Written by Danielle Adelaide Cairo
The Led Zeppelin documentary, Becoming Led Zeppelin, which became available on Netflix on June 7, focuses on the legendary band’s early stardom. The film, directed by Bernard MacMahon, accentuates important moments in the band’s history, like their formation as well as obstacles they faced together while creating their renowned music. The movie includes new interviews with surviving members, archival footage, and unreleased audio of John Bonham.
The primary focus of the documentary is the events leading to the release of Led Zeppelin II. The landmark album was created during a very busy time for the band (January-August 1969) as they had completed four European and three American tours. Led Zeppelin had recorded their second album in numerous studios across the UK and USA leading to a patchwork approach to its creation. It’s around this time when Jimmy Paige and Robert Plant got together to write songs, their biggest goal in mind was to execute all personal sensitivities and embarrassments they had with one another.
Plant states “Cause writing is a very intimate thing. It’s — you expose yourself.” Page goes into detail explaining that he had written the lyrics on the first album and second album, but wasn’t as confident in his lyricism as he was in his guitar playing. As the front man of the band, Robert Plant discusses that it was a trivial process learning how to juggle being a singer and also the one in charge of bringing melody or story into their music. Therefore they sought to inspire each other with music to help one another – “The idea was to inspire him through the music, to be inspired lyrically. And then he came up with his lyrics for Ramble On.”
One of their most famous songs “Ramble On” from the album, was heavily influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, “the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair”. Robert Plant had stated “My parents took him to every mystical mountain top and every beautiful ruin and all that sort of great resonance of another people. Well, that’s what that song’s all about, really. Me, you, and the other people.”
Jimmy Paige explains that it was important to him to include a lot of layering and texture with his guitar riffs, stating he was in a frenzy of creating something innovative. It was a really exciting time for him, being able to work with each member and seeing the outcome after an accomplished step, “It was just a joy to be able to do these tracks and everyone do their part and then come back, and go “Wow, what’s he done with this?”
John Paul Jones speaks about how wild life was on the road compared to how it would be today. The documentary dives into their life on tour while managing their personal families. “We toured horrendously at first. We toured for months on end, pretty much.” The band had no tour buses, nothing extravagant, they did their gigs and somehow got to the next one anyway they could have. In June of 1969, when word got out about the band in the states, Zeppelin got booked and busy. Life got even better for the four men; they were the next big thing. Plant would say, “I just liked the idea of the stimulus, of travel and adventure. What do you know if you don’t seek? You gotta go out and have a look for it.”
The documentary ends with the making of “Whole Lotta Love.” Page goes on to explain he really wanted to put in the wow factor with this song, something no one has ever heard before. “The acoustics and the electrics and the more radical, and even avant-garde.” The song has the most use of musical talent you can imagine, “a radical avant-garde section” in the middle that begins with a sonic wave. A production of wailing guitar notes panning all around, echoey vocals, heavy drumbeats, and that’s the epic beginning of Led Zeppelin.
Becoming Led Zeppelin looks into the beginnings and swift recognition of the legendary band. This documentary is a powerhouse, diving into unforeseen clips, raw footage, performances, and music. The audience gets a taste of the creative process that occurred during the making of Led Zeppelin’s most famous song “Ramble On.” This movie is a gem, a real treat for die-hard fans.
