Robbie Blunt

Robbie Blunt went from being a journeyman blues player to the guitarist Robert Plant worked with after Jimmy Page during Plant's early solo career. Blunt excelled at this daunting proposition and became an integral part of Plant's sound. Although this is Blunt's major claim to fame, he has contributed to a lesser degree to various artists both before and after his association with Plant. Blunt had been a fairly popular gun for hire in the '70s, working with such forgotten groups as Bronco, Silverhead, and Chicken Shack. His long friendship with Robert Plant paid off in the months following the demise of Led Zeppelin, as Plant asked him to join his R&B pickup group, the Honeydrippers. This arrangement turned less casual when Plant decided to formally test the solo waters in 1982 with Pictures at Eleven. Blunt's playing on the album was very reminiscent of Jimmy Page's, blending blues, Eastern melodies, heavy riffing, and emotive solos into a surprisingly potent mix. Blunt continued to play a key part in the writing and playing on Plant's solo breakthrough, 1983's The Principle of Moments, and its two MTV and radio hits, "Big Log" and "In the Mood." After an official Honeydrippers release and its hit remake of "Sea of Love," Plant wanted to emphasize keyboards more on 1985's Shaken 'n' Stirred, which left Blunt's role somewhat confused. The relationship deteriorated, and Blunt and the rest of the band were sacked in late 1985. Blunt has added guest guitar to many projects since then, appearing with artists as varied as Clannad, Edie Brickell, and Julian Lennon, but he has never quite equaled the success or exposure that he had with Plant. ~ Brian Downing