Robert Plant to tour with new Band of Joy lineup

Robert Plant has announced plans to tour with a new group, resurrecting the name of the band he formed before joining Led Zeppelin. The Band of Joy will play 12 US dates before releasing an album later this year.

"I'm enjoying such creativity and vitality," Plant said in a statement. The new project has little in common with Led Zeppelin, or even with the original Band of Joy. Plant is the only holdover from the little-known blues act, which briefly rocked Birmingham in the late 1960s. Late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was also a member.

Instead, the rekindled Band of Joy seems more in line with Plant's most recent project, his bluegrass outfit with singer Alison Krauss. The act's lineup is drawn from the American folk and country scene, including singer-songwriters Patty Griffin, Darrell Scott, bassist Byron House, drummer Marco Giovino and guitarist/singer Buddy Miller. Miller will also co-produce the group's debut. Several of these musicians have played before with acts like Emmylou Harris.

"It's been a remarkable change of direction for all of us and as a group we all seem to have developed a new groove," Plant said in a statement. The Band of Joy will reportedly release an album with Rounder in the late summer or early autumn, with more extensive touring to follow. It's not clear whether this is a solo project for Plant, or whether the other members share songwriting duties.

As for working with Krauss, Plant said he would love to follow up their Grammy-winning 2007 record, Raising Sand. Just not right now. Krauss is touring and recording with her long-time band, Union Station, and the pair have nothing planned for 2010. Nonetheless, "Alison and I get together quite often," Plant said. "Sometimes we dance."