Becoming Led Zeppelin has made a thunderous entrance as one of the most compelling rock documentaries in recent years. It delivers an in-depth and visually stunning portrayal of one of the greatest bands in music history. For longtime fans, it feels like a long-overdue tribute. For newer audiences, it’s a brilliant introduction to how the band came to be. Yet, despite the film’s many strengths, there’s one major shortcoming that can’t go unnoticed — and it’s tied to a missing piece of the band’s heart.
A Rock Documentary That Finally Gets It Right
Unlike many modern rock documentaries that lean heavily on dramatic retellings, stylized reenactments, or endless commentary from outside voices, Becoming Led Zeppelin adopts a more organic approach. Director Bernard MacMahon, best known for American Epic, brings a reverent and immersive tone that feels true to the spirit of the band. His approach relies on archival material, candid interviews, and rare footage that gives the story an authenticity many music films lack.
What sets this documentary apart is its clear focus. Instead of attempting to chart the entirety of Led Zeppelin’s storied career — which could easily span multiple films — MacMahon concentrates solely on the band’s formation and ascent. He begins with Jimmy Page’s early years as a session guitarist, tracing the path to the moment Led Zeppelin was born. This sharp narrative focus makes the film more powerful. It gives the audience a real sense of how the band came together, what drove them musically, and how their unique sound began to take shape.
The use of primary voices is another strong suit. We hear directly from guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones. Their stories, told in their own words, guide the documentary. This first-person perspective allows the viewer to feel like they’re sitting in the same room with the legends of rock as they recall their early struggles, ambitions, and inspirations. Their anecdotes, paired with live performance clips and behind-the-scenes moments, create an immersive experience that honors the music and the people behind it.
A Visual and Sonic Treasure
Visually, the documentary is a feast for fans. MacMahon and his team unearthed rarely seen footage and photographs, presenting them with stunning clarity and care. The restoration work is top-notch, and it breathes new life into classic concert scenes and rehearsal clips. The editing respects the material, letting scenes breathe instead of chopping them up for quick thrills.
The soundtrack, of course, is spectacular. Classic Zeppelin tracks are featured throughout, but not just as background noise — they’re contextualized within the band’s story. You hear early performances of songs that would go on to become iconic, and the film allows the music to speak for itself. There’s no need for overblown praise or analysis; the sound alone is enough to remind viewers why Led Zeppelin remains so influential.
The pacing also deserves praise. It moves with the tempo of the band’s story — deliberate when needed, explosive when called for. You follow Page from the smoky studio sessions of the mid-1960s to the electric moment he recruits Plant, Jones, and finally, drummer John Bonham. You feel the spark of chemistry forming between these four musicians. It’s a tribute not just to the music, but to the collision of personalities and talents that made Led Zeppelin a phenomenon.
But Where’s Bonham?
And this brings us to the documentary’s most significant flaw: the near-total absence of John Bonham’s voice. While the film touches on his arrival in the band and showcases his drumming brilliance through performance clips, it doesn’t go far enough to honor his story. Bonham, who died in 1980, obviously couldn’t be interviewed. But even with that limitation, there were ways to better incorporate his presence — through interviews with his family, friends, or musical peers, or deeper exploration of his background and contributions.
Bonham wasn’t just the drummer. He was the engine that powered Led Zeppelin’s sound — raw, thunderous, and rhythmically complex. His influence stretched far beyond the confines of the band. Yet in a film that gives Page, Plant, and Jones ample space to reflect and narrate, Bonham’s perspective is barely represented. His family is noticeably absent, and there’s very little exploration of who he was off-stage. What drove him? How did he see his role in the band? What was his creative process like?
It’s especially disappointing because Bonham’s playing was so foundational to Zeppelin’s identity. Iconic tracks like “When the Levee Breaks” and “Good Times Bad Times” wouldn’t be what they are without his unique timing and raw power. To omit his voice, or even a deeper tribute to his life and artistry, feels like an incomplete telling of the band’s story.
Final Thoughts: Great But Not Complete
Despite this glaring omission, Becoming Led Zeppelin still stands as an exceptional documentary. It’s everything fans could hope for in terms of tone, presentation, and reverence for the music. It avoids the clichés and clutter that plague many music films and instead delivers something that feels handcrafted and personal. It’s as much about the music as it is about the men behind it — at least, most of them.
Still, until there’s a documentary that fully honors John Bonham’s story, Becoming Led Zeppelin remains just a few steps short of being the definitive film about the band. It comes close — very close — but with Bonham’s voice missing, it leaves a gap that even the most spectacular drum solo can’t quite fill.
It’s a brilliant documentary. But the rhythm isn’t quite complete.
