Robert Plant has spent over half a century as the definitive archetype of the rock-and-roll front man. With his cascading golden curls and a vocal range that defined the 1970s, he remains a global sex symbol. Yet, according to the man himself, his prowess in the bedroom these days involves less “Whole Lotta Love” and a lot more musicology.
In a candid and wide-ranging interview for the October 2025 issue of Mojo magazine, the former Led Zeppelin vocalist offered a humorous glimpse into his private life, revealing that his passion for obscure R&B history is his most effective—if unintentional—sedative.
Down the Rabbit Hole of Influence
The conversation began with a deep dive into the nature of musical lineage. Plant has always been a student of the blues, and his latest project with his band, Saving Grace, continues that exploration. Discussing the track “Chevrolet,” Plant noted its evolution from Donovan’s “Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness),” which was itself an interpolation of a 1930s Memphis Minnie song.
Plant praised Jack White’s rendition of the track with The Raconteurs, using the moment to defend the “theft” inherent in folk and blues traditions. “It’s not even petty theft,” Plant explained, citing how Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago” was actually a reimagining of Kokomo Arnold’s “Sweet Home Kokomo.” For Plant, the joy of music lies in this “adventure” of tracing songs back to their roots—a process he describes as “sliding down the rabbit hole.”
An Unexpected Sleep Aid
While this encyclopedic knowledge of music history makes for fascinating interviews, Plant admits it might be a bit much for his romantic partners. With a laugh, the legendary singer joked about how his late-night conversations often turn into lectures on soul music legends.
“I can have a sexy night with a woman and they’ll be asleep within two or three hours of hearing me talk about James Carr living in a shelter or something,” Plant quipped. It seems that while fans might expect the wild antics of a rock legend, the reality of a “sexy night” with Plant involves a deep dive into the life of James Carr, the iconic but troubled R&B singer.
A Legacy of Privacy
Despite his lighthearted comments about his “boring” bedside manner, Plant has spent decades carefully guarding his personal life from the tabloid press. His history is one of deep, often complicated family ties. He married Maureen Wilson in 1968, with whom he had three children before their 1983 divorce. He later had a son with Maureen’s sister, Shirley, in the early 1990s.
In more recent years, Plant’s romantic life has remained a subject of intense curiosity but few confirmed details. In 2012, he famously sent the media into a frenzy by suggesting he had “eloped” with singer-songwriter Patty Griffin. His management later had to clarify that the “Golden God” was merely using colorful language to describe his time living in Texas with Griffin, rather than confirming a legal union.
Today, whether he is touring with Saving Grace or researching the archives at Cecil Sharp House, Plant remains a man driven by the “adventure” of the song—even if that passion occasionally puts his dates to sleep.