This is going to work”: The Song That Started Led Zeppelin

“This is going to work”: The Song That Started Led Zeppelin

June 23, 2025 — It’s not often that a single song changes the course of music history. But when guitarist Jimmy Page struck the first chord in a small London recording studio in 1968, he knew they were onto something big. “This is going to work,” he reportedly said—words that would become prophetic for what would become one of the most iconic rock bands of all time: Led Zeppelin.

The song in question? “Good Times Bad Times,” the explosive opening track of the band’s debut album, Led Zeppelin. This was the song that introduced the world to the band’s powerhouse lineup: Page on guitar, Robert Plant’s electrifying vocals, John Paul Jones’ versatile bass and keyboard skills, and the thunderous drumming of John Bonham.

In a new documentary clip circulating online—titled “This is going to work”: The Song That Started Led Zeppelin—fans get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Good Times Bad Times,” and how it solidified the band’s future from the very beginning. The short film, available to watch now, reveals newly restored archival footage, interviews, and rare studio notes.

The Birth of a Giant

By 1968, Jimmy Page had been looking to form a new group after the disbandment of The Yardbirds. He recruited Plant, Jones, and Bonham, and the chemistry between them was instantaneous. The first sessions were intense, but it was “Good Times Bad Times” that made everything click.

“Right from the opening riff, we knew,” said Page in the documentary. “It wasn’t just a good jam—it felt like destiny. That groove Bonham laid down, that punchy bass line from Jones, and Robert just soared over it. I remember thinking, ‘This is going to work.’”

The track’s powerful fusion of blues, hard rock, and psychedelia served notice that Led Zeppelin wasn’t just another British rock band—they were a new force entirely.

Technical Brilliance and Raw Energy

“Good Times Bad Times” was revolutionary not just for its sound, but for its technique. Bonham’s use of a bass drum pedal in rapid-fire succession became a signature move, influencing generations of drummers. Plant’s voice—raw, high-pitched, and commanding—brought a new intensity to rock vocals.

The song’s release in 1969 as part of Led Zeppelin was met with critical acclaim, though some critics at the time failed to grasp its significance. Today, it’s widely recognized as a turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal.

Legacy in a Single Song

More than five decades later, “Good Times Bad Times” remains a fan favorite and a staple in rock history. The new clip, rich with insight and nostalgia, reminds audiences not just of the song’s technical brilliance, but of the moment of its creation—a moment when four musicians knew they had found magic.

Led Zeppelin would go on to dominate the 1970s, sell over 300 million records, and become one of the most influential bands of all time. But it all started with one song and one conviction: “This is going to work.”

▶️ Watch now: Check in this article below to experience the birth of a legend.