Rock legend Robert Plant was all smiles as he was rewarded for his outstanding contribution to music – and he acknowledged Stourbridge Town Hall as helping to launch his career in music.

The 61-year-old Led Zeppelin singer, who lives near Kidderminster, was honoured at the Q Awards 2009 in London yesterday and joked that it was his “long service medal”.

Some of the biggest names in rock got their grounding at Big Beat dances at Stourbridge Town Hall in the 1960s.

Plant appeared there with his band The Banned before going on to greatness with Led Zeppelin.

Damon Albarn, Julian Cope and John Peel also got a grateful mention from Plant, who was made a CBE earlier this year.

The massive Wolves fan has had a successful solo career since the band split in 1980. Earlier, Holly Johnson collected a classic song award for Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Relax.