Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused (2012)

I watched this documentary partly because it brought back a high school memory. In April of 1970, I begged my mother to let me go see a live concert by the British rock band Led Zeppelin, to which she reluctantly agreed. This one-hour film is dated, but it still captures the basic history, energy, and genius of one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Zeppelin was infamous for its rogue excess, bombast, showmanship, drugs, and pure nonsense. And, indeed, the end of their long ride can be dated to the death of their drummer John Bonham from drug and alcohol addiction in 1980 at the age of thirty-two. On the other hand, as the commentators note in this film, they were also formidable musicians and "phenomenally gifted." They played "serious music that you should take seriously." An aged Robert Plant reflects back with a sense of wonderment: "I could have been selling used cars in Warsaw." Baby boomers of a certain age and musical disposition might enjoy this nostalgic movie, which I enjoyed on Amazon Streaming.

Dan Clendenin: dan@journeywithjesus.net