The Honeydrippers
| Company type | Supergroup |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Robert Plant |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Music (EP: The Honeydrippers: Volume One) |
The Honeydrippers were a British rock and roll ensemble established in 1981 by former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, aiming to create a rock group deeply rooted in rhythm and blues. Initially emerging from Worcestershire as a cover band, the roster included prominent artists such as fellow Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck (previously with The Yardbirds), and session musicians like Ernest Chataway, the original guitarist for Judas Priest. Their discography consists solely of one EP, The Honeydrippers: Volume One, which was released on 12 November 1984.
From this EP, their rendition of Phil Phillips' "Sea of Love" climbed to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1985. Additionally, their versions of Roy Brown's "Rockin' at Midnight" and "Good Rockin' Tonight" attained the 25th position. Although Plant intended to follow up with a complete album after the EP’s favorable reception, no subsequent recordings were produced.
Origins
Various accounts exist regarding the band's name origin. According to Paul Stenning (2008), Plant became part of a Midlands blues cover band named "The Honeydrippers," suggesting the name and group predated his involvement, though its exact derivation remains uncertain. In Paul Rees's 2013 biography, Plant is credited with naming a temporary cover band after Roosevelt Sykes, an American blues musician nicknamed "Honeydripper." Jean-Michael Guesdon (2018) proposes that the name references the Led Zeppelin track "Black Dog," which features the lyric "Watch your honey drip, can't keep away." Another explanation connects it to Joe Liggins, a 1940s R&B artist whose hit song and backing group were titled "The Honeydripper." The term "honeydripper" originates from African American vernacular, meaning either a female romantic partner or a male lover who frequently utters affectionate phrases.
Members
Original members (1981)
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- Andy Silvester – guitar
- Kevin O'Neill – drums
- Ricky Cool – harmonica
- Jim Hickman – bass guitar
- Keith Evans – saxophone
- Wayne Terry – bass guitar
- Robbie Blunt – guitar
The Honeydrippers: Volume One personnel (1984)
- Robert Plant – lead vocals
- Jimmy Page – guitar
- Jeff Beck – guitar
- Paul Shaffer – keyboards
- Nile Rodgers – guitar, co-producer
- Wayne Pedzwater – bass guitar
- Dave Weckl – drums
- Brian Setzer – guest guitar
- Keith "Bev" Smith – drums
Discography
- The Honeydrippers: Volume One (1984), achieved number 5 on the US Billboard 200, number 67 on the US R&B chart, and number 56 on the UK Albums Chart