In August 1968, within a small space below London’s Gerrard Street,
Jimmy Page
is practicing with his new band. A 24-year-old session guitarist who had contributed anonymously to landmark hits by
The Who
,
The Rolling Stones
And after quitting a profitable position at the Muzak Corporation in 1966 to join Van Morrison’s band, Them, Page then left The Yardbirds as the group disbanded shortly afterward. However, his decisions proved wise. Before long, he had gathered a new lineup for what would become known as “The Yardbrids,” which quickly decided to drop their original moniker.
Led Zeppelin
“) alongside fellow session musician John Paul Jones and two unnamed individuals from the Black Country,
Robert Plant
and John Bonham.
In that underground space beneath Gerrard Street, they dive headfirst into “Train Kept A-Rollin'” by Cincinnati-born blues musician Tiny Bradshaw, setting off a chain reaction with far-reaching consequences. Just weeks following their initial jam session, they embark on a tour across Scandinavia; come Christmas Day, they find themselves performing stateside; and before long, they receive gold discs recognizing their debut album, an achievement soon overshadowed as sales surge past 10 million copies. Fast forward to 1980: despite eight chart-topping studio albums under their belt, record-breaking global tours filled with tales of excess involving sex and substances, and the untimely passing of drummer John Bonham, the band calls it quits.
Led Zeppelin
have left the building, ceding the stage to endless imitators who’ll ape their moves but never approach their magic.
However, it’s this initial chapter that captivates Bernard MacMahon and Allison McGourty, the directors of the upcoming documentary.
Becoming Led Zeppelin
“We aimed to dispel the ‘Viking’ perception of Led Zeppelin as ruthless raiders destroying communities,” explains MacMahon. “Disregard every myth—the private planes, drug use, everything that bands such as Mötley Crüe and Warrant believed defined Led Zeppelin. This marks the start—unveiling the most obscure chapter of the Led Zeppelin narrative, an era cloaked in secrecy.”
The endeavors of MacMahon and McGourty in simplifying complex information have been supported by the usually tight-lipped remaining members of Led Zeppelin, who provided extensive interviews and, as McGourty mentions, “shared personal items they had never revealed before,” such as Plant’s hand-written lyrics for the track “Ramble On” and an unreleased demo from Plant and Bonham’s earlier group, Band of Joy. Their cooperation stemmed mainly from their respect for the filmmakers’ prior work, notably the highly praised documentary series.
American Epic
, which documented blues trailblazers such as Charley Patton and Blind Willie Johnson, who held a special place in Zeppelin’s affections.
The resultant documentary delves into Led Zeppelin’s origins and presents close-up looks at these iconic musicians. Viewers encounter John Paul Jones during his youth as an organist in a church, captivated by “a really neat priest.” He eventually switches from playing the organ to picking up the bass guitar. However, his father—a performer known for variety shows—considers this choice beneath them, pushing him towards learning the saxophone instead. Jimmy Page emerges as a jovial family-oriented individual; despite being encouraged by his kin to provide adequately for his spouse and children, they remain supportive so long as he can do just that. Meanwhile, his partner frequently cautions him about associating too closely with Robert: “Don’t even think about teaming up with that Plant fella!”
Robert Plant initially comes across as a thoughtful person whose aspirations clashed with those of his parents—they rejected him outright after discovering their son desired nothing more than pursuing music rather than becoming a certified public accountant. Following exposure to Little Richard via television broadcasts, Plant becomes enamored with rock ‘n’ roll culture. In describing his journey within the film, Plant states emphatically, “That passion never faded—I’d have been anything—from mods to bikers—to indulge my love for singing.”
Throughout the narrative, Page remains the central figure. From his school days when he performed skiffle on the BBC, we follow his journey through the ranks of the pop industry where he plays alongside Jones during the recording of Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger,” a Bond film theme song. It is Page who envisions possibilities beyond their routine pop endeavors and resolves not to create singles anymore. Initially, Jones is hesitant; McMahon notes that “Jonesy wasn’t particularly into rock music—he preferred classical, jazz, and soul.” Despite this, Jones was among the most sought-after session musicians and arrangers in Britain, having worked with artists like Cat Stevens and Dusty Springfield. However, his wife Maureen suggested reaching out to Jimmy regarding involvement in the newly formed Yardbirds—a struggling group without hits for many years—while Jones enjoyed considerable success orchestrating popular records.
knew
Maureen was aware that Jimmy understood what would happen next.
Certainly. The influential bands and the psychedelic movement had started to fade from the pop scene where Page initially gained experience, making those earlier styles seem outdated. However, driven by advancements in multitrack recording and amplification technologies that allowed groups to perform in large venues like arenas and stadiums with clarity, Page was poised to shape his upcoming career. “Led Zeppelin mastered dynamics; that was their signature,” explains MacMahon. “Jimmy foresaw them performing in vast areas someday.”
The UK record labels did not align with his vision, though. Consequently, the formidable manager of the group, Peter Grant—who was compared by Page to “a Mafia Don” and who later gained a notorious reputation due to his behavior—traveled to the U.S. There he sealed a contract with Atlantic Records, which granted the guitarist full artistic freedom. Armed with this agreement, Page invited the band to his luxurious riverside retreat, Pangbourne Boathouse on the Thames. With a guitar adorned with psychedelic designs—a present from former Yardbirds member Jeff Beck—he composed the tracks for what became their eponymous first album.
At this point,
Becoming Led Zeppelin
dives headfirst into action. In addition to insightful conversations with Page, Plant, and Jones—and previously undiscovered archive recordings with Bonham—MacMahon and McGourty share an abundance of classic Led Zeppelin video content. Achieving this wasn’t straightforward. “Interviews were rare back then for them,” explains MacMahon, “plus they barely appeared on television. Most major musical acts at the time would frequently grant interviews and pose for photos. But there’s very little of that kind of media available from Led Zeppelin.”
Examining the video material required a considerable amount of time.
lot
Of the detective work,” says McGourty, “we visited small English villages where locals somehow kept recordings from Zeppelin’s 1969 Bath Festival tucked away in their attics.” This search uncovered true treasures, notably an entire rendition of ‘Dazed and Confused’ providing front-row views of Page’s guitar virtuosity. He elaborates: “We picked the tracks as though curating a soundtrack, guiding the story forward. For instance, during the band’s initial European gigs—when audiences are still figuring things out and young fans plug their ears—we opted for ‘Communication Breakdown’. Then, when Jimmy travels to the U.S. to ink his deal with Atlantic Records, we used ‘Your Time Is Gonna Come.’ And later, as they tour across America, ‘Ramble On’ fits perfectly into our sequence.
It was during their 1969 U.S. tours when Led Zeppelin really hit their stride. In the early performances backing up New York psychedelic rockers Vanilla Fudge, attendance was sparse, yet Jimmy Page—known for his seasoned experience touring—advised the band to perform as though they were playing at an intimate venue, thus impressing even small crowds with their energy. However, once they reached San Francisco’s iconic counterculture hub, The Fillmore, they had found their groove completely. Recollections from this period are fondly remembered but not elaborated upon much. “At twenty years old, we were surrounded by drugs and plenty of women,” recalls Plant in the documentary film, wearing a smile.
When the US campaign concluded, Zeppelin headed back to the UK for an impressive series of hometown shows, wrapping up their run with a fully booked performance at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall where numerous relatives were present. “Mr. Jones’ dad attended,” recounts MacMahon, “and he acknowledged the significance of his son’s efforts. It brought tears of happiness to John Paul as he recounted this moment.” Just a few weeks after receiving these accolades, the band received their gold records on the very day when the Apollo 11 astronauts—history’s first lunar voyagers—safely returned to Earth. Change seemed to sweep across the globe rapidly; Zeppelin’s rise was but one exhilarating indicator of such transformations happening around them.
Further successes came, along with what some might argue was even better music. However, the band’s journey took a darker turn as they embarked on intense tours, faced mounting pressures, and found themselves living increasingly bizarre lifestyles. Jimmy Page became entangled with heroin addiction, showed a keen interest in the supernatural, and engaged in a prolonged affair with the teenage groupie Lori Maddox. Following a severe car crash, Robert Plant had to record vocal tracks for Led Zeppelin’s 1976 album from his hospital bed.
Presence
From a wheelchair, while his five-year-old son, Karac, passed away unexpectedly from a stomach virus the next year. Then, in October 1980, as he was rehearsing for an upcoming tour and had consumed approximately 40 shots of vodka, John Bonham tragically suffocated on his own vomit.
MacMahon and McGourty state that they have no desire to recount the subsequent parts of this narrative. “The Led Zeppelin tale concludes with sorrow,” remarks McGourty, “and it’s challenging for Robert to discuss it. The loss of John, his closest confidant—why would he wish to relive those moments? Instead, we focused on reviving their early days filled with happiness—the start, when everything felt joyful.”
The Royal Albert Hall performance represents Neil Armstrong stepping onto the moon or Edmund Hillary planting the flag on top of Mount Everest,” says MacMahon. “Other lunar missions and climbs may have occurred, yet none capture our interest like those historic moments. With Led Zeppelin, their journey repeats itself through albums and tours interspersed with darker influences. Once you reach global stardom, many bands face similar challenges which can make for mundane narratives. However, our documentary focuses specifically on these individuals—how they achieved such success, where they came from, and why it matters. This tale has remained untold until today.
‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ is now showing in theaters.
The Independent stands out as the globe’s premier source of unbiased reporting, offering international news, insights, and evaluations tailored for those with an independent mindset. This publication has amassed a substantial audience across the planet—readers who cherish their independence and rely on The Independent’s credible stance and dedication to fostering constructive transformation. In this era, our purpose of driving changes forward remains more crucial than ever before.
