Timesonline.co.uk is reporting:

“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 fledgling 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.”

Read more here.

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