BECOMING LED ZEPPELIN – IN CINEMAS NOW
Becoming Led Zeppelin is a refreshing and excellent Rock Documentary. A literal and chronological journey into the past lives of Led Zeppelin’s four members; their backgrounds, and their musical and cultural influences. Touching upon their parental history – succinctly surmised upfront. Told firstly by the three talking Zep heads. Early days as jobbing musicians lead onwards into the group’s rapid route to an Atlantic Record deal signed with Ahmet Ertegun. All on the cusp of their gigging extensively across the USA, and, notably, prior to their debut gigs in the UK where we catch hitherto unseen footage of the 1969 Bath Festival in colour. Cutaways show Jimmy Page aghast as he watches this footage for the first time. A magical moment of filmmaking. All captured in the blinking of an eye.
This treasure trove of audiovisual history literally explodes in front of our very eyes and into our reverberating ears. A fully immersive music experience in surround sound. In essence? Led Zeppelin – A Journey Into Their Early Years.
Why does it work so well? Let me backtrack…
HOW NOT TO MAKE A ROCK DOC?
ITV’s long since defunct LWT had an in-house 35-year-old maxim for Documentary filmmaking: “Write the script. Make the film of the script. Do a scripted pre-planned voiceover. Fit the images and all of the filmed chat to suit that scripted narrative.”
The Result?
A piecemeal, pedestrian story where the audience discovers nothing along the journey. Instead, we lose all of what we might find on the pathway to conclusion, ditching all of the joyful discoveries found during the filmmaking process. Namely, all of the interesting facts and hitherto untold tales, which do not fit into that LWT-styled pre-planned trite voiceover. This mistaken methodology is born of so many hierarchical bores who still interfere in the filmmaking process. Exampled over and over again by perennially tired retrospective EPK formats, seen in so many tedious PR-led Rock Docs.
YAWNING ROCK DOCS?
In 2025, this aforementioned formulaic process often remains as the formatted maxim. Many Rock Docs are simply shot as retrospective Electronic Press Kits for ‘fans only’. How many of these begged the assumption, “We simply knew it was gonna be the greatest album of all time” – as stated in virtually every single Classic Albums series film ever made. Job-for-hire, production-line TV. Rock Docs made to a formula by Poodles wagging the tails of the Record Company Executives and managerial power. Business Affairs Execs who call the shots behind the scenes, again and again. An equation that provides only poor filmmaking. This is why 75% of all Music Docs are, in fact, absolute shite.
HOW TO PLAN TO MAKE A GOOD MUSIC DOCUMENTARY?
Bear in mind what it takes to make a good Rock Documentary:
- Expert Research
- Access to the talent & their contractual ‘trust’
- Money. Lots of it. To cover all 3rd Party Copyrights
- Sort & Cost 1–3 upfront in Pre-Production
- Get in an expert ‘Archive Producer’ to deal with the Licensing of the Archive and to enable swift Master Tape & Film access, and its delivery – with ongoing research.
Ignorant ‘Executive Producers’ hate this type of assertion, but we Archive Producers make these films. Poor content equals a duff film. Next up? Ensure quality remastering and realistic budgets to facilitate the ongoing, ever-changing Production ‘needs’, as they will most certainly change throughout the shoot and during Post Production. Most Production Managers and Line Producers have unrealistic expectations and ‘no clue’ as to how to do a budget for Archive-Based ‘Music Docs’, having rarely worked on them.
- Hire a great Director to deliver the goods after having points 1 to 5 firmly set in place during the Pre-Production process.
Have none of these essentials enabled? You’ll make a crap film.
THE SUCCESS OF A GOOD ROCK DOCUMENTARY LIES IN THE PLANNING
This is why Becoming Led Zeppelin is so special. Ticking all of the above points. Nails firmly hammered in place. Take it from one who spent half of his life facilitating these chores for ex-City Types and ex-Media Lawyers, chancing their arms by setting up Production Companies; continually failing, while blaming others: The Wannabe Media Muppets. Meanwhile, the good people I’ve worked for still shine like glistening pearls, floating in a sea of TV effluent.
IN CONCLUSION?
Becoming Led Zeppelin negates all of the above negativity with aplomb. Jaw-dropping sequences take us on a journey across the USA at the close of the 1960s in hitherto unseen scenes. The production team have truly delivered Rock Doc perfection with Sonic Majesty. A fine film. Go and see it. Especially if you are not a Led Zeppelin fan.
It’s a life-affirming rediscovery of our collective heady history.
Finally, a badge of honour to the Archive Producer, Kate Griffiths. Her on-screen stand-alone credit is set in its rightful place. Hats off, my friend!
You can watch Becoming Led Zeppelin in select UK cinemas or via Apple TV, where it’s currently available to stream here.
Whether you’re a lifelong Zeppelin fan or just love a well-made music documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin offers something genuinely worthwhile. For more stories on music, film and cultural storytelling that go beyond the obvious, visit EyeOnLondon – and if you’ve seen the film, we’d really like to hear your thoughts in the comments.
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