Pick of the week
Becoming Led Zeppelin
The archetypal origin story for a band is a bunch of schoolmates who pick up instruments and stumble on a hit sound. But, as Bernard MacMahon’s terrific, archive-stuffed documentary reveals, Led Zeppelin had a more roundabout gestation. Guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones were in-demand session players in 60s London, while singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham were jobbing musicians in Birmingham. It wasn’t until Page joined the Yardbirds that he realised his dream of a no-singles group with a heavy, improvisational edge. Featuring interviews with the surviving members, rare audio of Bonham and big chunks of gig footage, it’s a fascinating slice of rock history.
Saturday 9 August, Sky Documentaries, on demand
