It's not every day you bump into a bona fide rock legend while eating your scrambled eggs but today at the luxurious L'Amphitrite Palace Hotel it happened. I recognized him at once, hair still wild and wavy – only greyer, wearing green swimming trunks and a blue t-shirt. Together with his bearded band mates (The Sensational Space Shifters) Robert Plant was enjoying a bit of peace on the spacious sun drenched terrace overlooking the Skhirat Beach, beside the Royal Summer Palace, ahead of the evenings main event.
Breakfast now a distant memory, Plant minus the green swimming trunks, sporting light coloured slacks and a stripy Moroccan shirt, the former Led Zepplin icon set about the business of delivering his award winning brand of rock led psychedelic folk to a welcoming public.
"Ses pas la la premiere fois en Maroc" stated a welcoming Robert Plant assuring the Moroccan audience that he was no stranger to the vast offerings of this North African country.
The acoustic and mandolin heavy sound was the perfect backdrop for the addition of a local Moroccan musician who infused a new flavour to the songs, an African tweak that Robert, (we're on first name terms now), had clearly been working on. Hints of the past were not lost but this is a man relaxed with himself and his art, happy with the new groove he’s furrowing.
With his white feather emblazoned across the backdrop, the living legend urged the crowd to clap along and praised his band whole-heartedly. A great job they did too.
The nights main moments came in the shape of "Black Dog" and "Spoonful" but he fittingly left the audience with the little Led Zep gem "Baby I'm Gonna Leave You" to rapturous applause. Take a look at the videos of the live versions below.
Next day in the madina I spotted him again, happily chatting to anyone that recognised him. Plant has lived through more than most musicians and come out the other side with his head held high, sticking to his guns and doing what he sees as right. As to the continuing question over a possible reunion... he didn't want to talk about it...so the wait goes on!
Check out all our reviews:
MawazineRicky MartinFatoumata DiawaraAlicia KeysLinks
Mawazine Festival Maroc CulturesMorocco Tourism