• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • FAQ
  • Meet the Team
  • About The London Economic
  • Advertise
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Entertainment Music

Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant attends graduation ceremony for agent – who gives him £8 he was owed for playing gig 40 years ago

The music icon was at Exeter University to attend the event in honour of his friend Rod MacSween

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
July 18, 2019
in Music

Led Zeppelin star Robert Plant attended a graduation ceremony for a music agent – who gave him £8 he was owed for playing a gig more than 40 years ago.

Multi-millionaire Plant, 70, was due the cash after he played a concert with his act ‘Band of Joy’ in the 1970s.

But he was never paid by Rod MacSween – who had booked him while he was a student social secretary.

The duo went on to be huge stars in their respective fields – with Rod later representing
Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, Guns n’ Roses, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and The Who.

His eight quid debt to rocker Plant was finally settled when they both appeared together on stage at the University of Exeter.

Mr Plant was helping his fellow legendary music industry figure, who played a key role in his career, celebrate being awarded an honorary degree.

Mr MacSween joked he had still not paid Mr Plant £8 for the concert he played there in the 1970s, and offered him a £10 note, which he came on stage to collect.

RelatedPosts

One positive I’ll take from 2020? An unhealthy obsession with vinyl

Harry Styles get celeb support after criticism of Vogue cover dress

Travis singer says playing with himself makes him feel like a superhero as James Blunt claims he stopped WW3

Singer Paul Heaton praised for large donation to Q Magazine staff when publication closed after 34 years

Mr Plant joked this wasn’t enough, and told his friend it had been “great sharing my adventures with you”.

Mr MacSween studied chemistry and statistics at the University of Exeter, where he had a first taste of working with bands such as The Who after being elected as Students’ Guild social secretary in 1969.

During that time he booked artists who were in their early musical careers like Pink Floyd and Robert Plant’s ‘Band of Joy’.

After graduating he worked as an agent at major music booking agencies before founding ITB in 1976.

In 2015 MacSween was the recipient of the prestigious VIP Classic Rock Award.

During the graduation ceremony Professor Sir Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter, paid tribute to Mr MacSween’s “incomparable success”.

Professor Smith met Mr MacSween when he was social secretary at Southampton University between 1973 and 1974, and described how he was one of the “most admired and professional” music agents he worked with.

He said: “From the beginning of his career Rod developed a reputation as a shrewd and unflappable negotiator who showed huge loyalty to his clients, with whom he has built strong and lasting friendships.

“Rod’s career has been a story of exponential success, with very few bumps in the road, testimony to his outstanding talents as businessman and leader of global company.”

Telling students he hoped Mr MacSween’s career would inspire them, Professor Smith said: “It is absolutely obvious to me that Rod’s success as a businessman and entrepreneur is not simply down to his unique skills and talents. He is at the top of his field because he is also passionate about music.

“And because throughout his career he has taken time to build and cultivate authentic relationships with clients based on mutual respect and trust.”

In his speech Mr MacSween explained how his role as student social secretary had provided “crucial and memorable experiences” and said he wanted to express his “heartfelt gratitude” for the honorary degree.

“As a student the idea of returning years later to take my place on this platform in the Great Hall would never have entered my mind,” he said.

“My work as an international music agent has brought me in contact with celebrated musicians and legendary bands, many of who I was in contact with early in my career. Nourished by fierce loyalty and mutual trust these relationships have endured through the decades and I am deeply proud to represent some of the greatest musicians and artists in the world.

“I am lucky. My work remains my passion and continues to energise and enthuse me. It is my driving force. I love the music and I love working with the artists I represent, they have become like family.”

Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism Support fearless, free, investigative journalism

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending fromTLE

  • All
  • trending

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

Stress, fear and homelessness: The threat looming over families confronted with eviction

File photo dated 07/11/03 of a prison cell.

The Other Prison Pandemic

Latest from TLE

Euro Millions results Friday 5th March 2021

thunder ball results

Thunder Ball Results, Friday 5th March 2021

Pink Marmalade Gin

Pink Marmalade Gin: a natural, colour changing gin

Mail On Sunday ordered to print front-page statement on Meghan’s copyright win

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: jack@thelondoneconomic.com

Commercial enquiries, please contact: advertise@thelondoneconomic.com

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Film
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech & Auto
  • About The London Economic
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy policy

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.