John Bonham

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Bonham showcased a hard-hitting hard rock style while also handling funk and Latin-influenced grooves in later releases. His drum set grew significantly following the band's 1969 tours to include congas and a symphonic gong, though he used orchestral timpani only in the studio. A staple of their concerts was his solo, originally titled 'Pat's Delight' and later known as 'Moby Dick,' which often lasted just over 20 minutes in live performances, while the studio version on *Led Zeppelin II* runs only about two minutes. In this sequence, he sometimes used bare hands to imitate a phased hand drum. The film *The Song Remains the Same* featured him in a drag race at Santa Pod Raceway synced to his solo. His hard-hitting style defined tracks like 'Moby Dick,' 'Immigrant Song,' and 'When the Levee Breaks,' while songs like 'Royal Orleans' and 'Fool in the Rain' displayed his versatility with New Orleans and half-time shuffles.

In Their Own Story

In July 1968, after the Yardbirds dissolved, guitarist Jimmy Page sought a drummer. Although he considered B.J. Wilson and Paul Francis, Page and manager Peter Grant were convinced by Bonham's performance for Tim Rose at a Hampstead club. Despite receiving lucrative offers from Joe Cocker and Chris Farlowe, Bonham accepted Page's offer after Plant sent eight telegrams to his pub, the 'Three Men in a Boat,' followed by 40 more from Grant. He recalled, 'I decided I liked their music better than Cocker's or Farlowe's.' During Led Zeppelin's first US tour in December 1968, he befriended Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge, who introduced him to Ludwig drums, which he used for the rest of his career. Page once let Bonham use a double bass drum on an early demo of 'Communication Breakdown' but scratched the track due to its over-use.

Reader's Guide

Bonham's career extended beyond Led Zeppelin. In 1969, he appeared on The Family Dogg's *A Way of Life*. He played for Screaming Lord Sutch in 1970 and Lulu in 1971. In 1972, credited as 'Gemini,' he recorded with Jimmy Stevens. He drummed for Roy Wood in 1979 and contributed to Wings' *Back to the Egg* album in 1979 on 'Rockestra Theme' and 'So Glad to See You Here.' He also appeared on a 1975 unreleased demo of Paul McCartney's 'Beware My Love,' released in 2014. Bonham was the best man at Tony Iommi's wedding and appeared in the 1974 film *Son of Dracula* playing in Count Downe's band, sharing a drum line-up with Keith Moon and Ringo Starr on the soundtrack.

Did You Know?

• Bonham received his first full drum set, a used Trixon kit, from his father at age 15.
• He was initially reluctant to join Led Zeppelin until receiving 48 telegrams combined from Robert Plant and manager Peter Grant.
• In the 24 hours before his death on 25 September 1980, Bonham consumed around 40 shots (1–1.4 litres) of 40% ABV vodka.
• His drum solo 'Moby Dick' was featured on Led Zeppelin's second album, *Led Zeppelin II*, but the studio version is only about two minutes long; the 20-minute length refers to live performances.
• In 2016, Rolling Stone named him the greatest drummer of all time.

Inheriting the Legacy

Bonham married Pat Phillips in 1966; they had two children. His son, Jason Bonham (born 15 July 1966), is a drummer who recorded or toured with Sammy Hagar and the Circle, Black Country Communion, UFO, Foreigner, and Bonham. A 1973 film clip of seven-year-old Jason playing drums appears in *The Song Remains the Same*. Jason played with Led Zeppelin at their Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary reunion show on 15 May 1988 and again on 10 December 2007 at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. He also played drums for Heart's performance of 'Stairway to Heaven' at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.

Career Ventures and Collaborations

Outside Led Zeppelin, Bonham collaborated with various artists including The Family Dogg, Screaming Lord Sutch, Lulu, Jimmy Stevens (credited as Gemini), Roy Wood, and Wings. He played on the soundtrack album for the film *Son of Dracula* in 1974, appearing alongside Keith Moon and Ringo Starr. In 2014, a demo version of Paul McCartney & Wings' 'Beware My Love,' recorded by Bonham in 1975, was released as part of the *Wings at the Speed of Sound* boxset.

Defining Reunions and Tributes

Following Bonham's death on 25 September 1980, Led Zeppelin disbanded out of respect. The surviving members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, a ceremony attended by his children, Zoë and Jason. Jason later reunited with the surviving members for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary show on 15 May 1988 and the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert on 10 December 2007.

Honoring the Father Figure

Bonham's family includes his younger brother Mick (1950–2000), a disc jockey, author, and photographer, and his sister Deborah Bonham, a singer-songwriter. His mother Joan died on 10 February 2011 at age 85–86; she sang for the Zimmers, a band formed from a BBC documentary on elderly treatment. His daughter Zoë Bonham (born 10 June 1975) is a singer-songwriter who appears at Led Zeppelin conventions.