Mary J. Blige Dishes On Her 'Crazy' Led Zeppelin Covers

'I've listened to their music since I was a child,' says the R&B diva, who recorded 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love.'

By James Montgomery, with reporting by Larry Carroll







<P>You wouldn't peg Mary J Blige as the black-light-and-tapestry sort, but, as has become readily apparent in recent weeks, she absolutely loves Led Zeppelin.</P><P>In early February, reports began circulating that <a href="/news/articles/1631297/mary-j-blige-records-led-zeppelins-stairway-heaven.jhtml">Blige had re-recorded Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven,"</a> working with Travis Barker, "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson and guitarist Steve Vai on the track, which is slated to appear on the international reissue of her <i>Stronger With Each Tear</i> album, due Monday.</P><P></p><div style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float:left;"><embed src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:uma:video:mtv.com:491065" width="256" height="223" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashVars="configParams=instance%3Dnews%26vid%3D491065" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" allowScriptAccess="always" base="."></embed></div><p></P><P>But after she had recorded "Stairway," Blige continued to get the Led out, covering <i>another</i> Zeppelin classic &#8212; the thunderous "Whole Lotta Love" &#8212; for the album too. And when MTV News caught up with her on the <i>Essence</i> Black Women in Hollywood red carpet, she told us all about channeling her inner Robert Plant for the tracks, a process that came much easier than you'd probably imagine.</P><P>"I did Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' and 'Whole Lotta Love' &#8212; it's crazy," she said. "I am a Led Zeppelin fan. I'm not going to say I've been to their concerts, but I've listened to their music since I was a child, and it's always moved me, especially 'Stairway to Heaven,' and 'Whole Lotta Love' is just fun."</P><P>Blige also said she recorded another new song &#8212; a "club record" called "I Can't Wait" &#8212; for the re-release. And while it's only slated to hit shelves outside the U.S., she hopes her fans will get a chance to hear all the new songs pretty soon.</P><P>"I want y'all to hear it," she laughed.</P>







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