Pantheon - Podcasts for Music Lovers Ugly American Werewolf in London: Becoming Led Zeppelin Review
As long-time followers of our show are aware, The Wolf and Action Jackson are HUGE Led Zeppelin fans. When it was announced several years back that there would be a Led Zep documentary coming, we were psyched and knew that we'd not only have to go see it on the big screen but do a review on UAWIL. However, we we didn't know that director Bernard MacMahon had not only unearthed and cleaned up video of a performance by the band in Bath from 1969, but he also uncovered a never-before-heard audio interview of John Bonham. Thanks to that interview, he was able to get reflections from all four members of Led Zeppelin on their journey to becoming the biggest band in the world.
Instead of being a complete career retrospective, this film focused on the back stories of each member - how they grew up, when they became fascinated with rock music, which artists turned them on and how they found their way into the music business. Most fans know that Jimmy Page was on tv with his skiffle group as a kid before becoming a premier session guitarist in London. But did you know that John Paul Jones learned so much from his father, pianist John Baldwin, and was a choirmaster at age 14? Did you know Robert Plant would try many different types of groups, hairstyles and scenes before he ever became a Golden God? Learning how Jimmy Page put the first record together so he would have leverage with record companies to not only get better royalties but to not be forced into releasing singles is just one amazing insight into how Led Zeppelin became the juggernaut, especially in the US, that would define their legacy.
Action went to great lengths to see this movie and offer his perspective so give us a listen and see this film in the theaters while you can - the video and sound is amazing!!
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