How did four masters of their craft come together to form arguably the greatest hard-rock band of all time? That’s the focus of the new documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin.
As the title indicates, the movie is not a career-spanning look at the multiplatinum Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act, but rather a two-hour glimpse into the legendary British band’s formation and early years — as told by the members themselves.
The story of Led Zeppelin’s origins is driven by new interviews with guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones. In addition to the three surviving members’ recollections, Becoming Led Zeppelin boasts excerpts from a never-before-heard audio interview with late drummer John Bonham.
Director Bernard MacMahon (American Epic) does a superb job of intertwining the stories told by the four Zeppelin members to create one cohesive narrative. Casual fans may be surprised to learn of all the musical projects and bands that the members were part of at such young ages, prior to forming Led Zeppelin.
Page and Jones were especially accomplished by the time they joined forces in Zeppelin, having done session work for many notable music acts as teenagers. Of course, Page was a member of The Yardbirds, whose breakup led him to form Zeppelin (who actually played their first shows under the New Yardbirds moniker).
There’s also a glance into the personal lives of each member, most notably that Plant, Jones, and Bonham were all young fathers as Led Zeppelin started out. It’s a treat to see Page, Plant, and Jones — and hear Bonham — talk about Zeppelin’s influences (all cited the Black blues musicians who came before them) and early days (Page, in particular, does an exceptional job of breaking down the musicality of the band).
Yet, it’s the archival visuals and concert footage that truly pack a wallop on the IMAX screen. Watching early footage of Zeppelin perform classics like “Dazed and Confused” and “Communication Breakdown” on a 50-foot-tall screen with state-of-the-art sound is mesmerizing. It takes the viewer back in time as we witness Page’s breathtaking guitar playing, Bonham’s thunderous drumming, Jones’ innovative bass playing, and Plant’s “Golden God” vocals.