Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have released a live version of the Led Zeppelin classic “When The Levee Breaks.”
The legendary group's frontman, 75, and his Americana duet partner, 52, have previously released two collaborative albums (2007's Raising Sand and 2021's Raise the Roof), and now they're offering up a live remake of the British rock group's country-blues song, which was the final track on their as-yet-untitled fourth album in 1971, on streaming services.
Plant and Krauss have performed the song during their live shows, accompanied by guitarist JD McPherson, drummer Jay Bellerose, bassist Dennis Crouch, string player Stuart Duncan and multi-instrumentalist Viktor Krauss.
Plant used many of the original lyrics, with writing credits given to Memphis Minnie and each member of Led Zeppelin.
The late drummer John Bonham's drumbeats are some of the most used samples in popular music, having been used on tracks by the likes of Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mike Oldfield and Sophie B. Hawkins.
The song isn't the only Zeppelin song to feature in the duo's live set, as they also play “The Battle Of Evermore,” “Rock And Roll” and “Gallows Pole.”
Meanwhile, Plant recently admitted that replaying the Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven” was “cathartic.”
The rock icon took to the stage at The Cancer Platform charity concert at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire in October, which was organised by Duran Duran's Andy Taylor, who has been undergoing treatment for stage four prostate cancer.
Until then, the last time he performed the 1971 hit was when the band played at London's O2 in 2007.
He told Rolling Stone: “It was cathartic. Everybody's like, 'Oh, thank goodness, he'd never do that,' but I didn't actually do that! I just blurted it out. That song meant so much to me at the time and where Jimmy and I were.” [Page] And John [Paul Jones] Bonzo [John Bonham]So that was it that night. It was a tough test, but I felt better at the end than I did at the beginning.”
When asked if this might be the last time the piece is performed, he replied: “Yes, I think that's probably true. I haven't had the chance to play it with a small orchestra on an ice rink in Finland yet.” [Laughs] So I don't think I'll do that, but I don't know. Who knows. Maybe something will change somewhere. Maybe the spirit and the heart will come back in the soul. It's a long song. Who can remember all the words to it?
Photo: Justin Ng/Retna/Avalon (c)