I wasn't a Led Zeppelin fan before this film, and I still am not, but the first time I saw it, it blew my mind. Forty years on and having heard all the great rock guitarists, including seeing a handful in the flesh, I am not so easily impressed, but this performance by especially the amazing Jimmy Page still has the capacity to impress an old man the way it did a teen. Actually, as it was released on Guy Fawke's Night 1976, I was not quite a teenager, but you get my drift.
At school I got into Elton John before anyone else, but the first heavy metal band I sought out was Deep Purple - one of the big three, the other being Black Sabbath. At least a couple of kids in my year were into Zeppelin, but apart from "Whole Lotta Love" - the theme music for "Top Of The Pops" - and of course "Stairway To Heaven", I hadn't really heard them. I went to see the film with a touch of cynicism. Immediately afterwards I bought the double album on tape.
For me the outstanding track is the epic "Dazed And Confused", Page making wonderful noises with that bow. I was even more impressed later when I got into Al Stewart and realised he'd played on the "Love Chronicles" album, but here he is in his element, arrogant and nonchalant in equal measure, like a real guitar hero should be. Awesome stuff.
At school I got into Elton John before anyone else, but the first heavy metal band I sought out was Deep Purple - one of the big three, the other being Black Sabbath. At least a couple of kids in my year were into Zeppelin, but apart from "Whole Lotta Love" - the theme music for "Top Of The Pops" - and of course "Stairway To Heaven", I hadn't really heard them. I went to see the film with a touch of cynicism. Immediately afterwards I bought the double album on tape.
For me the outstanding track is the epic "Dazed And Confused", Page making wonderful noises with that bow. I was even more impressed later when I got into Al Stewart and realised he'd played on the "Love Chronicles" album, but here he is in his element, arrogant and nonchalant in equal measure, like a real guitar hero should be. Awesome stuff.