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On this day, 14 December 1983, Rock God Robert Plant, former Led Zeppelin frontman played Cardiff’s Top Rank.
Plant had earlier in the Summer released The Principle of Moments, his second solo studio album, recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, South Wales;
Like Plant's first solo album, Pictures at Eleven, the songs departed from the hard rock sound of Led Zeppelin. Following the strength of these albums, Plant launched a successful tour in 1983.
Phil Collins was the drummer for Plant's band for the North American portion of the tour. Collins was content to perform in the background, despite his own enormous success as a solo artist and with Genesis at the time. Little Feat's Richie Hayward played drums for the remaining dates.
line-up of Robert Plant’s band for the 1983 tour was Robbie Blunt (guitar), Jezz Woodroffe (keyboards), Bob Mayo (keyboards), Paul Martinez (bass) and Ritchie Hayward (drums).
Those hoping that he would throw in a few Zeppelin classics, would be disappointed. This was made clear in the souvenir programme: “Tonight there will be no Slverhead, Black Sabbath, Foreigner, no Little Feat, Adverts [referring to the bands which each of the members had previously played in] or Led Zeppelin.
Only music from the last two years and maybe…a medley of our hit [referring to Big Log]”.
One of the more memorable occasions on the tour happened two days before the Cardiff gig. During the encore of a concert by Plant at the Hammersmith Odeon in London,
Plant was joined by Zep bandmate guitarist Jimmy Page and they reached back into their pre-Led Zeppelin past – but only for a single song.
"I've got an old friend here who's unused, as he is, to public speaking – Jimmy Page," Plant said to an ovation that interrupted him in mid-sentence. They then launched into an R&B hit that inspired them in their formative years, "Treat Her Right" by Roy Head.
Setlist
In the Mood
Pledge Pin
Messin' With the Mekon
Worse Than Detroit
Thru' With the Two Step
Other Arms
Horizontal Departure / Lively Up Yourself
Moonlight in Samosa
Wreckless Love
Slow Dancer
Like I've Never Been Gone
Burning Down One Side
Big Log
