Unveiling ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’: A Captivating Review of Bernard MacMahon’s Take on Rock Legends

(Credits: 2025 Paradise Pictures Ltd)

Wed 5 February 2025

Fans of Led Zeppelin will love Becoming Led Zeppelin. This documentary dives into the band’s origins, revealing how its members grew from their early lives into a legendary rock group.

The film starts slowly, building a backdrop for each key member. We see John Paul Jones’s early days with Vaudeville, Jimmy Page’s childhood obsession with music, and Robert Plant and John Bonham’s early rock n’ roll influences. Each story adds a layer to our understanding of Led Zeppelin.

As we learn about Page and Jones’s success as session musicians, the film shows how their skills set the stage for what’s to come. A standout moment is the creation of the ‘Goldfinger’ score, a glimpse into their musical genius that would later fuel the dynamic of the band.

Discovering their past work brings clarity. You realize that Jones and Page were destined for greatness. When they found Plant and Bonham, it was a perfect match—technical brilliance meeting raw talent. Plant’s powerful voice and Bonham’s unmatched drumming added the final pieces to the puzzle.

The documentary also honors Bonham’s legacy. It features touching moments through interviews where the surviving members react to his past words. Particularly, Jones’s heartfelt reflections on Bonham create a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that many fans will appreciate.

However, as the film progresses, it feels less personal and more like a checklist of events. Once the band finds its groove, lengthy performance clips take over, overshadowing the individuals behind the music. There’s a lack of depth regarding their personalities, making parts of the documentary feel tedious.

Surprisingly, it misses the energy that rock music embodies. Instead of excitement and fun, the narrative becomes predictable. It follows the classic band documentary formula—rise to fame, struggles with home life, and the toll of touring. For viewers who already know Zeppelin’s success, there’s not much new here.

In the end, Becoming Led Zeppelin shines a light on the band’s beginnings, but it doesn’t fully capture who they became or the thrill of their music. Fans might leave wanting more insight into the personalities and dynamics that made Led Zeppelin legendary.