“Robert Plant Calls Radiohead One of the Greatest Bands in the World, Praises Thom Yorke as a Genius and an Outstanding Songwriter: ‘They Captivated the World With Brilliance, Just Like Zeppelin Once Did'”
Legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has never been shy about giving praise where it’s due, and in a recent candid interview, he opened up about a band he holds in the highest regard — Radiohead. The iconic singer, known for reshaping rock music in the 1970s, revealed that the band that most captured his admiration in modern times was none other than the boundary-breaking English rock group led by Thom Yorke.
“Radiohead are definitely one of the best bands in the world,” Plant declared. “They came along and did something very few bands can do — they reinvented the form, challenged expectations, and did it all without compromise.”
The admiration didn’t stop there. Plant spoke glowingly about Thom Yorke, Radiohead’s enigmatic and innovative frontman. “Thom is a genius,” he said. “An outstanding singer and songwriter. He’s not just emotive — he’s inventive. Every song, every performance… it’s like he’s pulling you into a world entirely his own.”
Plant, who knows a thing or two about delivering transcendent music, praised Yorke for his ability to translate deep emotional textures into complex and genre-defying soundscapes. “You listen to ‘Everything in Its Right Place’ or ‘Pyramid Song,’ and you’re transported. That’s what music is supposed to do — it’s supposed to move you, challenge you, even unsettle you.”
What resonated most with Plant was Radiohead’s refusal to be boxed in. “They weren’t chasing the hits,” he said. “They were chasing something deeper — the soul of music, the art of it. That’s rare. That’s precious. It reminds me of what we tried to do with Zeppelin — to keep moving, keep pushing.”
While many rock legends are often hesitant to praise newer generations, Plant’s tribute to Radiohead shows his ongoing love for musical innovation and deep respect for artists who blaze their own trails. “Radiohead stood tall in an era of noise,” Plant said. “They were quiet when everyone else was loud. They were cerebral when the world was distracted. That takes guts. That’s why they’ll be remembered as one of the greatest.”
As a man whose own band redefined rock music for an entire generation, Robert Plant’s praise carries serious weight — and with his heartfelt admiration for Radiohead and Thom Yorke, he’s bridged a legacy between two of Britain’s most powerful musical exports.
