Stairway to hotel open for rock legend Plant
A GLASGOW hotel has vowed to roll out the red carpet for rock legend Robert Plant, 45 years after the singer was turned away....... for not wearing a tie.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman is scheduled to play the SEC Armadillo later this year as he promotes his latest solo album, Carry Fire.
And the city’s Grand Central Hotel has vowed to give the star the VIP treatment if he decides to pop in for a post-gig whisky cocktail after a frosty encounter more than four decades ago which apparently led to one of the world’s biggest rock bands being booted out of the hotel.
The band and crew were booked in for a gig at Green’s Playhouse in 1972, which later became the Apollo.
However, when Plant and his bandmates - Jimmy Paige, John Paul Jones and John Bonham – decided to pop downstairs for a pre-gig feast and a few fine wines, they were refused entry to the hotel’s restaurant.
Apparently open-necked shirts and chest hair didn’t quite match the strict dress code of a hotel that has also played host to Cary Grant, Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy, Sir Winston Churchill and John F Kennedy.
The band’s snub was covered by the Scottish press at the time.
Pat Collins, then the band’s head of security, said: “We argued with the manager to give us something to eat. One word led to another and eventually we were told to move our stuff out of the hotel.
“None of us has a tie. We asked the manager to give us ties, but he refused.
“We have now moved to another hotel.”
Later, during the gig, Plant is said to have dedicated Misty Mountain Hop to the hotel.
Graeme Gibson, general manager of Grand Central Hotel, said: “The stairway to Grand Central will always be open to Robert Plant.
“He can be assured of a warm Glasgow welcome when he comes to stay at the hotel, and know that a tie will not be required in order to enjoy a wee dram in our Champagne Central bar.”
Led Zeppelin played the Apollo on December 3. playing hits including Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog as part of their longest running UK tour.
Tickets were charged £1 for all the concerts, except for the shows at Manchester which charged £1.25.
Robert Plant plays the SEC Armadillo on November 72. For tickets go to www.sec.co.uk/events/detail/robert-plant