Becoming Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin was one of the most influential rock groups of all time. From Robert Plant’s blood-curdling, screaming vocals, to Jimmy Page’s powerful, trailblazing guitar, to John Paul Jones’ thundering bass, to the late John Bonham’s crashing drums, Led Zeppelin practically invented hard rock and heavy metal during the early 1970s. Their legacy includes Guns ‘N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Def Leppard, and other bands which would rise to prominence years later.
New documentary
Bonham died in 1980, but the three surviving members have never shared screentime together in any capacity since then. Until now. British music documentarian Bernard MacMahon gives us “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” a pseudo-documentary about the formation – and early years – of the band which would define a musical direction and genre. Plant, Page, and Jones (each interviewed separately) give fascinating accounts of their family lives, their musical upbringings, and their initial introductions to one another.
Interesting material
Jones is particularly compelling. As perhaps the least well-known member, his musical background includes playing church organ and directing a church choir as a young teenager. Living by his father’s mantra of “never turning down an offer,” Jones’ inherent talent led him to succeed in the music world beyond anyone’s expectations.
Some of the material is more well-known, if not expected. In other words, I may not have known everything about the band members, but some of it I could have guessed, simply knowing what I already know about them and about rock bands in general. I suppose the most shocking bit of pre-band information is that Plant was homeless – literally living on the street in a box – just prior to being discovered.
Too much Led Zeppelin
I only wish there had been more. More interesting tidbits, more interviews, more defining moments. For someone who greatly respects their music, I believe “Becoming Led Zeppelin” simply features too much Led Zeppelin! As many times as I’ve heard “Whole Lotta Love,” I don’t need to see Led Zeppelin perform that song (again). Yet, MacMahon gives us a modern-day psychadelic music video of the rock classic. All five-and-a-half minutes. If I had known he was going to let the entire song play out, I could have taken a bathroom break. Likewise, I don’t need to see half a dozen other early Zeppelin tunes (that all sound like “Whole Lotta Love”) played out in their entirety, when I really want more of the band.
Others needed
And while we’re on the subject, how about more of others? MacMahon digs himself into a cinematic hole by interviewing only Plant, Page, and Jones (and Bonham through archival interview footage). How about others? Shirley Bassey performed “Goldfinger” with a couple of the future Zeppelin members. Page and Jones played for Donovan. Page was in The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton. Bassey, Donovan, and Clapton are all still living. Might not they have had something (anything) interesting to say about the Zeppelin boys? Consider this somewhat of a missed opportunity.
Timeline cutoff
And then there’s the timeline cutoff. MacMahon takes us through the formation and early years of Led Zeppelin, but then promptly concludes his film when they reach superstardom following the release of the album “Led Zeppelin II” in late 1969. Heck, that’s when things just start to get interesting. What about the even-more-classic “Led Zeppelin IV,” which contained “Black Dog” and the rock anthem “Stairway to Heaven.” What about the end of the band? The three surviving members decided not to produce any new material following Bonham’s death in 1980. I would like to have heard each of them address not only Bonham’s death but also the “end” of Led Zeppelin.
One of the big four
I’m no rock music historian, but I do have a background in radio. I believe I can safely say that Led Zeppelin belongs on the Mt. Rushmore of British supergroups – along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who. (Yes, The Beatles would be George Washington, protruding out from the mountain in such a way as to be seen from 100 miles away.) I would thoroughly enjoy experiencing documentaries on the other three groups. But I want to experience the entire arcs of their careers. Not just the beginnings.
Missed opportunity
“A Complete Unknown” is different, in that it is not a documentary. It is a scripted, acted screenplay about the early career of Bob Dylan. To cover his entire career in a two-hour film would be impossible. Furthermore, Dylan’s early career is the interesting part. But Led Zeppelin barely lasted ten years. That’s plenty enough time to devote to the full story. Unfortunately, that’s not what we get with “Becoming Led Zeppelin.”
Andy Ray‘s reviews also appear on https://townepost.com/