**”His Voice Started To Get On My Nerves”: Why Richards Just Can’t Stand Robert Plant**
The world of rock ‘n’ roll is a cauldron of larger-than-life personalities, explosive egos, and a profound passion for music. But sometimes, the stars don’t align, and even two titans of rock, like Keith Richards and Robert Plant, can’t seem to get along. Despite their mutual fame and admiration in the music world, Richards has never been shy about his disdain for Plant, especially when it comes to his distinctive voice. So, why did Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of the Rolling Stones, develop such a strong aversion to Robert Plant’s vocal style? To understand this, we need to examine their contrasting personalities, the evolution of rock music, and their experiences in the industry.
### A Clash of Personalities
At the core of the tension between Keith Richards and Robert Plant lies a clash of personalities. Keith Richards, the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll rebel, is known for his raw, unapologetic approach to both life and music. His deep, gritty voice, coupled with his raspy, unrefined playing style, reflects his personal philosophy: authenticity, rebellion, and a refusal to conform to societal norms. Richards is a man who embodies the anti-establishment ethos of rock, often relishing in the chaos and unpredictability of life.
Robert Plant, on the other hand, is the poster child of the classic rock frontman, with a more polished, controlled persona. As the lead singer of Led Zeppelin, Plant’s vocal prowess is revered for its range and power. His voice can soar through the heavens with high-pitched wails and intricate melisma, often being compared to the operatic style of singers from earlier generations. While Richards may appreciate rawness and unfiltered energy in music, Plant’s vocal technique—which many find refined and sophisticated—likely felt inauthentic or overly pretentious to Richards, who prides himself on his instinctive, “no-frills” approach to rock.
### Musical Differences
Musically, the two men also had very different styles. The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, while both part of the British rock explosion of the late 60s and 70s, had distinct sounds that reflected their divergent approaches to songwriting and performance. The Stones were steeped in blues, R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll traditions, emphasizing groove and rhythm over technical proficiency. The band’s sound was gritty, rebellious, and stripped-down, often leaving room for improvisation and spontaneity during live performances.
Led Zeppelin, meanwhile, merged blues with hard rock, folk, and even classical influences. The band was known for their complex arrangements, intricate guitar solos, and Plant’s operatic vocal delivery. Their sound was far more elaborate and theatrical than the Stones’ straightforward rock. Richards, who is notorious for his distaste for overly polished or technical music, may have found Led Zeppelin’s sound to be unnecessarily showy or self-indulgent.
Moreover, Richards has often expressed a distaste for “technical” musicianship. He’s made it clear in interviews that he prefers instinctual playing over overly meticulous and structured performances. For Richards, the essence of rock lies in its raw, spontaneous energy, not in its technical perfection. Plant’s ability to execute highly controlled vocal techniques may have come across as unnecessary or even grating to Richards, who thrives on feeling and simplicity over precision.
### Rivalry Between Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones
There has also been a historical rivalry between Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, which could have played a role in Richards’ negative opinion of Plant. As two of the biggest rock bands of the 1970s, there was often competition between the two groups, whether it was over album sales, critical acclaim, or their legendary live performances. Both bands represented the apex of rock music, yet each band had a different approach to their artistry.
While the Stones embraced their working-class roots and often portrayed themselves as the anti-hero rebels of rock, Zeppelin leaned into their mythology, elevating themselves as rock gods. Richards, who prides himself on his authenticity, might have viewed Zeppelin’s grandiose image as overly self-important. In Richards’ view, Zeppelin’s rock star persona and Plant’s operatic vocal style may have seemed like pretensions to something more than rock and roll should be—simple, raw, and unpretentious.
This rivalry also extended to the bands’ live shows. The Rolling Stones are known for their high-energy, no-frills performances, while Led Zeppelin’s concerts were often elaborate spectacles, with complex light shows and intricate stage designs. Richards has never been one to indulge in extravagance, and he likely saw Plant and Zeppelin as taking rock too far into the realm of spectacle, away from the gritty, spontaneous music he cherishes.
### Richards’ Personal Dislike for Plant’s Vocal Style
Richards’ criticism of Plant’s voice—“His voice started to get on my nerves”—stems from more than just musical differences. In interviews, Richards has mentioned his distaste for Plant’s falsetto and high-pitched wails, which, in Richards’ mind, were the epitome of over-the-top vocal theatrics. Richards often highlights how his own approach to singing (which is rougher and more understated) aligns with his natural style, while Plant’s soaring, almost operatic approach felt forced and artificial to him.
This criticism also speaks to Richards’ attitude toward artistry. For him, rock music should be about authenticity and feeling, not technical virtuosity. Plant’s vocal acrobatics, to Richards, may have come across as overly calculated, lacking the raw emotion that Richards believes rock should embody. In Richards’ mind, Plant’s voice didn’t come from the same place of vulnerability or honesty that he values in music.
### The Legacy of Rock and Roll
The broader context of rock ‘n’ roll history also plays a role in Richards’ comments. As a founding member of the Rolling Stones, Richards played a key role in shaping the genre into what it became. For him, the “golden age” of rock was one where music was driven by instinct, attitude, and pure energy. In contrast, as rock music evolved throughout the 1970s, it became more sophisticated, technical, and self-conscious. Bands like Led Zeppelin represented this shift, and their increasing complexity may have been something Richards resented as a departure from the foundational principles of rock.
Moreover, Richards, who has often been critical of modern trends in music, likely saw Plant’s voice as a symbol of a growing trend of musicians who were more concerned with technical prowess and image than with the primal, elemental essence of rock ‘n’ roll.
### Conclusion
Keith Richards’ distaste for Robert Plant is not just a personal issue—it’s a reflection of his broader philosophy on music. While Plant’s operatic, controlled vocal style was a major part of Led Zeppelin’s appeal, it was the very thing that Richards couldn’t stand. For Richards, rock ‘n’ roll is about energy, rawness, and authenticity, values that often clashed with the more refined, technically proficient style of Plant. Their rivalry, while not as public or bitter as some other rock feuds, highlights a fundamental difference in their views of what makes rock music great.
In the end, this difference is what makes rock music so endlessly fascinating: its ability to house so many different voices, styles, and ideologies. Richards and Plant may never see eye to eye, but their contributions to rock ‘n’ roll are inextricably linked. One man’s discord is another man’s harmony, and in the world of music, it’s this tension that often drives creativity forward.