Watch: Robert Plant Plays ‘Immigrant Song’ for the First Time in 20 Years
To end his set at Iceland's Secret Solstice Festival last month, Robert Plant performed part of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song,” making it the first time in over two decades the former Led Zeppelin singer’s played the tune live, according to fansite Led Zeppelin News.
By that estimation, Plant hasn't done the classic cut in concert since he last belted it out alongside Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page at a 1996 show in Japan, as Rolling Stone pointed out. Handily, a few prescient concertgoers captured the rare June 23 rundown from Plant and his current band the Sensational Spaceshifters, which seamlessly followed a rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On.” It may be the closest fans can currently get to a Led Zeppelin reunion tour, a proposition Plant shot down as recently as last year. Watch some fan-taken clips of the Spaceshifters’ Secret Solstice finale down toward the bottom of this post.
"Plant's performance of the song to close his festival set in Iceland was fitting as the song was inspired by Led Zeppelin’s visit to Reykjavík, Iceland in 1970," Led Zeppelin News noted of the infrequent live number.
Regardless of whether Plant again reunites with Page or his other Led Zeppelin bandmates (as they last did in 2007), "Immigrant Song" remains a moneymaker for the classic rock group. In January, the tune landed at No. 3 on a list of top-earning Led Zep crushers. Roughly calculated, it’s earned $1,306,140.94 for the band.
The studio version of "Immigrant Song" was released in 1970, and it was included on Zep's third album, Led Zeppelin III. Secret Solstice is the same festival that was sued by Slayer earlier this year after the metal band reportedly weren't paid the full fee for their performance. See Plant's upcoming tour dates below.
Robert Plant 2019 Tour Dates
July 2 – Halden, Norway @ Fredriksten Fortress
July 4 – Roskilde, Denmark @ Roskilde Festival
Sept. 13 – Fredericton, Canada @ Harvest Blues and Jazz Festival
Sept. 17 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Mann Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 20 – Noblesville, Ind. @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
Sept. 21 – Louisville, Ky. @ Bourbon and Beyond
Sept. 23 – Clear lake, Iowa @ Surf Ballroom
Sept. 25 – Moorehead, Minn. @ Bluestem Amphitheater
Sept. 27 – Missoula, Mont. @ KettleHouse Amphitheater
Sept. 29 – Spokane, Wash. @ First Interstate Center for the Arts
Oct. 1 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Eccles Theater
Oct. 3 – Bend, Ore. @ Les Schwab Amphitheater
See Led Zeppelin in the Top 70 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1970s