Altitude has boarded as international sales agent an as-yet-untitled Led Zeppelin feature documentary, directed by Bernard MacMahon, best-known for “American Epic.” CAA will represent the U.S. rights. The film will be shopped at Cannes.
The release of the doc, now in post-production, will coincide with the band’s 50th anniversary. It traces the journeys of the four members through the music scene of the 1960s, their meeting in the summer of 1968, and culminates in 1970 when their second album knocks the Beatles off the top of the charts.
It includes new interviews with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones, as well as rare archival interviews with the late John Bonham. It is the first time the band has participated in a documentary since it was formed.
International Stardom. Being a household name. Touring the globe with sell-out tours and having a family to keep you busy. Sounds like Robbie Williams has got it all and then some. Yet, sadly, it looks like he has 99 problems and a pool is one. Yes, Robbie Williams has legal drama with his neighbours and it all sounds pretty complicated.
So this all comes down to a planning issue that has been going on for the last five years. The problem lies between Williams and his neighbours and relates to the proposed building of an underground pool and gym. Not that much of a headline grabber is it? Well, the thing is, the man objecting is very well-known and famous in his own right.
Two weeks ago, Jason Bonham went on The Howard Show and relayed a memory about Jimmy Page introducing him to cocaine when he was 16. "We got called to his room," Bonham claimed. "And there was a woman on the floor with a collar on, meowing, and he had this grinder thing and he turned it over and he went, 'Here you go,' and I went, 'Thanks.' He's like, 'You've done this before, right?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, of course I have.' So he handed it over and I just did all of it, and he went, 'Just like your father - y'know, that was supposed to be for all of us.'"
But now Bonham is saying that the story is untrue. "In that interview I made certain untrue and derogatory statements concerning Mr James Page of the legendary band Led Zeppelin," he wrote in a message on his website. "I unconditionally retract all derogatory and defamatory comments relating to Mr J Page that I made in that interview. In particular it is wholly untrue that Mr J Page offered me any illegal substances either when I was a minor or at all."
He continued: "I apologize to Mr Page, unreservedly, for making these unfounded and untrue comments about him. Out of my long held respect for Mr Page I will make no further comments on the interview and I agree to make no further comments which Mr Page might view as disparaging, either now or in the future." (Page did not immediately reply to a request for comment.)
Bonham drummed for Led Zeppelin during their 1988 appearance at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert, his own wedding in 1990 and at their 2007 show at London's 02 Arena. The latter was their first full set since the death of his father and the band's original drummer John in 1980. It led to rumors about a full-scale reunion tour, but Robert Plant pulled the plug on the idea.
"A tour would have been an absolute menagerie of vested interests and the very essence of everything that's shitty about big-time stadium rock," Plant told Rolling Stone in 2014. "We were surrounded by a circus of people that would have had our souls on the fire. I'm not part of a jukebox!"
In 2010, Jason Bonham began playing the group's music under the banner Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. They now tour as Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening.
Led Zeppelin unveiled the first installment of a new History Of Led Zeppelin video series. History Of Led Zeppelin is part of a continuing celebration of the iconic rock band's 50th anniversary.
Guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer John Bonham, bassist John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant first joined forces in 1968 under the "New Yardbirds" moniker. The quartet recorded their self-titled debut studio album in September of 1968 and took the stage as Led Zeppelin for the first time on October 25, 1968. Page financed and produced an LP that would eventually be known as Led Zeppelin over the course of just 30 hours at London's Olympic Studios.
Episode One of The History Of Led Zeppelin focuses on the recording of Led Zeppelin. Watch the short film below:
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This Month in
Led Zeppelin History
May 31, 1948 - John Henry Bonham was born at Redditch, Worchestershire
May xx, 1969 - The band’s debut album enters the US Top 10
May xx, 1970 - The band works on new material at Bron-Y-Aur
May 03, 1971 - Richard Cole jams on Whole Lotta Love playing congas
May xx, 1972 - Houses Of The Holy recording sessions on location at Stargroves and Olympic studios
May 27, 1972 - Warm-up gigs kick off in Holland for an upcoming American tour
May 04, 1973 - Led Zeppelin gross nearly $250,000 for their performance in Atlanta, GA
May 05, 1973 - 56,800 attend the second show of the 1973 US tour at Tampa. This sets a record for the largest attendance for a one-act performance, previously held by the Beatlesfor their Shea Stadium show in 1965
May 10, 1974 - Swan Song Records is officially launched
May 11, 1974 - Led Zeppelin attend an Elvis concert and are thrilled when Elvis announces that Led Zeppelin is in the building
May 10, 1975 - Showco ships their PA system and video screens for the Earls Court shows from Dallas to London
May 23, 1976 - Page and Plant join Bad Company onstage at the LA Forum
May 21, 1977 - The Houston Summit claims $500,000 in damages to their venue caused by rowdy fans
May xx, 1978 - The band reunite at Clearwater Castle to rehearse
May 22, 1979 - It is officially announce that Led Zeppelin will headline at the Knebworth Festival in August
May 15, 1980 - After many revisions the European tour dates are finalized and the band is scheduled to open in Germany
