Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant Named CBE By Queen

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has been named a CBE in the Queen’s News Years Honours.

The singer, originally from Worcestershire, has been recognised for his services to music.

The same honour was handed to the jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine, while a host of Olympic sports stars were also acknowledged by the Queen.

200 million albums

Plant has led a dynamic career both as the frontman of Led Zeppelin and more recently alongside bluegrass singer Alison Krauss.

In 2008, the pair’s debut album together, ‘Raising Sands’, was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

But it is his achievements with Led Zeppelin for which the singer is most famed.

The group, who collected the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, have sold more than 200 million albums worldwide since they formed 40 years ago.

2007 Reunion

After a string of hit albums and singles, Led Zeppelin parted company in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham.

But such is their appeal, a reunion concert in London last year, which saw Bonham’s son, Jason, take his father’s place, attracted one million applicants for just 18,000 tickets.

Plant has since ruled himself out of performing again with the band, saying he finds the constant speculation around their future “frustrating and ridiculous”.

Despite his reluctance to tour, bassist John Paul Jones, guitarist Jimmy Page and Bonham are expected to return to the road minus their frontman in 2009.

Olympic Athletes

Elsewhere in the News Years Honours, Saxophonist Pine was also recognised for his services to music with a CBE.

And Britain’s star Olympians, including cyclist Chris Hoy, who becomes a Sir, dominated after their medals haul at the 2008 Beijing Games.

CLICK HERE to see 10 rock stars who should deserve to be knighted.