By Jack Ransom - February 11, 2025
Becoming Led Zeppelin traces the journeys of the four members of the legendary rockers (Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones & John Bonham) through the music scene of the 1960s and their meeting in the summer of 1968, culminating in 1970.
Their myriad of iconic songs are untouchable when it comes to the rock and roll hall of fame: from arguably the most infectious riff of all time (Whole Lotta Love), the hypnotic chanting hooks of Immigrant Song, the tender grandiosity of Stairway to Heaven, as well as Communication Breakdown, Good Times Bad Times, Ramble On, Kashmir…the list goes on.
This documentary centres around takes the viewer up to the second album (Led Zeppelin II) and delivers a solid if straightforward look at the band’s history and formation, with details about each of the member’s families, childhood memories and their introductions to music. For me as someone who is more on the casual fan side, the doc proved insightful and sprinkled in some trivia that I had no idea about (had no idea Jimmy Page and JPJ performed on Goldfinger), however for diehards, I can see them being familiar with a lot of the material here.
Interestingly enough a work in progress cut of this screened back in 2021 at the Venice Film Festival and was apparently 3 hours long, this is somewhat noticeable (especially in the second half) where gaps are filled with montage’s and I’m not joking when I say, I think they cut Jimmy Page off before the end credits hit.
Where the film is undoubtedly a 5/5 is the footage of the group performing their earliest concerts together. My God, those bewildered and shocked audience members don’t know how lucky they were to be at these clubs and halls. The sheer energy, in sync improvisation and fiery talent on display is mesmerising: Plant’s howls, Page’s jaw-dropping solos, Bonham’s crashing drums and JPJ’s anchoring bass lines. It’s fantastic footage and worth seeing on the biggest screen possible purely for these sequences.
Becoming Led Zeppelin may not reinvent the rock-doc formula and clearly has been trimmed down and tweaked from its original vision. However, for newcomers this is a solid introduction on the band’s roots and the concert footage and musicianship is absolutely stellar.
Out now in select cinemas
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