From The Times
December 17, 2009
How BBC took some convincing that Led Zeppelin were not a lead balloon

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“Unconvincing . . . derivative . . . distortion.” They went on to become the world’s greatest heavy rock band. But even Led Zeppelin were once forced to audition X Factor-style to win a coveted spot on the BBC.

Papers from the BBC Archive reveal how the fledgeling rockers left a panel of light entertainment experts dazed and confused when they applied to record a radio session in 1969.

Although Jimmy Page’s guitar technique found favour, the panel said that the group were poor imitations of the blues legend Muddy Waters, played too loud and should not be allowed anywhere near daytime Radio 1.

Another heard “basically an old fashioned sound” and one said that a “touch of distortion hits my ear”. However, it was “the sort of sound that turns me on — but not for daytime radio”.

The BBC panel, more fearsome than Simon Cowell and Co, failed a 1965 David Bowie, dismissing him as “a singer devoid of personality” and called Marc Bolan’s Tyrannosaurus Rex “crap and pretentious crap at that”. An early version of the Rolling Stones was also sent packing.

The audition reports, the subject of a BBC Radio 6Music Christmas Day special with Page, reveal the corporation’s cautious approach to the rock revolution. Radio 1 was set up in 1967 to lure the millions of pirate station listeners. But the BBC was determined to maintain the highest standards.

Led Zeppelin recorded a selection of signature tunes, including Communication Breakdown and Dazed and Confused, in an attempt to gain exposure on John Peel’s Radio 1 programme, Top Gear. Seven BBC experts reviewed the tapes. One wrote: “English blues-group longing to sound like Muddy Waters, but failing necessarily through being derivative.” Another heard “basically an old-fashioned sound” with a “touch of distortion”. It was “the sort of sound that turns me on — but not for daytime radio”.

Despite the reservations, the group was passed fit for broadcast and a session was aired on Top Gear.

Amanda Bruckshaw, who was given access to the BBC Archive, said: “The producers’ language sounds ridiculously pompous to us, but they did the right thing in the end and passed Led Zeppelin. It was brave of the BBC to create a space for this sort of music, and for a group like Zeppelin, who didn’t release singles, a radio session was a vital means of connecting with a mass audience.”

Jimmy Grant, now 89, was on the audition panel. He was not impressed by the 1963 version of the Stones but passed Zeppelin, calling them an “excellent progressive blues group”.

Speaking from his home in Bournemouth, Dorset, the former BBC producer said: “The system was quite tight in those days. Bands had to audition to see if they were suitable to make personal appearances and the producers would decide.”

Recording a BBC session remains a rite of passage for new artists. Peel broadcast 4,000 sessions, giving early exposure to bands such as the Smiths and the White Stripes. Today presenters such as Zane Lowe, Radio 1’s “indie” music guru, can grant a session after hearing an MP3 sent by e-mail.

Bob Harris, who joined Radio 1 in 1970 and presented The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC Two, recalled: “In 1969 there was still a somewhat resentful attitude among some at the BBC that Radio 1 had been foisted upon them. Some of the old guard looked down their noses at rock. People like myself, John Peel and Pete Drummond were seen as the left-field musical rebels. Some BBC people were struggling to keep up.”

Recalling the sessions, Page, 65, told 6Music: “It just gave us an opportunity to come in and do what we had on our albums. A number like Dazed and Confused was never gonna get played on any other programmes. It gave an opportunity for anyone who hadn’t heard us to hear how we were moving the songs and making them take on a life of their own.”

Zeppelin took revenge when they returned, now world stars, to record a live concert for Radio 1 in 1971. The band were furious with the poor quality of the recording and refused to allow the BBC to broadcast it until Page had personally remixed the tapes.

• Jimmy Page and the BBC Sessions — 6Music, Christmas Day, Part One 12-1pm, Part Two 9pm-10pm.

BBC Audition Report

Led Zeppelin Trial broadcast, Top Gear

Heard by production panel April 22, 1969

Items I Can’t Quit You Baby, Communication Breakdown, Dazed and Confused

Instrumentation Jimmy Page, guitar; Robert Plant, vocal/harmonica; John Paul Jones, bass guitar/piano/organ; John Bonham, drums

Panel verdicts

•“English blues-group, longing to sound like Muddy Waters but failing necessarily through being derivative. Of its kind professional enough and certainly ‘broadcastable’ on the Top Gear kind of thing. But for me it’s unconvincing and I’d rather hear the genuine article.” Borderline yes

•“A very good moody group, knockout ‘lead’ blues singer. Even though a touch of distortion hits my ear — it’s the sort of sound that turns me on — but not for daytime radio — specialist listening only. It’s a music for each other really scene! ... but I did like the up-tightness of it.” Certain programmes — yes

•“An effective performance of what is, basically, an old-fashioned sound. Certainly suitable for the specialist programmes.” Yes

•“An excellent group of musicians playing mainly a progressive blues type of material. The lead guitarist, Jimmy Page, is in my opinion one of the best guitarists in the country, and the group, as a whole, probably the best of the type available. Yes

•“Contemporary style — all electric, all screaming soul/pop group. Strong vocal and lead guitar. They sound like they mean what they’re doing. OK for specialist programming.” Yes

•“An extremely good blues group. Very specialist material. Excellent internal balance and feel for this aggressive idiom — only for specialised blues programmes.” Yes

•“Excellent progressive blues group.” Yes

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