Last night I went to see the Bernard MacMahon film/documentary on the making of the the band. Having seen the band 3 times and being around the music scene in the 1970’s I was intrigued to see how this would be portrayed, knowing how Jimmy Page is so protective of the brand.
The film is very well delivered, with no talking heads. The only commentary is from the four band members, an old interview Bonham gave before he died is used for his input. The speed the band came together and the success they achieved in 18 months is never likely to be repeated. The planets aligned for this venture, Pages vision and Peter Grants negotiating skills made them millionaires in the blink of an eye. No trudging around Middlesborough on a Wednesday in January in a Comer van for this band. In fact Britain was never part of the plan, a short tour of Europe and then off to America. The documentary does have some unseen footage of the band on the first two tours, with excellent commentary from the band members. Grant is seen visually throughout but is not given any dialogue which is a shame as he really made it happen.
Plant and Bonham really fell on their feet, Page and Jones put the recording process in place so they just had to perform which of course they excelled at.
The film is slightly over two hours which is about right. It portrays a period of music history which will never be repeated. I was around many bands in the 1970’s which tried to emulate Zeppelins success all still broke after touring for years. Dr Feelgood who were friends (Wilko was my English teacher at school) played for Zeppelin at their end of tour party at Earls Court (1975), the Feelgoods were astonished that Zeppelin made more money in 5 shows than they had in their career to that point even after having had a number 1 album!
The Led Zeppelin story is so unique, they just got everything right and went on to make 100’s of millions.
I saw Robert Plant recently (in November) he played Southend, he’s very humble and may have been successful to a point without Page but the four of these guys together were an unstoppable force only surpassed by the Beatles.

Currently my current top six are:

The rest is classified – If your interested in the CIA or MI5/6
The rest is history – I loved the Nelson series
We have ways of making you talk – best WW2 podcast bar none
Uncanny – Ghosts & UFO’s BBC show, very thought provoking
The Gift – Anyone interested in DNA ancestry a real shocker. BBC
Assume Nothing – Ghost story during the troubles in Belfast

Really tough deciding this as have so many favourites, Strange town the Jam, Strawberry Fields For Ever The Beatles etc but I’m going to go with The Rain Song Led Zeppelin, Roberts masterpiece.
I’ll be interested in yours

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