The latest stories from the world of rock music - from Led Zeppelin influences to Rock Hall ceremonies and music scholarships.
"It's remarkable that you can have a culture that's shunted into the west side of England that has nothing to do with the English at all." Robert Plant explains how the mystique of Wales and the magic of J.R.R. Tolkien influenced Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant has revealed how the history and mystique of Wales has helped to influence his songwriting over the years - channelled via the writings of The Lord Of The Rings author J R. R. Tolkien.
Plant referenced Tolkien's work in a number of Zeppelin songs including 1969's Ramble On ('Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor / I met a girl so fair / But Gollum and the evil one / Crept up and slipped away with her') and 1971's Misty Mountain Hop ('So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains').
Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Plant explains that his parents were partly responsible for his love of Tolkien's books. "I blame my mum and dad," the frontman explains. "There's some sort of melding there."
"Tolkien was a master," Plant says. "He opened the door to all that, sort of 'dark age' meander of history."
Plant goes on to joke that he was a member of the 'inklings', the famed group of renown British writers including Tolkien and C.S. Lewis that used to frequent pubs in Oxford together in the 1930s and 40s, before nerding out with Stephen Colbert about Tolkien's writing and acknowledging that his Led Zep bandmates had no idea he was making references to The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit in his lyrics.
Plant then adds that Tolkien's upbringing in the West Midlands, alongside the author's love of Welsh culture, struck a chord with Plant growing up. Plant also spent much of his youth in the West Midlands having grown up in Worcestershire, while he has since spent time living in Wales and currently lives just a few miles from the Welsh border.
Tolkien, meanwhile, moulded some of the fictional Elvish language that coloured his Middle Earth books on Welsh language structures, while the inspirational, rolling Welsh landscapes and mythological side of its history also had a big influence.
"It spoke to me because his points of reference were very close to where I live," says Plant. "Very close to where my parents, unwittingly, used to take me, through this landscape, where you began from another culture that's still around, [to a place where] you can read what the landscape gave you from the old times, before there were highways and stuff like that. So it becomes quite evocative, and I think Tolkien had it down."
"It's been so remarkable that you can have a culture that's shunted into the west side of England that has absolutely nothing to do with the English at all," he continues. "The Welsh are British. And so the mix of all the legend and the space-shifting and all that stuff, it's there, it's 15 miles from where I live. You can feel it all."
Red Hot Chili Peppers rocker Chad Smith gifts music scholarship to University of Michigan
Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith is gifting a need-based music scholarship to the University of Michigan. The scholarship will support students pursuing music education and performance at the university's School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
Smith, a Michigan native who grew up in Bloomfield Hills, has maintained strong ties to his home state throughout his successful career with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The scholarship reflects his commitment to supporting the next generation of musicians and ensuring that financial barriers don't prevent talented students from pursuing their musical dreams.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to students who demonstrate both musical talent and financial need. Smith's donation comes at a time when many students face increasing challenges in affording higher education, particularly in specialized programs like music performance and education.
Smith has been the drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1988, contributing to some of the band's most successful albums including "Blood Sugar Sex Magik," "Californication," and "Stadium Arcadium." His energetic drumming style and showmanship have made him one of rock's most recognizable drummers.
The University of Michigan holds special significance for Smith, who has often spoken about his Michigan roots and the influence of the state's music scene on his development as a musician. The scholarship represents a way for him to give back to the community that helped shape his musical journey.
The 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will stream live on Disney+ on November 8 at 8 p.m. ET and will be available on-demand shortly after. Simon Kirke will perform with other musicians in Rodgers' absence, ensuring that Bad Company's induction is properly celebrated.
At last year's ceremony, Peter Frampton stole the show by busting out his signature talk box and treating audiences to a collaboration with Keith Urban. This year's ceremony promises to be equally memorable, even without Rodgers' presence.
Paul Rodgers' influence on rock music extends far beyond Bad Company. As the frontman of Free, he delivered one of rock's most enduring anthems with "All Right Now." His powerful voice and songwriting have influenced countless musicians and earned him a place among rock's greatest vocalists.
Despite his absence from the ceremony, Rodgers' contributions to rock music will be properly honored as Bad Company takes their rightful place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His health must come first, and fans worldwide understand and support his decision to prioritize his wellbeing.
