’70s rockers Led Zeppelin are adored among musicologists, as well as its members singer Robert Planet, the extraordinary wildman drummer John Bonham, the quieter bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and of course, the guitarist and often principal riff writer Jimmy Page. Docs of this band have been made, and docs about each member could probably stand their own treatment too. But the doc “Mr. Jimmy” is more of an adjacent rock doc and chronicles the experience of a ride-or-die fan from Japan.
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For 30 years, Akio Sakurai recreated vintage Led Zeppelin concerts note-for-note in small Tokyo clubs until the real Jimmy Page stopped by one night, and Akio’s life changed forever. With the approval of Led Zeppelin, the film features 30 of their songs as performed by Akio Sakurai.
“Mr. Jimmy” tracks Akio Sakurai’s extraordinary journey in “Mr. Jimmy,” a captivating documentary about his lifelong dedication to honoring Jimmy Page, the iconic guitarist of Led Zeppelin.
Produced, directed, and edited by filmmaker Peter Michael Dowd (“The King of Size”), the filmmaker spent nearly eight years and countless trips to Japan, bringing Mr Jimmy’s story to life.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In snowbound Tokamachi, Japan, teenaged Akio Sakurai took refuge in his room, escaping to another world with a pair of headphones and a pile of Led Zeppelin records. Moving to Tokyo, Akio worked as a kimono salesman by day, but by night became “Mr. Jimmy,” adopting the guitar chops and persona of Jimmy Page. For 30 years, Akio recreated vintage Zeppelin concerts note-for-note in small Tokyo clubs until the real Jimmy Page stopped by one night, and Akio’s life changed forever. Inspired by Mr. Page’s ovation, Akio quits his “salary man” job, leaving behind his family to move to Los Angeles and join “Led Zepagain.” Soon cultures clash, and Akio’s idyllic vision of America meets with reality. Until Jason Bonham (son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) calls and invites Akio to audition and later join his touring show “Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.”
The film additionally includes Page’s songwriting before Led Zeppelin, with the Yardbird’s “White Summer,” and after Led Zeppelin with The Firm’s “Midnight Moonlight,” both performed by Sakurai. Surrounding these extraordinary Page and Zeppelin compositions is a bevy of blues and rock n’ roll recordings by legendary artists, including Eddie Cochran, Elvis Presley, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, The Miracles, Muddy Waters, and Otis Rush.
“Mr. Jimmy” opens September 1 via Abramorama. Watch the new trailer below.
