During a conversation with Classic Rock, Robert Plant recalled his late son Karac, who died of stomach virus in July 1977 at the age of five.

The boy’s death was devastating to the family and made Plant question his future.

He said:

“In 1977 we lost our son, Karac. He was only five years old. I’d spent so much time trying to be a decent dad, but at the same time, I was really attracted to what I was doing in Zeppelin.

“So when he bowed out, I just thought: ‘What’s it all worth? What’s that all about? Would it have been any different if I was there – if I’d been around?’

“So I was thinking about the merit of my life at that time, and whether or not I needed to put a lot more into the reality of the people that I loved and cared for – my daughter and my family generally. So yeah, I was ready to jack it in, until [Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham] Bonzo came along.”