Is ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ About to Whitewash the Band’s Darkest Secrets?

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  • ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ Is a Movie of Utmost Security
  • The Elephant(s) in the Room

The Authorized Documentary on Led Zeppelin, titled “Becoming Led Zeppelin”, is set to premiere in IMAX theaters nationwide on February 7 (with a wider release the following week). This film, said to be the first official documentary in their over five-decade-long career, has garnered much excitement following its positive reception at an early screening at the Venice Film Festival late last year. However, after building up anticipation, the film mysteriously vanished without a trace, leaving fans in suspense. Now, it’s finally returning, ending the wait. The question remains: is it worth the anticipation?

Directed by renowned music documentary filmmaker Bernard MacMahon, Becoming Led Zeppelin offers an intimate look at the lives of the musicians as they rose to fame with the groundbreaking band that was active from 1968 to 1980. Will this film delve into the common tropes of the genre and become a traditional saint-making narrative or tackle the band’s numerous controversies and scandals, such as accusations of plagiarizing other artists’ songs, dabbling in the occult, their excessive alcohol and drug use, Jimmy Page’s relationship with a minor, and the infamous fish incident?

‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ Is Striking While the Iron’s Ice Cold

Emerging from the ruins of the acid-rock band The Yardbirds (with Jimmy Page wielding the Fender Telecaster in Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow Up), Led Zeppelin gathered arguably one of the most remarkable lineups during their era. Their music was an ever-present force in pop culture. This legendary band, inducted into the Hall of Fame, boasted Robert Plant on vocals, Jimmy Page on guitar, John Bonham on drums, and John Paul Jones on bass. They traversed the globe aboard a private Boeing jet, complete with a fireplace and a well-stocked bar.

For over a decade, this heavy metal group held sway over the emerging genre, but eventually, they disbanded. They departed with legions of fans and footage from concerts behind them. This band was celebrated for delivering exceptional live performances. Their tight stage presence was rivaled only by Robert Plant’s wardrobe, which seemed to have shrunk in the plane’s dryer.

In 2007, after many years apart, the renowned British rock band (excluding their late drummer) came together once more, demonstrating that their passionate dedication had endured through generations and reached heights of greatness, as praised by the NME. This documentary/concert film mirrors Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Stones film, Shine a Light, and Peter Jackson’s exclusive Disney+ project, The Beatles: Get Back. Upon its initial screening at Venice, the audience simply couldn’t stop applauding.

‘Becoming Led Zeppelin‘ Is a Movie of Utmost Security

Initially, it appears this film has had an extended period in production, stretching beyond initial expectations. Back in 2021, there were intriguing reports about the intense security measures and veil of secrecy surrounding the project, with phones and recording devices confiscated from attendees upon arrival – hinting at exclusive, non-YouTube accessible content or disclosures.

What sets this documentary apart is its personal narrative approach, with the band members themselves taking on the role of narrators instead of traditional talking heads. This lends an intimate, insider feel to the production.

However, while there’s no dearth of compelling material to incorporate, the challenge lies in what hasn’t been included. As a movie critic, I’ll delve deeper into this aspect in my review.

Could it be that the cause of the delay is due to editing changes made by MacMahon? Upon reviewing the initial footage from Venice and contrasting it with current information, it appears that he has reduced the runtime significantly. This reduction likely includes shortening interviews and possibly eliminating a few B-sides. For those eagerly awaiting the release of rare archival demos or lesser-known tracks like “Boogie with Stu,” there may be some disappointment. Given that this is an IMAX production geared towards the general public, it’s likely you’ll hear all the popular hits that have been played countless times on radio and in commercials instead.

The Elephant(s) in the Room

Despite their prestigious background and achievements, they carry a significant amount of baggage. The physician will primarily examine their early years, possibly leaving untouched topics such as the 1973 Drake Hotel robbery in New York City, numerous unidentified covers of folk and blues songs, and Page’s fascination with Aleister Crowley and his delve into the occult. This exploration led to speculation that he was conjuring spirits and secretly hiding satanic messages on his records to lure children into Satanism. He often brushed off such accusations, humorously commenting at an Oxford Union event that “it’s already challenging enough composing music one way, imagine it in reverse.” The story about the groupie and the mudshark is mostly considered a myth now.

Less sensational versions of events surrounding Page are often dismissed as unimportant. Lori Maddox, a well-known groupie, has admitted to having multiple romantic relationships with adults, including Page, while she was still underage. Despite this potentially controversial aspect of Page’s life usually being downplayed as youthful indiscretions by Maddox herself, she shared her thoughts on the matter with The Guardian in 2018. Given that this is an official biography, it’s expected that the director will tread carefully and the band members will remain silent about the scandalous episodes of their lives. Documentaries often overlook uncomfortable details, and rock-themed films are no exception. This is disappointing for history enthusiasts and fans who have already watched VH1 Legends and numerous other “rockumentaries.” We hope to be proven wrong.

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that the movie will make its debut in select IMAX cinemas on February 7. A nationwide theater release follows a week later. For residents of larger metropolitan areas in the US and Canada, there are early IMAX screenings available starting February 5, but those tickets are selling out quickly!

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2025-01-26 22:02