@ledzeppelin
The first authorized biographical documentary to follow legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, “Becoming Led Zeppelin,” traces the group’s beginnings and legacy as the progenitors of hard rock. With insight from the three living band members — lead guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones — as well as previously unheard recordings from late drummer John Bonham, the documentary offers a fresh and personal perspective on the band’s formation.
By delving into the backstories of each band member, aided by unbelievable archival footage of their early days as “sessionists” (musicians for studio recording sessions), the film hones in on the members’ individual talents and immense passions for music. The documentary also explores at length each member’s diverse musical influences, offering a great deal of context for the band’s sound. However, this section of the documentary might not be the most enjoyable for viewers hoping only to hear Led Zeppelin songs.
Still, this contextualization truly hammers in how sensational Led Zeppelin is. Composed of four insanely talented musicians with vastly different musical interests, this pioneering musical force found a space only they could fill and, in doing so, changed the course of rock history. It was fascinating to hear them directly acknowledge how they were at the forefront of something so revolutionary.
However, the documentary itself has some pacing issues. For example, it is not until an hour in — after seeing the band fully come together — that audiences are able to witness incredible footage from their early performances. Watching a live “What Is and What Should Never Be” and “Dazed and Confused” on the big screen with the music blasting through movie theater speakers was life-changing. The same could not be said for “Whole Lotta Love,” unfortunately — while the song itself is magnificent and the movie theater quality only made the experience more enjoyable, the overlaid montage of historical clips and the strange, pseudo-psychedelic editing felt random and unnecessary.
Nonetheless, any Led Zeppelin fan out there will undoubtedly relish in the performances in this format and the footage of the band watching their concerts, of which little coverage exists. When first debuting, critics and the press did not receive the band’s music nearly as positively as the general public did, so Led Zeppelin participated in very few interviews before Bonham’s untimely death. It was touching to watch the living members react to his uncovered recordings, which emphasized just how close the members were.
Unfortunately, the documentary’s exploration of the band is very surface-level. As an authorized documentary, it was a given it would leave out any controversies or touring debauchery, but the tame depiction of a group known to be wild came across as overly sanitized.
Furthermore, as the title suggests, “Becoming Led Zeppelin” only examines the band in its infancy, egregiously cutting off after the release of their second album, “Led Zeppelin II,” leaving out many of their greatest hits. One can only hope this is the first installment in a series and that, at some point, audiences will get the opportunity to hear a live “Stairway to Heaven” or “Black Dog” in theaters. That said, the narrow focus on the first two albums allowed audiences to truly appreciate nearly every song from those albums. This was especially fitting given Led Zeppelin’s intention for their albums to be played in their entirety, a practice that seems to be lost as singles and snippets dominate today’s music industry.
While die-hard Zeppelin fans will likely be familiar with much of the history the documentary discusses, it is worth seeing in theaters for the performance quality and the archival footage. If, like me, you grew up listening to Led Zeppelin (shoutout, Dad), “Becoming Led Zeppelin” will also provide some valuable context and anecdotal insight. And if you are not at all familiar with the band, what are you doing with your life?
Ultimately, whether your familiarity with the band is limited to their well-known hits or you belong to the top 1% of their listeners, “Becoming Led Zeppelin” is well worth the watch.