In a surprising confession during a recent Mojo interview, rock icon Robert Plant revealed why he passed on attending Black Sabbath’s “Back to the Beginning” farewell concert—Ozzy Osbourne’s swan song and a monumental moment in heavy metal history.
Tony Iommi, the legendary Black Sabbath guitarist, extended the invitation to Plant, asking him to be part of this historic closing chapter. Plant recalled his response plainly:
“Tony, I’d love to come, but I can’t come. I just can’t…”
Plant was eager to clarify that it wasn’t a snub. He doesn’t denounce heavy metal, nor hold any disdain for it: “I don’t know anything about what’s going on in that world now, at all. I don’t decry it, I’ve got nothing against it. It’s just I found these other places that are so rich.”
In recent years, Plant’s musical journey has steered away from thunderous stadium anthems toward more intimate, soul-nourishing settings. He’s embraced that freedom with his current ensemble, Saving Grace, which blends traditional folk, world music influences, and stripped-down reinterpretations of Led Zeppelin classics. These performances bring a sense of unguarded authenticity he finds “rich” and deeply fulfilling.
“The gigs are small enough so that if nobody wants to go, it’s not the end of the world.”
He emphasized this ethos again with a wry mental image: “Instead of doing the football stadium with some old mates, there it was: we were free. We could mess about.”
Plant’s decision is not isolated; it mirrors his long-standing stance against staging another full-scale Led Zeppelin reunion simply for the spectacle. In essence, it’s about honoring artistry over ego, substance over nostalgia.
