Legends For a Reason...

"Hey if God didn't want me to wear my Led Zeppelin shirt so much, He wouldn't have made them rock so hard!" John Bonham was one of the most influential drummers to have walked the earth. "His contribution to rock music were revolutionary, and his talent unmatched and irreplaceable": SA drum magazine.

Led Zeppelin consist of John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, after seeing Bonham drum for Tim Rose at a club in Hampstead, North London, July 1968, Page and manager Peter Grant were instantly convinced that he was the perfect fit for the new project first known as the New Yardbirds and later as Led Zeppelin. Live shows truly showcased his abilities during the numerous improvised jams throughout every concert and of course his famous "Moby dick" drum solo reaching a half-hour in length at times! Imitators are usually left frustrated, since Bonham made it look so easy, not only in his playing but also in the incredible drum sound he achieved. Personally I would recommend all beginner drummers to study listen to Led Zeppelin's albums and decipher his keen sense of dynamics. His hard hitting style was displayed in great effect on many Led Zeppelin songs, including "Immigrant Song"(Led Zeppelin 3) and "When the leave breaks"(Led Zeppelin 4). On several cuts from later albums, Bonham rather adeptly handled funk and latin-influenced drumming. Songs like "Royal Orleans" and "Fool in the rain" are good examples, respectively displaying great skill with a New Orleans shuffle and Sumba rhythm.

His Death...

On the way to rehearsals on September 24th, 1980, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast where he drank four quadruple vodkas(sixteen shots, between 400-560ml). He then continued to drink heavily after arriving at the rehearsals, after rehearsals late in the afternoon the went to Jimmy Page's house. After midnight the 25th Bonham fall asleep and was taken to bed, and put on his side. He was found dead the next morning, Bonham was 32 years old. Weeks later at the coroner's inquest, it emerged that in the twenty-four hours before he died, John Bonham had consumed forty shots of vodka which resulted in him vomiting and subsequently inhaling his vomit causing asphyxiation.

His legend still lives on through his son Jason Bonham, who was the drummer for the Led Zeppelin reunion tour in 2007.

My Influance...

John Bohnam is one of my greatest influences in drumming, his legendary right foot(on his bass pedal) and lightning fast triplets were his instant trade mark and is something I use constantly and one of my greatest trades in my Jazz and Blues drumming.