in the late 1960s. Established musicians like Korner played crucial roles in shaping future legends.
Reports from Led Zeppelin forums indicated Plant’s collaboration with Alexis Korner and Steve Miller on a planned album during this period. The project remained unfinished when Jimmy Page recruited Plant for Led Zeppelin. This collaboration showcased Korner’s active role in positioning Plant for greater opportunities in the music industry.
Korner’s influence reached beyond Plant’s career development. Documentation from The Aquarian showed the blues musician had nurtured other young talents. He mentored Mick Jagger and others in his various blues bands throughout the 1960s. His reputation as a talent scout and mentor established him as a significant figure in the British blues and rock scene.
The timing proved significant for both musicians’ careers. Louder Sound documented that Jethro Tull was still in its formative stages in 1968. The band had only recently evolved from their earlier incarnation as the John Evan Band. Plant actively sought his breakthrough opportunity during this period. His chance arrived later that year when Jimmy Page recruited him for the New Yardbirds, which later became Led Zeppelin.
The incident reflected the competitive nature of the emerging progressive rock scene. Established acts continuously evaluated new talent. Both Anderson and Plant achieved massive success with their respective bands. This early encounter provides a fascinating glimpse into rock history’s what-if scenarios.
