Robert Plant said he could never match Steve Marriott, the Small Faces singer, because Marriott’s vocal intensity and blues-rooted power were “too good”. The comparison matters because Plant is widely regarded as one of rock’s defining vocalists, yet he viewed Marriott as a benchmark he could not equal.

Plant acknowledged that listeners often compared his voice with Marriott’s, but praised Marriott’s “bravado and balls” and described him as having the best white voice. Rather than imitate him, Plant developed a distinct style with Led Zeppelin, ranging from high-energy rock vocals to more sensitive and experimental performances, before later exploring bluegrass with Alison Krauss.