It comes after Kiss star Gene Simmons claimed the genre was dead and buried in a hard-hitting interview last week. Plant invited fans to ask questions via Facebook this week and offered a selection of answers on his website last night. Among the queries was: "Do you believe that hard rock is dead?" He replied: "Is there a pulse?"

Asked who would play Plant in a movie, the singer replied: "Zsa Zsa Gabor." When he was invited to reveal a secret about himself he said: "Holidaying in Madagascar, I tried my luck as a cross dresser. It was before the beard." And when one fan inquired: "Will you marry me?" He told her: "Send full details. You'll be right after Jack White."