This 2025 documentary is directed by Bernard MacMahon and stars the surviving members of Led Zeppelin—Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones. Drummer John Bonham adds insights through archival records.
It’s an intriguing film that explores the band’s early years, their childhoods through to the first two albums that turned them into one of the biggest bands of the 1970s.
Genius Riffs and Pounding Grooves in Becoming Led Zeppelin
Some fans have complained this documentary doesn’t cover more ground, but we like that about Becoming Led Zeppelin (fun fact, too, the band’s name was invented by The Who’s drummer Keith Moon).
It’s a major insight into their early lives and influences.
What’s impressive is how insightful and clear their memories are. Guitarist Jimmy Page (81) has vivid recollections of his childhood, his rise as a studio musician in London during the 1950s, then his creative endeavours in The Yardbirds in the 1960s.
He talks of 1968, when Led Zeppelin had formed and were rehearsing their debut album in his house in Epsom, as if it was a couple of months ago.
All born circa 1945, the members had low-key post-WWII upbringings. Bored by conservative British music, they were inspired by the sounds coming from America—blues, soul, James Brown, R&B, and Elvis Presley. They grew their hair long, smoked weed, and took on an anti-establishment persona.
And when a bloke called Lonnie Donegan arrived on the UK music scene (The Who’s Roger Daltrey also praises him as an inspiration) his skiffle music left its mark on the younger generations.
After being part of various other bands they all merged together, through word of mouth and happenstance, and Led Zeppelin was born.
Their debut launched on 12th January 1969 and they followed it up with Led Zeppelin II on 22nd October 1969 (squeezing in an American tour in that gap).
The documentary gives a breezy feel of how this could be possible for anyone. Form a band, write some good songs, make it. But this was a band of innovative geniuses—there’s no doubt Jimmy Page was the creative driving force. Just an outstanding guitarist with a bottomless pit of inventive riffs.
That was all powered along by John “Bonzo” Bonham, who sadly passed away in 1980 aged 32.
An unassuming family man who liked a laugh, Bonham is regularly voted the best drummer of all time. He was noted for his inventive style, triplet bass pedal prowess, and thunderous hard hitting performances.
However, Bonham rarely gave interviews (literally, there’s barely anything) so it was a big scoop for this documentary they unearthed a previous unheard interview.
Bonham’s contributions to Becoming Led Zeppelin are audio sections taken from that.
There’s also lots of surprise archival footage that surprises the band. Such as their first ever UK festival performance, which was in June of 1970 in Bath.
None of this was our era, so it was all very interesting seeing the band’s formative years. Going from Robert Plant being skint and homeless to a superstar band in the space of six months.
The curious thing is, the music press didn’t take to the band at all. Led Zeppelin’s first two albums were snubbed by many music critics, leading the band to snub the media in return.
They’ve stuck to their guns on that ever since and remain pretty elusive.
Becoming Led Zeppelin is two hours of personal reflections and reliving what must have been a fun, exciting time for the band (and their fans). All to tune of stuff like this.
Now, we actually prefer the band’s work from album three onwards. We think they did their very best stuff from III (1970), IV (1971 and the one with Stairway to Heaven on it), Houses of the Holy (1973), to Physical Graffiti (1975). Particularly with the song Ten Years Gone, which is our favourite of the band’s.
But those first two albums, the inception of which is captured so vividly in this documentary, show a dynamic group of creative individuals reshaping the music industry.
The fact they can recall it all so fondly and memorably speaks volumes about their many talents.
Perhaps the documentary isn’t for a wider audience beyond Led Zeppelin fans. It’s methodical and takes its time to tell an important story, often breaking away from interviews to listen to entire songs. Thus, if you want a look back at the creative landscape post-WWII this is one for posterity.
The Production of Becoming Led Zeppelin
This project is notable as it was sanctioned by the four surviving members of the band. This is the first time an independent production has had full co-operation from all the members.
At this stage in their lives, the band viewed it as a chance to tell their story in their own words.
Led Zeppelin disbanded in 1980 following John Bonham’s sudden death. They’ve only performed a handful of times together since, the last being a one-off special performance in London, 2007.
The band’s music remains hugely popular, so the documentary did well at the box office with a $13 million earning. Documentary films tend to make limited amounts at the cinema, instead making their money through streaming services. So this success is a testament to the enduring popular of Led Zeppelin.
