The Real Reason Why Robert Plant Hates Stairway To Heaven 

Do you think "Stairway to Heaven" is overrated?

It's still a masterpiece even though it's been played a billion times and I'm sure that Plant likes the 500 million that the song grossed.

“The real reason Robert plant hates Stairway to Heaven”, I thought it was going to be something besides the most blatantly obvious reason possible.

I can understand the sentiment, but also can’t help contrast it with Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. Decades along, he was asked if he wasn’t sick of having to play “Nights in White Satin” every show. His response was, in essence, “How could I hate this song that did so much for us, and means so much to so many people?"

I used to work in a guitar store. After seeing a sign near the guitars in a competing store that read "No Stairway", I put up a sign in our store that read "Stairway Welcome". We stole a LOT of their customers because of it. Just because some don't like something does not mean EVERYBODY doesn't like something. Case in point: Justin Bieber is FILTHY RICH.

I hate that people hate this song. I admit, it has been over done. It would be like celebrating Christmas or some other holiday, every day of the year. Too much of a good thing.

It's still a great song. Even though everyone is sick of it and it's been way over played, it's not the songs fault itself. It's just a great song alot of people don't wanna hear anymore.

I still love this song and think it is absolutely gorgeous. I love all the members, but I am more of a Jimmy fan by far. Jimmy is proud of this song and it makes me sad that Robert hates it so much. When Jimmy comes on to do the solo it gives me goosebumps still to this day. The emotion that Jimmy pours out in this song is something I cannot put into words. I grew up in the 70's and 80's. My parents (mostly my Dad) - were huge Zeppelin fans and had all their records. It played in my house on a constant basis. So this song and their music is ingrained in my brain for eternity!

I always loved Kashmir even as a little child hearing it on tv but my friend Paul who is Gold loved stairway so I kinda grew fond of that song after listening to it 100 times buzzed on his porch 🤣. Cheers to zeppelin!

Anyone remember in Wayne's world when the guitar store had a sign saying 'No Stairway to Heaven" lol

My first album I bought for myself with my own $ was Led Zeppelin I - I’ve been a fan since I was 13! I was driving from Banff in Canada to fly home with my grown family and Stairway came on the FM stereo ✔️ The vehicle was quiet and the entire song played out - my youngest son (who was all grown up) said after the song was over “Dad - do you think when they finished the song they put their instruments down & looked at each other & said we just made the best rock song in music history?” I said I wasn’t there but sounds about right 😎 It’s a mysterious masterpiece of rock and roll & Robert Plants tears when Heart played with Jason shows - the song is well - powerful & meaningful to Robert and - the song remains the same 🥇

I could understand Robert Plant being sick of the song after singing it thousands of times, but I think hating it is a bit harsh. The fact that the song has been overplayed shouldn't take anything away from the fact that it's an ICONIC song that will live forever. Hats off to Robert and Jimmy for writing the greatest rock song ever

The list of bands that hate their best songs is so long you can't count them all, cherry pie.. comes to mind..

🎶" There's a lady who's sure.."🎶

Honestly, you like the song or not, you should play it for the fans, as a sign of respect. Not wanting to play a particular song is just arrogance towards people that made you a filthy rich rock star ! Period.

I once thought I came up with a bit of a song that I started singing in the shower once in my teens, only to realize years later that it was a snatch of a Led Zeppelin song that I hadn't even recalled having ever heard!

I agree with Plant. Back in the early 80's when I was in highschool, most of us felt that the song had been played practically to death.

Had the pleasure of witnessing them play this song in 2007 at the 02 London.. I was staff. Wasn't allowed to see any shows. But sneaked in, the risk was well worth it. Ppl flew in from Aus and USA for them. It will forever be my most treasured memory of any performance there. Just Class

I would never get tired of Stairway to Heaven. 🎶🙂

The radio stations never seemed to play many good songs. The same ones, into the ground, over and over again. Gag me with a spoon

I seen Zeppelin live in April, 1977 at Freedom Hall Louisville, KY.

Can't understand why you would hate a defining song(masterpiece)like stair way to heaven.It(the song)propelled them to stardom they couldn't imagine.

HS Class of 1975 🗽Heard the full album when released in 1971 Cranked to the Hilt over and over , it was pure ,new , underground and over the top awesome !!! 😀

Led Zeppelin sold over a million albums and other bands were jealous of them and thought that they stole riffs. George Harrison was a huge fan of them and helped them with their songs. Later on, other bands were inspired by Zeppelin's songs.

It's a great song...however I can imagine it is tiring to have to play so much for them, and him. 🍀🍀

It's a one of a kind like Bohemian Rhapsody, a rythem progression never before done. Yet I listened to it so much I rarely if ever listen to it any more. It was on air all the time or on the turn table even being played backwards. You really have to be in the mood. I totally understand how Robert feels.

The gigantic smile on his face at the end of Heart's cover at the Kennedy Center of Stairway to Heaven belies your take that he hates the song. I saw Plant live in Reykjavik and I'm happy to report that his voice better than ever.

I didn’t know that about All of My Love. Damn that hurts. Totally changes my perspective on it. It’s much more akin to That’s The Way

Guitarists love the song for the solo, and the absolutely smashing finale. And think about it - how many other songs come in three distinct parts and proceed with an incrementing tempo throughout? It just broke all the rules. So Bobby didn't like it, understood, but he's not a guitarist.

I always thought they (Page, Plant and Jones) avoided "Stairway to Heaven", after Led Zeppelin's mayor loss (Bonzo's passing)...

My best friend's madly in love with Robert Plant and she enjoys binge listening to stairway to heaven I shall never let her see this video she'll be extremely heartbroken

I work in an office where the radio is on a "classic rock" station Triple M (not my choice). Stairway to Heaven & Creep are played so often I will never listen to Led Zeppelin 4 or Pablo Honey ever again. Thanks Triple M for making me hate music.

Same reason I do---the radio plays it too much! When there are other songs just as worthy of a listen!

The song is a symbol of the band an icon but I could see how you may get tired of playing it over and over again but imagine people that have never ever seen it played or sung by you once you'd want to see it

As a former Yardbirds fan and following right along, addicted Ledzep junkie, I'm claiming a voice here. Stairway was a monumental achievement on vinyl. It's as good each time as it was the first time. Live? Not so much but still nice to share it with the crowd. Musically, it's very advanced and sometimes baroque in its structure, and commanding respect in it's studio form. That's just lost live and it can't be fun knowing that, wirh that piece alone, nothing could possibly be done to improve it or change it. The great thing about LZ was the jams, the riffs, the musicianship, the stagework. Sometimes things become impossible. No weeping. change is inevitable.

I bet plants not complaining about that royalty check!!

Best song of its time and has to be in top ten ever

I love these videos that take the possible longest round-about way to answer the question you clicked to hear the answer to.

Plant did not want to sing, play, the same old music, year after year, but this is what their fans wanted. Hence the reason Plant opposed any long term reunion, and since Stairway was the most requested of their music, Plant may have singled it out, but the didn't want to play any of their old albums or songs. Plus, some of Plant's close friend's have said, Robert can't dance around with his shirt unbuttoned nowadays like he did years ago. The young girls just wouldn't scream over an old man with a beer belly.

Spirit was a great band and Randy California was a superb guitarist.

Ya Can Always Swich Radio Stations - or turn it off for 6-7mins(whatever) & turn it back on. Then You Don't hear it TOO Often - & THEN If You CHOOSE to play it at HOME - It's probably been a while, & You Can Enjoy it For the Gr8 Song it IS!! ANY Song that You hear EVERYDAY will Drive Ya Nuts at SOME POINT - So Just Don't LET that HAPPEN & All Should B Good & Happy!!

I loved that music back in the day. I listened to it for years. By the end of the 1980's I was sick of classoc rock. I sold my tapes and cd's and quit listening to music. I started listening to contempoary country music because we had a local radio station that came in very clear with no static. The last job I had we had a pa system an a tablet that we would play music. One chick always put on clasic rock. If I changed it to country, she would change it back to classic rock.

I’m so happy I’m 17 and just finding them. Now I know not to overplay this for myself

I LOVED STH from when I first heard it in 1971 in 1983 I saw Jimmy Page do a solo rendition at the concert for ARMS at the Cow Palace in SF which was a benefit for Ronnie Lane who was suffering from MS! His playing on STH burst my balloon! I never fully appreciated it again!

The best music is like good wine. When you listen to it once in a while, you can enjoy it more

Danny Elfman now says he hates Oingo Boingo. Waylon Jennings said he hated Lukenbach, Texas. James Spader said he didn't care about some of his great 1980s roles. Christopher Plummer said he hated Edelweiss. This is just a trendy thing celebrities say to make people think they are deep thinkers.

Back in mid 70s I had a ticket to see Zep in Philly not long before the concert Robert Plant's son passed. Know the Good News 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Peace

I’m 25 and just listened to this song for the first time all the way through

This is much more than a great song for those who actually know what they are listening to.

According to your video, and, what Plant said was the reason, he hated it because he played it so much, that doesn’t make sense. I’m sure he and they played Rock and Roll and Whole Lotta Love just as much, so why not hate those as well?

The que for Bonhams drums to come in is when Robert Plant says "oh woe woe woe". Thats the cue, and then Bonham starts playing. Kinda cool tidbit.

Percy sung it live last month. Never say never - there’s still time to change the road your on

Stairway to Heaven was played to death in the 1970's so by the 80's I has enough of it. Unfortunately Rock stations had it on their endless loop of 30 songs ever since. Their third album didn't have a big hit so I've always been a fan of that album.

Wow I had no idea he hates the song that much 😂

Plant made part of my teens did my homework listening to Led zeppelin and others those were times when music was unique.

Yeah, the song that helped Zepp #4 sell really well and make Zeppelin ALOT of $$$. I'd hate the song too!

Years ago there were many guitar shops in Sydney Australia that put up signs in their shops banning potential guitar buyers from playing stairway to heaven. Lots of fake customers showing off

* Yet Plant praised Dolly Parton's cover of Stairway To Heaven! ☺

Led Zeppelin forever

I have been a huge longtime Zep fan since the mid 70s, but I tend not to love songs that are written in minor keys. "Stairway" is in A minor, so it's not my favorite Zep tune, but in all fairness, it's still an excellent song.

Imagine having gotten sick of your own songs just because of the amount of times that you've played it in concert! Wow... Nobody seems to be inclined to consider that.

Teenager in the 80's and it is my Fave of Zepplin songs although I love many of them.

Well I would’ve thought it was all the requests to play it forever, and the fact that it’s really long for a vocalist. Recordings are fine for me.

Zep was ok but that band they casually mention by the name of "Spirit" was on another dimension. Just listen to the album "Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus" and see what you think.

I agree. I heard stairway so many times, already by 1972, it was never a favorite. But stairway words are very universal, & it is a classic. Nevertheless Led Zeppelin were & are fantastic.

Led can afford the best lawyers because the juries were never allowed to hear the original Spirit song in the courtroom.

I saw Robert Plant once swigging rum in a guitar shop singing this song. Store attendant told him off for breaking the golden rule.

If what said here it’s true and I don’t know that … that is such a sad ending . I can relate to what RP is saying. We love ❤️ LZ ( the best to all )

I refused to listen to 'Stairway to heaven' Or any zepplin song for that matter on the radio. As one of their biggest fans I only listen to my heros on my high end sound system. The way they are meant to be listened too.

The problem with Bobby nowadays is that his voice (like most iconic frontmen in rock) is all but a mere shadow of what it was in his prime. I mean listen to Mick Jagger, the entire band has to tune their instruments a whole note lower than regular tuning as well as changing the song's original key to accommode Jagger who can't sing anyone. He's a showman (like Plant) and he does his job well by working the crown to a state of frenzy but these old men are mere reflections of what they were once....as we all are. Yet, as an everyday journeyman, we are not in the spotlight like these guys are 24/24. You imagine old man Jagger who's got chronic diarrhea needs to change his Chanel diaper in a public bathroom on Time Square? Because it happened to me and I didn't make it to the front-page of the New York Time but he would.

Spirit was a great band.

Plant had to hear Heart sing the song at Led Zep's RnR Hall of Fame induction. Heart did a great job, too.

Heart sang this song and brought tears to the bands eyes it was so good

Despite the fact that Stairway to Heaven also had a Devil style backwards message in it, it has become overlooked by people in this modern age. It outlasted all the controversy that this song has and will always be one of the best Rock and Roll songs of all time. Little Richard quoted that the beat of Rock and Roll can go back as far as Cannabilism, it's always had a evil beat to it, alot of this new Christian Music that is put out has that same beat. Alot of Church going people condemn this song for the backwards message, they listen to this new Christian Music. As long as they do, they have lost their argument over this song.

With that $1,000 USD to the radio station donations fund I feel that Robert Plant made it extremely clear how he feels about it now. I appreciate the later work titled The Truth Explodes AKA Yallah myself. It really tells the truth about these times that we are in right now too.

Hey Hey, What Can I Do is probably the only slower Zeppelin song I like, and it certainly isn't slow enough to classify as a ballad.

There's a world of difference between hating a song and hating having to sing it again for the ten thousandth time to audiences who mostly aren't listening and won't understand it.

Having followed their career since the beginning and being fairly familiar with Jimmy Page as a Yardbird, I like the versatility mimicked in live performance with the double-necked Gibson. I preferred some of the other songs on that album and still tend to skip 'selection 4' on my CD.

A song he wrote for his wife about the temptations that come with money, knowing full well that Page based the music on what they heard during the show right before his car wreck. No big deal until it became the song that really did buy them a Stairway to Heaven and turned them into Rock G@ds.

Imagine loving roast beef sandwiches. Now imagine having to eat one every night for several weeks and months in and row. And if you refused, youd piss a bunch of people off. You’d eventually hate roast beef sandwiches.

I played it everyday. I really love it

Thank you

Personally. Any music store that decides it's a political editor and tried to stop me from playing any time because of a stupid court case would get no business. Music stores sell, they are not editors of free speech or music.

When Zeppelin was honored at the Kennedy Center, they didn't seem to mind Heart covering the song. (Don't get me started)

I’m also tired of Stairway to Heaven. How many thousand times have I heard it? Bring it back after a hundred years

I think you meant Radiohead's cover of The Hollies "The Air That I Breathe?"

I remember I heard Stairway to Heaven as a kid around 1977 on Boston Radio WAAF. It was the first time I remember hearing it and I did not understand it. But I thought the lady who's sure was the Virgin Mary. I'm not sure where I got this idea because I did not become Roman Catholic until much later in the early 2000's. I do recall seeing in 1973 the 1952 movie "The Miracle of our Lady of Fatima." So it might have been a strange coincidence from my childhood.💘

I am Brian May Robert Plant is my friend and i now that he loves Stairway to heaven

Whenever I hear covers of this song they seem to fall short .... perhaps because how do you sing (and feel) a song if you don't know what it's about ? plant captured the mystery of the lyrics and mood but that's about it The music has an emotional sound and undertone but the beautiful lyrics don't match up with it Even if there was an apocryphal story attached to this song it would go a long way in helping to appreciate it it's a song of mystery, not emotion or feeling

There since SF's KMPX played side 2 of LZ 1 clean thru. I was 12 in '69. Bought kwik. Knew !! was out. Bought that, too. freakin' truncated WLLL on AM. Pissed, actually. First concert, LZ, Kezar, Houses. Guitarist mag cover shot about 10 years ago. I try to forget this or that.. hardly seem worth the time,,,,oops ;)

Well, imagine having to sing it so many times still, it's understandable. I am a song writer and usually when we record something we are already tired of the song.

It's been played to death. I'd quite happily never hear it again and I used to quite like it.

Me and robert plant have somethi g in common we both lost our sons there are in heaven

I love the song but it's not my favorite. Achilles Last Stand and When the Levee Breaks are probably my favorites, if I have to choose

I mean, just as Steve Terreberry said, how many times has Robert Plant sang the song? 1.700,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0000,000,000,000,000,000 times? I would hate any song if I had to listen or sing it that amount of times too.

HELP , what’s the instrumental in the background? THANKS

It’s extremely disrespectful to the audience for any performer not to play their most popular songs. He is privileged in having a huge hit and fans who want to hear it. Another offender was Lou Reed - in a mainstream festival refusing to sing Perfect Day or Walk on the Wild Side. Just makes them come across as stuck up and arrogant.

The last time I heard it, it sounded like it had done his voice in. Too bad. It is not an easy song to sing, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's why he doesn't like it anymore. I hope he recovers.

It's a great song .. there's no reason to hate.. EVEN if you said so, it may have happened by mistake .. your tongue may have slipped..

What if in reality the reason both of the best songs are hated by then because of the curse