"Becoming Led Zeppelin," the first official documentary authorized by the iconic band, has exceeded all expectations. The film features previously unseen footage along with new interviews from Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones. Notably, it also includes rediscovered interviews with the late, legendary drummer John Bonham, serving as a heartfelt tribute to one of the greatest bands in history. The box office results reflect this success.
“The first week in IMAX in America was absolutely insane,” director Bernard MacMahon told CLASH. “It was completely sold out. The film was made specifically for IMAX, and that run became the highest-grossing music film in IMAX history. It has now also surpassed the best music film for Sony Classics.”
Producer and co-writer Allison McGourty echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s truly incredible. I’m amazed and feel so honored. I’ve met people who have seen it multiple times, some even five. We put a lot of hard work into this film, and it has exceeded all our dreams and expectations. It’s mind-blowing.”
MacMahon emphasized the unparalleled connection with audiences, noting, “The bond we feel with all these people we’ve never met is extraordinary. Their repeated viewings prove we were right to invest so much effort into this project. It shows there are many who share our perspective of the world.”
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Creating the film was a significant endeavor. Led Zeppelin had a reputation for being media-shy during their 1970s peak, and that attitude has largely persisted. Page, Plant, Jones, and the Bonham family have never endorsed an external reassessment of their legacy until McGourty and MacMahon, dedicated fans themselves, found a way to follow up their acclaimed 2017 documentary "The American Epic Sessions."
“The entire project was storyboarded and meticulously planned out scene by scene,” MacMahon explained. “Some questioned our sanity, telling us we were crazy to invest eight months in a project they’d never agreed to. Our response was, ‘We believe this will be a great film, so we’re proceeding.’ After completing the groundwork, we reached out to the band, and astonishingly, they consented to a meeting.”
“Our first meeting was with Jimmy Page, who turned out to be a huge fan of ‘American Epic.’ He shared his admiration in detail. As we sat down and went through our storyboard, he arrived carrying shopping bags, which he placed by the door. It ended up being a seven-hour meeting, during which I would mention moments, like, ‘This is where you first see Robert Plant,’ and he’d ask if I was sure. When I responded affirmatively, he checked his bags and pulled out his diaries, dating back to 1963, chronicling all his session work. By the end of our meeting, he expressed enthusiasm for participating.”
McGourty continued the story: “He called soon after and asked if we could meet him in Pangbourne on Tuesday. We quickly agreed and met at Paddington Station. We accompanied him to The Swan pub and explored the area around the studio. He revealed it was the first time he’d returned since moving out. Later, he confided that our willingness to meet acted as a test; a negative response would have halted the film’s progress. We thought to ourselves, ‘Who would say no to Jimmy Page?’”
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“Robert felt similarly,” MacMahon added. “He, too, admired ‘American Epic.’ He was on tour with The Sensational Space Shifters, necessitating our travel to meet him at various international concerts. We initially met in Perth, then in Sheffield, Los Angeles, and finally Birmingham. When he arrived with Pat Bonham, John’s widow, it underscored his serious intentions regarding the project.”
“Pitching a film backstage after a concert is not feasible,” noted McGourty. “Our first meeting with him was strictly social. When we received an invitation to visit backstage in Perth, the space was empty despite the full theater. Plant approached us, expressing how amazing ‘American Epic’ was and inquiring about our next steps. During our first visit with Jimmy, Robert was unaware of our previous engagements. We approached each band member one at a time.”
“For John Paul Jones,” the film’s director recounted, “we contacted the managers and asked if we could send a copy of ‘American Epic.’ We suggested he watch the first twenty minutes, assuring them that if he wasn’t interested, they’d never hear from us again. Surprisingly, he called back, expressing a desire to meet us in London. Upon our meeting, he was incredibly friendly and shared that he had made a pilgrimage to the Maces Spring in Virginia, meeting people we had interviewed for ‘American Epic.’ It was remarkable and purely coincidental that he found common ground with us.”
Of course, no film would be complete without some insight from Bonham
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Becoming Led Zeppelin, the inaugural official documentary endorsed by the iconic band, has exceeded all expectations. The film features