Celebration
day is the concert film of Led Zeppelin’s two hour set at the 02 back in 2007.
The Gods of Rock have so little footage of them in their 70s prime that they
don’t release films, unlike the Rolling Stones who seem to release a new documentary
every year these days. Zeppelin’s
reputation was built on their live performance. Their songs would sound
different every night and to call them the greatest live act is no stretch once
you’ve heard the live album, How The West Was Won. They toured more than anyone
and so it’s only fair we get another concert film from them after the brilliant
The Song Remains the Same.
Though named after one of their least
inventive tracks, though it features a great Jimmy Page solo, it is a triumph. They
play a set featuring many of their most well-known tracks though there is no
acoustic section like there was in the mid-70s when their set would stretch
well into its third hour. The playing is consistent particularly Jason Bonham
and Page whose guitar playing became sloppier in the late 70s due to a heroin
addiction. Good Times Bad Times is a
little flat, though the opening chord strikes are a brilliant introduction to those
unfamiliar with the Hammer of the Gods. Ramble On really gets things going, its
hypnotic rhythm demonstrating the light and shade of their music showcasing Plant.
His voice as iconic as the riffs, bringing conviction to Black Dog’s lyrics which
would be fake and verge on parody in any other vocalist’s hands. Plant’s best
is in Since I’ve Been Loving You.
There is a
heavy version of Trampled Underfoot that is by far the best performance of that
song. They nailed For Your Life from the Presence album, one of many underrated
Zep tunes that they never played live. There are too many songs to name that
they could have played; Over the Hills, Ten Years Gone, Communication
Breakdown, Tangerine, Immigrant Song etc. The song everyone expected, Stairway
to Heaven, is actually the worst one of the night; the guitar is too heavy with
feedback running through it.
Kashmir is the perfect closer with all four
giving everything, which finalises why they are better than the Stones (who
arrogantly refer to themselves as “the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band”);
because there music transcends all genres. And still they reward us with a
couple encores; a brutal rendition of Whole Lotta Love a song they seem to
never get wrong and the best of the night. Rock and Roll which has very
relevant lyrics as the screen behind displays shots from their 70’s heyday; a
time of real music and not random electronic beats or when the fashion of the
artist is more important than the songs, when songs could be longer than four
minutes.
Dick Carruthers’ cinematography is fine; there
are some cheap tricks such as images going in and out of focus during quieter
sections. His finest contribution is at the start where a TV report of them
from the 70s plays to the hush of the crowd as the credits roll like the calm
before the storm. There are memorable shots such as a low angle shot of Page
silhouetted by a stage light, close ups of Plant, or the dolly shots revolving
around Jones on keyboard during Trampled. There are occasionally grainy,
letterboxed shots; shot from the audiences’ POV they make you feel like you’re
there.
Celebration
Day is a rare glimpse of Led Zeppelin’s legendary shows and probably the last.
It is also an advertisement to other generations to see how great they were and
still are. You can see the range of their music from delta blues to stomping
funk to Arab march through country and psychedelia. Forget Crossfire Hurricane, we all know who
really is the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band.
*****
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