Robert Plant and Stephen Colbert Ignore Audience to Nerd Out Over Tolkien: "Fancy a Drink Afterwards?"

"Colbert prepared one lonely on-topic question, holding up a copy of Plant's September album Saving Grace with Suzi Dian. Of his Led Zeppelin days, Plant quipped, "I'd never thought about singing with anybody, because I had always been on my own up there, up at the sharp end. When my voice did not work, we were a great instrumental band." That was the last capital-j Joke of the segment, but much of the conversation showed off a warm wit."

"As Plant talked about the West Midlands, his own home and the place where Tolkien grew up, the two men found themselves quoting Middle-earth's Tom Bombadil, geeking out over pubs where Tolkien had drained cups with C.S. Lewis, and generally enjoying each other's company. "Fancy a drink afterwards?" Plant asked at one point, the album he'd come here to promote long forgotten. Check out the interview below."

Robert Plant and Stephen Colbert set aside promotional obligations to converse enthusiastically about J.R.R. Tolkien and regional literary connections. Colbert held a copy of Plant's September album Saving Grace with Suzi Dian and asked a single on-topic question. Plant recalled his Led Zeppelin days, saying he had been solitary on stage and that when his voice failed the band became a great instrumental group. The pair quoted Tom Bombadil, discussed pubs in the West Midlands where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis drank, and ended with Plant inviting Colbert for a drink. Colbert noted his canceled Late Show and described himself as more conservative than people think.

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