Although Paul McCartney never played his iconic Hofner “violin” Beatle bass in concert with Wings in the 1970's — another rock legend actually did: Robert Plant.
Plant recalled joining McCartney onstage for the December 29th, 1979 final show of The Concerts For People Of Kampuchea. Plant, who had performed Elvis Presley's “Little Sister” earlier in the night backed by Rockpile featuring Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, was part of the McCartney's massive show-closing Rockestra mini-set, which also featured Zeppelin bandmate John Bonham, the Who's Pete Townshend and Kenney Jones, among many others.
Plant remember the gig and playing the famed “Beatle bass,” telling Uncut, “When we were doing The Concert for The People Of Kampuchea at Hammersmith Odeon in 1979, with this huge star-spangled band, he gave me his Hofner bass to wear. It’s the beautiful bass, the one that we know from all the songs and photographs. I was miming away furiously when the f***ing strap broke. I thought that was it. I was so close to getting on with this guy and then. . . It was great, it was very funny. I think the strap was ready to go anyway, but I know Bonzo (John Bonham), who was drumming behind me, was in stitches. What could you do that was really s*** other than break the Beatles' bass?”
Plant went on to say, “I have tremendous respect for Paul and the fact his work will never be over. Also that he didn’t bear a grudge.”
