Originally appeared in Sun Online (UK)

By SIMON ROTHSTEIN

BEFORE last night’s gig at Somerset House Robert Plant could have been any other 58-year-old man - sipping tea backstage from his Elvis Presley mug.

On stage he transformed into one of the greatest vocalists this country has ever produced.

With superb backing band the Strange Sensation largely in the shadows, the former Led Zeppelin man took centre stage.

And he belted out a mix of Zep hits, cover versions and songs like Let The Four Winds Blow that were written just last year.

The audience were quiet and respectful throughout - there was no moshing or crowd surfing, just furious head-nodding to the strains of Black Dog and When The Levee Breaks.

Long time Led Zep fan Malcolm Lewis, 54, raved: “He’s still got the songs and he’s still got the hair. The band are great too - forming a tight little unit. They’re def not Led Zeppelin, but 30 years on this is the best we can hope for.”

And as Robert and his band take a bow after set classic Whole Lotta Love it’s hard not to admire them.