Robert Plant Says He “Didn’t Need” Led Zeppelin After Losing His 5-Year-Old Son

Robert Plant says in a new interview that he “didn’t need” Led Zeppelin after losing his 5-year-old son Karac in 1977.

Karac died in July 1977 after contracting an acute gastrointestinal infection. Plant had been on tour with Zeppelin in the United States when his son fell ill, and rushed back home to England to be with Karac and his then-wife Maureen, canceling the remainder of the tour.

The singer later wrote the Zeppelin classic “All My Love” in honor of his late son. He reflected on losing Karac and how it affected his commitment to Led Zeppelin in a conversation with The Sunday Times.

Plant said regarding the death of Karac, “Well, there was no map, no instructions to Led Zeppelin, and we just carried on. But I didn’t need the group after losing my boy. These musical romances are great when everything is great. When things go left of centre, who wants to sit backstage for hours and hours with people you’ve been stuck with since 1968? You’re not playing cards, you’re not going to the movies, you’re just waiting. I was always looking to get away.”

The opportunity to get away from Zeppelin arose after the loss of drummer John Bonham, his friend since their teenage years. “John was a sensitive, big-hearted guy who got overwhelmed by the boredom of the moving monolith,” said Plant. “He was torn between missing his family and being the classiest drummer from any rock band. He couldn’t leave it behind.”

Robert Plant most recently released All That Glitters…, an EP of covers and traditional songs with his band Saving Grace.

Meanwhile, Led Zeppelin recently landed in the Top 10 of Consequence‘s 100 Best Bands of All Time list.