Friday, October 14, 2011

Robert Plant says he's forever committed to Buddy Miller

As Robert Plant picked up one of the big prizes at a Nashville awards ceremony last night, he did more than just thank his touring bandmate Buddy Miller: He pretty much committed himself to having Miller involved in all of his musical projects from here on out.

Plant delivered his remark at the Americana Music Association's annual Honors and Awards ceremony, while accepting the Album of the Year award for his Band of Joy CD. Miller earned two awards of his own at the ceremony.

Before Plant and Miller co-produced the Band of Joy album released last year, they were already touring bandmates from the Raising Sand tour with Alison Krauss. Plant said it on that 2008 tour that he basically decided on sticking with Miller into the uncertain future: "When we toured the Raising Sand tour, I said to the forces that be, I said, 'We can't go anywhere without Buddy Miller,' and I'm never gonna go anywhere without Buddy Miller, ever."

The live audience in Nashville cheered Plant's comments about their hometown hero, who in a few minutes would be named Artist of the Year -- ironically, beating out Plant in the category.

Earlier, upon winning Instrumentalist of the Year, Miller had proclaimed himself "really, really not that good." He said, "I feel like I get away with murder with what I do." Miller mentioned Plant by name, along with Emmylou Harris and Jim Lauderdale, thanking these "wonderfully, incredibly talented people" for letting him "sneak in there behind them."

Plant was much more complimentary of Miller's abilities as an instrumentalist. To him, Miller is "the consummate player of all the licks and the beauty and the soliloquy of great American music that I'd ever heard in my life."

Plant thanked not only Miller in his acceptance speech but also Krauss and his more recent female collaborator, singer Patty Griffin. Said Plant, "When we were making the Band of Joy album, it got to Christmas a year or so ago, and I said to Buddy, 'There's something missing, and it's getting a bit too pastoral.' And so, I have to thank Patty Griffin for really turning the record round."

The British singer also recalled a pivotal encounter with Americana music from even before he was a teen-ager." When I was 12, I heard 'The Mountain's High' by Dick and Dee Dee," he said. "I never looked back. I just kept dreaming of American music and coming over here, and I did. I stole a great deal with my old companions."

The Band of Joy, with Greg Leisz filling in for the absent Darrell Scott, performed the song "Monkey" -- but not before Allman Brothers Band leader Gregg Allman got in a quick comment: "Did you ever think you'd be sittin' here in the Ryman [Auditorium] watching Robert Plant and the Band of Joy?"

12 comments:

  1. I wish Robert would say he's forever commited to me. Gee, Buddy is lucky.

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  2. I have seen the repeat of this quotation about Gregg Allman at the end of your post in a number of different accounts of the night- it wasn't him who said that about Robert Plant at the Ryman it was the MC Jim Lauderdale. I don 't honestly think Gregg Allman would comment on Robert Plant.

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  3. Why wouldn't Allman comment about Robert Plant? Don't get the statement. Is he so brain fogged after so many years of drugs that he cannot speak?

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  4. I agree would love a lifetime commitment from Robert too...lol. He is one of the best singers ever, not to mention best rock & roll singer that has ever walked the earth.

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  5. @the 4th anonymous comment: is that you Robert? If so, you are indeed, absolutely wonderful!

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  6. Today is 11th November 2011. This is the "latest" story on lemon skweezings, dated 14th October. This site is moribund. This aint news - this is ancient history. You fail as a journalist sauer.

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  7. OK, then. Start your own site, anonymous.

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  8. I have tried to enjoy Robert Plant's music over the past 10 years or so, but sense a disconnect. It's nothing to do with the actual music because it's not played badly, but lyrically (and song choice), I always get a sense of calculating, empty sincerity, especially with the last two efforts. Maybe I've outgrown his music and my tastes have changed. When I saw Band of Joy last February, the show couldn't end soon enough. I left before the encore (but in fairness, I had a 7:00 am meeting the next day).

    Buddy Miller was the only saving grace, again the music was well played and overall it wasn't a bad show, but I think I have been done with Robert Plant's music for a long time now. I really don't want to hear anymore of it.

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  9. Steve!
    Last post October?
    Where the hell are you?

    Nuvo911

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  10. When Robert Plant make new dance songs like in honeydrippers..? let's dance...

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  11. i still think robert plant can pretty much anything and still be awesome. i have seen him recently a couple times at bonnaroo and his voice is fading but hye, hes still robert plant. great post keep up the hard work. check these out IStillGotMyGuitar

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  12. Where is "Steve The Lemon"?

    Nuvo911

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