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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