As most people move into their sixth decade, they are often beginning to slow down a little. The career winds down and life becomes a bit lower key. But then we have always known Robert Plant isn’t most people, and his first year in his 60s was a whirlwind of acclaim. Read on…

Long time visitors of ManicNirvana.com are used to this but I never get used to it. Yes, it’s time for the annual fundraiser. Soliciting money for my own projects has always been a difficult job for me. And now with the economic times as they are, it’s even more difficult. But the funds are most welcome and it gives me a chance to talk about what’s going on with the site and what’s in it for you if you donate something. Read on…

If you haven’t yet figured out just how much of a Robert Plant fan I am over the last 9 years or so of my online presence with it, then this will remove any doubt.

I watched the Grammys attentively for the first time in many years this year, including the two hour pre-show event in which 100 categories were awarded. Each time Robert, Alison and Raising Sand was awarded another gramophone I muttered “Yes!!”. But when the Album of the Year Grammy was given to them I jumped up out of my seat and shouted “Hell yes!” And maybe my eyes got a little misty. But I was eating spicy food at the time. So it was probably just the jalapenos. Yeah. That’s what it was. Read on…

On September 13, 2002 I flew to Las Vegas to see Robert Plant and Strange Sensation at the Joint. The small, 2000-seat venue was located right in the Hard Rock Hotel complex–amidst the casino, bars, restaurants and other hustle and bustle. While the acoustics were not top notch, it was probably one of the coolest venues I’ve ever attended in over 30 years of concert-going. But now, like some elder citizen, there’s to be a Joint replacement. Read on…

Robert Plant has been living up to that long ago Manic Nirvana nickname again this year! The nirvana being a sublime tour with Alison Krauss to showcase the equally wonderful Raising Sand album. The manic being… well… just look at all the kudos and appearances–and he doesn’t seem to show signs of really slowing down any. Read on…

It’s not my habit to comment on Zeppelin things. It’s not my area of interest and it has nothing to do with Robert Plant as a solo artist. But I saw a quote that caused me to have to comment:

He really doesn’t want to make loud music anymore, as we do. I mean, I love acoustic music, but it doesn’t stop me from turning something up. John Paul Jones, October 2008

How utterly condescending can you be.

Is “loud music” somehow a criteria for good music? Hardly. Judging by the fact that Raising Sand is a platinum selling album with multiple awards, I’d say a lot of other people are thinking good music doesn’t have to be “loud”. And it’s apparent JPJ hasn’t listened to Raising Sand (or perhaps ANYthing Robert has done in the last 26 years) because it’s hardly an “acoustic” album. Read on…

Robert and I are ten years apart agewise, so he and I both are celebrating one of those milestone birthdays. For some reason round numbers seem to promote reflection about where one has been and where the path ahead goes.

For Robert, this decade has been pretty amazing. Since mid 1999, starting with those first Priory of Brion shows, Robert has continued to build on new themes and travel new directions. He went from Priory, to the Strange Sensation releases, and now the current album with Alison Krauss and T-Bone Burnett.

In between, he’s explored all kinds of diverse projects from traveling to the deserts of Mali to sing, to singing with Tuaregs in Italy. He’s sung with blues greats and local favorites in Mississippi. He’s won a Grammy award and a CMA award. He’s been a busy guy. In the last decade he’s done more than most do in their entire careers–assuming the career lasts more than 10 years. Read on…

Blogger Eva Silver Travers makes my point more eloquently than I:

Read A Huge Learning Curve.