Radio in Review: 'Heartbreakers - The story of all-girl Zep'

Here is another Falling Tree production – an indie that initially caught my attention with their bold 4 part series, ‘Short Cuts’. It's a great 50 minute documentary on the all female rock band… Lez Zeppelin.

Lez Zeppelin

You can download it at:
http://www.fallingtree.co.uk/static/user_uploaded/60591154_1-01%20Heartbreakers_%20The%20Story%20of%20All.mp3

(Note: The embedded mp3 and the link is from the Falling Tree website)

Sarah McLellan

It’s littered with some great Led and Lez Zeppelin tracks. If anything it’s great to hear Zeppelin again, a band which I have neglected for far too long. It makes you realise how amazing songs like ‘Rock & Roll’, ‘Blackdog’, ‘Dazed and Confused’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ etc… are – and how a pair of female lungs can really add an interesting dimension to them. The documentary often plays Zeppelin tracks alternating between the Lez and Led versions, letting the listener compare the vocal qualities of Robert Plant with that of the Lez Zeppelin singer, Sarah McLellan.

Listening to Lez Zeppelin is used as an opportunity to reflect on the aspects of Zeppelin that makes them so great. For example, they talk about the sexual energy of their performances, as well as the effeminate posturing of the blouse wearing Plant. They also discuss the diversity of Zeppelin’s influences and question whether they really are the quintessential “Cock Rock” band. Members of Lez Zeppelin discuss how they feel about performing Zeppelin tracks as a female group, talk about how they are received by the sometimes sceptical crowds and ponder over whether they see themselves as a 'Tribute Band'.

Amy Jane Hall

What adds an extra charm to the piece is the way the documentary is presented. You are guided through the interviews and the themes by the father/daughter team of Alan Hall and the 15 year old Amy Jane Hall. Amy gently mocks her father’s attempts to play Stairway to Heaven and they talk about their favourite songs. This gives a nicely personal touch to the documentary, which adds to the sincerity of the admiration the presenters have for Zeppelin.

In short, it's a wonderfully warm documentary, which shows how the love of Zeppelin can span generations. It also demonstrates through Lez Zeppelin’s recordings that the great band’s tunes are truly timeless.