Music ‘All My Love’: Robert Plant’s tragic tribute to his son
Born from the remnants of The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin swiftly ascended to widespread acclaim, solidifying their status as an iconic classic rock band of their era. However, in the mid-1970s, the group encountered more visible disagreements among members, realising that clashes of opinion were inevitable for them to maintain their position as a dominant force in rock.
Butting heads often resulted in the band proceeding with songs that needed unanimous support from all members. In particular, one track, the heartfelt ‘All My Love’, earned the disapproval of both Jimmy Page and John Bonham. This was because the piece presented a softer side of the outfit that the powerhouse players weren’t as enthusiastic about showcasing.
The song originated from a tragedy experienced by Robert Plant and his wife in 1977. Two years after the pair faced a severe car accident, tragedy struck again as their son, Karac, fell victim to a stomach virus. The loss of their five-year-old left Plant devastated, even more so considering he was on tour with the band in North America when Karac passed away.
Following the incident, the group took a two-year hiatus before staging a triumphant return with a monumental two-night performance at Knebworth. Alongside this comeback came the release of their ultimate album, In Through The Out Door. The album carried poignant moments, notably Plant’s tribute to his son, Karac, in the heartbreaking ‘All My Love’.
This emotionally heavy song seemed like the perfect way for the frontman to honour his child. However, Page and Bonham disagreed, finding the track too ‘soft’. As Page once explained, “I was a little worried about the chorus,” adding: “I could just imagine people doing the wave and all of that. And I thought, ‘That is not us. That is not us.’ In its place, it was fine, but I would not have wanted to pursue that direction in the future.”
The song diverges from the band’s usual heavy style, featuring Plant singing heartfelt lines like, “he is the force that lies within/ Ours is the fire, all the warmth we can find/ He is a feather in the wind.” Although others deemed it too much of a deviation from Zeppelin’s usual musical antics, the song has become a favourite among fans, particularly considering its unfortunate back story.
Page and Bonham ultimately agreed to have the track feature on In Through The Out Door, but they were thankful it didn’t dictate the band’s future sound. As he explained: “In its place it was fine, but I would not have wanted to pursue that direction in the future.”
