Rock icon Robert Plant was always more than Led Zeppelin’s voice throughout his career. His powerful stage presence was also equally crucial in Zeppelin’s tremendous success. The singer attracted the attention of many music lovers, regardless of musical taste or age. He developed an interest in music pretty early in his life and made many failed attempts before finally gaining worldwide recognition with Led Zeppelin.
While Plant was initially influenced by Elvis Presley’s rock and roll sound, he also discovered blues, which would significantly impact his own style. The rock star became a member of several bands after leaving his parents’ home at 16. Maybe he failed to reach success, yet they were important experiences that broadened his understanding of music. During those times, the Who was another band he tried to become a member of when he learned they were going through a tumultuous time.
Tensions Grew Among The Who Members During The Mid-1960s
By the mid-1960s, the Who had built an enthusiastic fan base with their intriguing live performances. Later, with the early singles like ‘I Can’t Explain’ and ‘Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere,’ they started to make their voices heard more by appearing on commercial radio stations and television programs. However, the tensions also began growing among the band members around 1965, when they were still trying to make a name for themselves.
The issues between the singer Roger Daltrey and the drummer Keith Moon were primarily related to Moon’s struggle with substance addiction. Daltrey didn’t want his bandmates to abuse drugs during work hours since it would affect their playing. They even had a physical fight when Daltrey flushed drummer Keith Moon’s pills down the toilet and assaulted him.
Following this incident, Daltrey took some time away from the band. The remaining Who members considered replacing him with another lead singer, yet the idea was short-lived. Daltrey was brought back to the Who with the warning that he had to stop acting like he was the band’s leader. However, when the band had to cancel a few shows during that period, a young Robert Plant saw it as a chance to prove himself.
Robert Plant Wanted To Join The Who As The Lead Singer
The 17-year-old Robert Plant, looking for opportunities to achieve his first significant breakthrough, went into three the Who concerts in a row during the band’s turbulent period in the mid-1960s. When the band canceled two gigs in Worcester and Kidderminster after Roger Daltrey didn’t show up, Plant thought he would be the proper candidate to fill the vacant spot as the lead vocalist.
The rocker gathered all his courage and went to the band’s guitarist Pete Townshend to say that he was ready to take over the job. The Who had started to make a name for themselves, so it was a great opportunity for a young singer to stand out. However, Townshend later decided it would be better to continue with Roger Daltrey rather than replace him with another vocalist.
Here is how Pete Townshend recalled Robert Plant’s offer during an interview in 1990:
“Plant came to see us three nights in a row and offered himself for the job, as did Steve Gibbons when he came to see us and Roger wasn’t there. Obviously, none of them thought I was any good at singing!”
Thus, Robert Plant’s wish to join the Who was never actualized, but he would achieve the success he worked towards for years with Led Zeppelin. We would have probably never heard the unique pieces of the band if Townshend had accepted his offer to join the Who.
