A To Zeppelin – The Unauthorized Story Of Led Zeppelin

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Documentary: B-

 

 

It has been slow to see anything from either Led Zeppelin or the separate band members show up on DVD, though the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio debuts form the band’s back catalog have done well.  While waiting to see when a deal will be cut to release their original studio albums in DVD-Audio versions, here is a look at the band that is not a bad take on their history.  A To Zeppelin (2004) starts with the early years of Blues-influenced British Rock in the mid-1960s and uses the rise of Jimmy Page in particular to see how the band was finally formed.

 

None of the songs discussed were licensed, but not to name more of them is a problem and hurts the history and content of the tale told, though the release of all the albums are covered.  Their covers are shown and some of the material (though not enough) is addressed.  However, the best thing this disc does is separate the myth, lies and pop trivialization of the band from what did make them great.  After The Beatles broke up, The Who got involved with motion pictures and The Rolling Stones started to relatively ease up with the Sticky Fingers album, the argument that Zeppelin was the “world’s greatest Rock band” is valid enough.  That is, at least until 1979.  This disc helps show why.

 

The full frame 1.33 x 1 image is varied with the usual newer videotaped footage and older film clips.  It coheres about as well as can be expected, while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no surrounds of any kind and lacks any hits by Zeppelin, The Yardbirds or any of the members either solo or in other projects.  The only extra is a photo gallery set to an unknown instrumental, but it is a show very much worth seeing that even diehard fans should enjoy.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo