Robert Plant raised a “six-figure sum” for The Cancer Awareness Trust after performing the classic Led Zeppelin song ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in Oxfordshire at a function on October 21st.
The performance formed part of a special concert arranged by Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, who is currently receiving treatment for stage four colon cancer. Although Plant has publicly criticised his own song despite fan favour, he swallowed his pride in the name of charity.
Accompanying Plant for the performance were Andy Taylor, Kenwyn House, Guy Pratt, David Palmer, Anne Rani and Dino Jelusick. Now, House has reflected on the performance in a new interview with Led Zeppelin News.
“It was a combination between über excitement and terrifying,” House said. “I literally only had four days to learn everything,” he added. The musician explained how he received a last-minute phone call from Taylor’s guitar technician asking if he would be available for a charity performance less than a week later.
“When Robert Plant walked into the room, and I had to play ‘Stairway To Heaven’ with him for the first time in a small enclosed environment, that was probably the most pressured professional situation I have ever, ever come across. I’m in a small room with my hero playing the most famous of his songs.”
House explained Plant only agreed to perform ‘Stairway to Heaven’ because it was requested by an anonymous philanthropist who made a significantly large donation to the cause.
“Someone bid a huge amount of money for him to sing this song,” House added. “There is a good circle of karma around it. That raised a six-figure sum for the charity, that one song.”
Watch part of the performance below.
What a privilege to get to see Robert Plant sing Stairway to Heaven. With Andy Taylor looking and sounding fantastic on guitar, emotional evening raising funds for The Cancer Platform @thecancerplat pic.twitter.com/s2iDulEl8h
— Nina Nannar (@NinaNannarITV) October 22, 2023
