At venues across the world there’s a select group of frontmen struggling in vain to hold on to their rock-star vitality, even though the years are against them. What keeps the pension-aged rocker performing when he could be relaxing? Perhaps it’s the love of the music that keeps Steven Tyler going and ensures that Iggy Pop continues to launch himself off stages?

Of those who have hung up their heavy rock hats, Led Zeppelin’s former frontman Robert Plant is one of the few to admit that he has done so because the love of the music is gone. Speaking to English newspaper The Independent, Plant explained that a recent visit to a Them Crooked Vultures gig left his ears bleeding. “I feel so far away from heavy rock now… For me, it's no longer to do with vanity, ego, and visible success,” he said. “[Now] it's just about getting down into the earth of music. I spent three, four, five years never playing a Zeppelin song, from 1981 onwards, because I didn't just want to lean on Zeppelin. I've gone from being in that huge band to picking up the pieces of my own gift.”

Plant’s own gift has served him well, having found huge success with Alison Krauss and their brand of country-tinged music, and the next installment of Plant’s maturing musical style can be witnessed with the Americana-flavored release of Band of Joy on September 14.

Cee-Lo Green, probably best known as one half of “Crazy” duo Gnarls Barkley, is dedicated to his art. His career to date has been filled with plaudits and his latest single should – he says – continue to reach the same lofty standards. “I still believe that [the song] can be classified as art, because it's an original piece,” he said, “and the edge and alternative is there, and the integrity is intact.”

Unfortunately, so are 16 f-bombs and several minor potty-mouthed misdemeanors, all sitting aloft a tuneful, sunny melody. “F*** You” is about a gold-digging girlfriend, and Cee-Lo admits, “I get to be bad a little bit so that's what was fun about it. It's quite a bit of mischief in that song, so we weren't taking ourselves too seriously.”

It’s not clear whether the song’s current internet success is in spite of or because of the expletive-heavy lyrics, but sensitive souls are assured that a radio-friendly version, benignly titled “Forget You,” will be released shortly. The host album is The Lady Killer, Cee-Lo’s third solo disc, which is due for release in December.