Nothing lasts forever - not even the mighty Led Zeppelin. John Bonham's death in 1980 ended the band, and left the remaining three members jobless for the first time in years. After the tragedy, John Paul Jones semi-retired from the business, while Jimmy Page would go on to form several groups (The Firm being the most successful). However, it was Robert Plant who carved out the strongest career post-Zeppelin.
In 1982, Plant released his first solo album, Pictures at Eleven ... and rock fans had no idea what to make of it. Plant co-wrote all of the songs, but they sounded nothing like his prior band. Sure, it was still rock, but it was wrapped in a smoother, jazzier package.
Yet somehow, it worked. Pictures at Eleven would go on to become a top 5 album in both the U.S. and the UK, and would establish Plant as a star in his own right. He would go on to have an interesting, eclectic career, up to the present day.
The first song from Plant's debut solo LP was "Burning Down One Side." Its odd vibe and striking visuals fit perfectly with MTV, and it picked up a significant amount of airplay, which no doubt helped the album, and introduced Plant to a new, younger audience. It seems to have become a bit of a forgotten song and video, though, making it perfect for our little blog.
