All About the Music: Becoming Led Zeppelin
EBM HUMPHREYS
When Becoming Led Zeppelin was released recently, it took little persuasion to get me to take a trip out of town. I was however armed with earplugs to get me through the inevitable twenty minutes of advertising, which an arthouse-lover like me should be spared. I was surprised by this film and it turns out I have something to learn from that.
It struck me as odd that (apart from some great photographs of the young-and-gorgeous Robert Plant leading a small pro-cannabis demo) debauched, drug-related stories were completely absent. I had to check when I got home: Were Led Zeppelin early exemplars of Straightedge subculture? Nope.
But it turns out co-directors Bernard MacMahon and Allison McGourty had their reason – exactly the reason my viewing companion observed – because it’s about the music. Personally I don’t mind debauchery and music. But never mind, because this is probably the best rockumentary you’ll ever see.
UTTERLY SPELLBINDING
And there are reasons for that too. Number one: footage of Led Zeppelin playing live in the late 60s and early 70s (which is the period this film covers) is notoriously rare. Their manager would grab cameras, destroy the contents and eject photographers. That was tough for this film’s directors, but it forced them to be creative. It explains why there is a wealth of printed media featured – ticket stubs, gig and festival posters, fabulous newspaper headlines.
Reason number two: the band has consistently refused documentary pitches, a fierce protectiveness that McGourty and MacMahon knew they would be up against from the outset. Therefore, their research and preparation were exhaustive, even finding an audio interview with drummer John Bonham. In fact, little is missing from the film.
The interviews with bassist John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and Bonham’s widow Pat, ranged from five to seven hours each. From all of this, a tight two hours emerges, with the ultra-rare but utterly spellbinding live footage taking centre stage. Do not miss these performances. Sound quality was also made top priority, featuring the original lacquer cut from 1969 and with no compression.
Weirdly, given the band’s epic status, several major studios turned the movie down, creating a curious parallel with the attitudes the band faced in this era – the story was retelling itself. One of the studio’s issues was their belief that what audiences wanted was the debauchery. Well, that was me. So I’ll think about that next time I’m whingeing about being too good for adverts.
Kino are screening Becoming Led Zeppelin on Wednesday 5 March at 7:30pm and Thursday 6 March at 3pm and 7:30pm. Tickets can be booked at kino-teatr.co.uk.
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