by Deborah Messner

Created on: July 08, 2008

As I stood there in that very long ticket line, I continuously reminded myself that I wasn't there for me, I was there for him. The year was 1993, and I was standing there, skipping my second semester Intro To Shakespeare class, with the intention of surprising my then boyfriend (now husband) with tickets to see Robert Plant in concert.

Before we met, I have to admit that I had barely even heard of the band Led Zeppelin. I was born in 1975, right in the height of Zep's original popularity, and I imagine it would be difficult to find any newborn babies who spent any crib time rocking to the likes of "Whole Lotta Love", "Dazed And Confused" or (God forbid) "The Lemon Song". When my husband and I first met, I was formally introduced to the high-pitched singing voice of Robert Plant and the screamin' guitar work of Jimmy Page. I must say, I wasn't initially very impressed. Sure, Robert had a great voice and I admired his tenacity for wearing the tightest pants I have ever seen on a man in my life to that point. But really, was he all that talented? Or was he just another mid-70's rocker living the wild lifestyle with hundreds of thousands of fans trailing aimlessly behind him?

By 1993, Robert was touring alone, long after the break-up of Led Zeppelin. I was impressed at the number of people that packed into the room for his concert that night. We had fantastic seats very near the stage. With the usual rock star hoopla in full swing, Robert appeared on stage amidst flashing lights, smoke, and a hauntingly tribal beat. Within minutes, I was completely mesmerized.

Aside from the fact that Robert's voice was still clear as a bell some twenty years after his initial heyday, his performance completely enthralled me from the minute he walked on the stage. If you want to be entertained, Robert Plant is the guy you need to see. Going to one of his concerts is much more than watching someone perform, it can truly be labeled as an "experience".

Going to a Robert Plant concert is kind of like being invited to a very personal party to watch a true performer do what he obviously loves. Robert doesn't just rock it out on stage to a bunch of screaming guitar riffs. You are suddenly involved in a very spiritual, haunting experience. This guy is dancing around the stage, with his beautiful voice and incredible long curly blonde hair, literally having the time of his life. The music he sings is more than words coming out of his mouth, it's an intricate part of his being. The lights,

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