The inside story of ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We wanted to demystify that ‘Viking’ image of Led Zeppelin as these marauders laying waste to villages,” MacMahon says. This is the beginning – the least-known part of the Led Zeppelin story, one shrouded in mystery.” MacMahon and McGourty’s efforts in demystification are aided by the notoriously reticent surviving members of Led Zeppelin themselves, who gave long, in-depth interviews and, McGourty says, “brought in personal artefacts they’d never shared before”, including Plant’s handwritten lyrics to the song “Ramble On”, and a previously unheard demo by Plant and Bonham’s pre-Zeppelin project Band of Joy. There’s so little of that of Zeppelin.” Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial Sign up open image in gallery The poster for ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin' “Researching the footage took a lot of detective work,” adds McGourty, “visiting tiny English villages whose residents somehow had footage of Zeppelin at the 1969 Bath festival hidden in their attic.” The quest turned up some absolute gold, in particular a performance of “Dazed and Confused” in its entirety that offers a ringside seat for all Page’s guitar pyrotechnics. “The Led Zeppelin story ends in tragedy,” says McGourty, “and it’s difficult for Robert to talk about it.