John Bonham
Bonham performing with Led Zeppelin in 1973
Background information
Birth name	John Henry Bonham
Also known as	Bonzo, The Beast
Born	31 May 1948(1948-05-31) Redditch, Worcestershire, England
Died	25 September 1980(1980-09-25) (aged 32) Clewer, Windsor, England
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal, blues rock, folk rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Drums, percussion, timpani, bongos, vocals
Years active	1962–1980
Labels	Atlantic, Swan Song
Associated acts	Led Zeppelin, Band of Joy, Paul McCartney
Website	www.ledzeppelin.com

Led Zeppelin portal

John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove.^[1] He is widely considered to be one of the greatest drummers in the history of rock music by many drummers, other musicians, and commentators in the industry.^[2][3][4][5] Over 30 years after his death, Bonham continues to garner awards and praise, including a Rolling Stone readers' pick in 2011 placing him in first place of the magazine's "best drummers of all time".^[6]

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Bonham was born on 31 May 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, to Joan and Jack Bonham. He began learning to play drums at the age of five, making a drum kit out of containers and coffee tins, imitating his idols Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. His mother gave him a snare drum at the age of ten. He received his first proper drum kit from his father at fifteen, a Premier Percussion set. Bonham never took any formal drum lessons, though as a teen he would get advice from other Redditch drummers. Between 1962–63, while still at school, Bonham joined the Blue Star Trio,^[7] and Gerry Levene & the Avengers.^[8]

Bonham attended Lodge Farm Secondary Modern School, where his headmaster once wrote in his school report card that "He will either end up a dustman or a millionaire".^[9][10] After leaving school in 1964, he worked for his father as an apprentice carpenter^[11] in between drumming for different local bands. In 1964, Bonham joined his first semi-professional band, Terry Webb and the Spiders, and met his future wife Pat Phillips around the same time. He also played in other Birmingham bands such as The Nicky James Movement and The Senators, who released a moderately successful single "She's a Mod," in 1964. Bonham then took up drumming full-time. Two years later, he joined A Way of Life, but the band soon became inactive. Desperate for a regular income, he joined a blues group called Crawling King Snakes, whose lead singer was a young Robert Plant.

In 1967, A Way of Life asked Bonham to return to the group, and he agreed—though throughout this period, Plant kept in contact with Bonham. When Plant decided to form Band of Joy, Bonham was first choice as drummer. The band recorded a number of demos but no album. In 1968 American singer Tim Rose toured Britain and invited Band of Joy to open his concerts. When Rose returned for another tour months later, Bonham was formally invited by the singer to drum for his band, which gave him a regular income.

Led Zeppelin[link]

After the break-up of The Yardbirds, guitarist Jimmy Page was forming a new band when he recruited Robert Plant, who in turn suggested Bonham. Page's choices for drummer included Procol Harum's B.J. Wilson, and session drummers Clem Cattini and Aynsley Dunbar. Ginger Baker was also rumoured to be on Page's list. However, upon seeing Bonham drum for Tim Rose at a club in Hampstead, north London, in 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.^[12]

Despite an intensive campaign to snare the drummer, Bonham was initially reluctant to join the band.^[13] Plant sent eight telegrams to Bonham's pub, the "Three Men in a Boat", in Walsall, which were followed by 40 telegrams from Grant. However, at the same time he was also receiving lucrative offers from established artists Joe Cocker and Chris Farlowe. Eventually, Bonham accepted Grant's offer. He later recalled, "I decided I liked their music better than Cocker's or Farlowe's."^[14]

John Bonham's three intersecting circles sigil for the Led Zeppelin IV album

During Led Zeppelin's first tour of the United States in December 1968, Bonham became friends with Vanilla Fudge's drummer Carmine Appice. Appice introduced him to Ludwig Drums, which he then used for the rest of his career. Bonham used the longest and heaviest sticks available, which he referred to as "trees." His hard hitting style was displayed to great effect on many Led Zeppelin songs, including "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin III), "When the Levee Breaks" (Led Zeppelin IV / ), "Kashmir" (Physical Graffiti), "The Ocean" (Houses of the Holy), and "Achilles Last Stand" (Presence). In fact, Page once admitted to letting Bonham use a double bass drum in an early demo of "Communication Breakdown" but claimed he scratched the track because of Bonham's "over-use" of it. The double bass style of drumming---already influential by way of Cream drummer Ginger Baker---didn't regain popularity for another twenty years. The studio recording of "Misty Mountain Hop" perfectly captures his keen sense of dynamics, and this is similarly exhibited by his precise drumming on "No Quarter". 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 a samba rhythm.

His famous drum solo, first entitled "Pat's Delight," later renamed "Moby Dick", would often last for 30 minutes and regularly featured his use of bare hands to achieve different sound effects. Bonham's action sequence for the film, The Song Remains the Same, featured him in a drag race at Santa Pod Raceway to the sound of his signature drum solo, "Moby Dick". In Led Zeppelin concert tours after 1969, Bonham would expand his basic kit to include congas, orchestral timpani, and a symphonic gong. Bonham is also credited (by the Dallas Times Herald) with the first in-concert use of electronic timpani drum synthesisers (most likely made by Syndrum) during a performance of the song "Kashmir" in Dallas, Texas in 1977. Many modern rappers would later heavily sample his drumming and incorporate it into their compositions, such as Beastie Boys, who sampled "Moby Dick," "The Ocean," and "When the Levee Breaks."^[15]

During his time with Led Zeppelin, Bonham was also an avid collector of antique sports cars and motorcycles, which he kept on his family's farm called The Old Hyde. He bought The Plough pub in the nearby village of Shenstone, which shows signs of conversion work to allow him to drive his bikes or cars right behind the bar. This was not the pub featured in the film The Song Remains the Same. It was the New Inn, which is currently boarded up, the only clue to its famous past being a picture hanging close to the bar.^{[citation needed]}

Work outside Led Zeppelin[link]

As well as recording with Led Zeppelin, Bonham also found time to play on sessions for other artists. In 1969 Bonham appeared on The Family Dogg's A Way of Life, with Page and Jones. Bonham also sessioned for Screaming Lord Sutch on his album Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends in 1970. He played drums on Lulu's 1971 song "Everybody Clap," originally written by Maurice Gibb and Billy Lawrie. In 1972 he played drums on a Maurice Gibb produced album by Jimmy Stevens called Don't Freak Me Out in the UK and Paid My Dues in the US, credited as Gemini (given his star sign). Later in his career, Bonham drummed for his Birmingham friend, Roy Wood, on his 1979 album, On the Road Again, and on Wings' album Back to the Egg on the tracks "Rockestra Theme" and "So Glad to See You Here". Bonham was the best man of Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi at his wedding ceremony.^[16]

In 1974, Bonham appeared in the film Son of Dracula, playing drums in Count Downe's (Harry Nilsson) backing band. This was an Apple film directed by Freddie Francis. Bonham appeared in an overcrowded drum line-up including Keith Moon and Ringo Starr on the soundtrack album.^{[citation needed]}

Death[link]

On 24 September 1980, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios for an upcoming tour of the United States—the band's first since 1977. During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he drank four quadruple vodkas (sixteen shots, between 400–560 ml). He then continued to drink heavily after arriving at the rehearsals. A halt was called to the rehearsals late in the evening and the band retired to Page's house, the Old Mill House in Clewer, Windsor. After midnight on the 25th, Bonham fell asleep and was taken to bed and placed on his side. Benji LeFevre (who had replaced Richard Cole as Led Zeppelin's tour manager) and John Paul Jones found him dead the next afternoon.^[17] 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. A verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest held on 27 October 1980.^[17] An autopsy found no other drugs in Bonham's body.^[18] John Bonham's body was cremated and his ashes were interred on 12 October 1980, at Rushock Parish Church, Worcestershire. His headstone reads:

John Bonham's gravestone at Rushock Parish churchyard, Worcestershire, with drumsticks left in tribute by fans.

Despite media rumours that drummers including Cozy Powell, Phil Collins, Carmine Appice, Barriemore Barlow, Roger Taylor, Simon Kirke or Bev Bevan, among others, would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband Led Zeppelin after Bonham's death. They issued a press statement on 4 December 1980, confirming that the band would not continue without their drummer. "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." It was simply signed "Led Zeppelin".^[19]

Family[link]

John Bonham had two siblings; his younger brother, Mick Bonham (1951–2000), was a disc jockey, author and photographer and his younger sister, Deborah Bonham (born in 1962) is a singer-songwriter.

Bonham was married to Pat Phillips, and the couple had two children; his daughter Zoë Bonham (born July 1975), who is a singer-songwriter and also appears regularly at Led Zeppelin conventions and awards, and his son Jason Bonham (born 1966), a rock drummer who has gained success with various bands including UFO, Foreigner, and Bonham. He currently plays in a band called Black Country Communion which includes Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian, and Joe Bonamassa. They recorded an album called Black Country in 2010. On 10 December 2007, he played with Led Zeppelin on the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, as well as their previous reunion at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary show on 15 May 1988. A 1970 film clip of a four-year-old Jason playing drums appears in the Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same. Zoë and Jason appeared at the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 along with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin.

John's mother, Joan Bonham, died aged 81 on 10 February 2011.^[20] She was one of the lead vocalists for The Zimmers,^[21] a 40-member band set up as a result of a BBC documentary on the treatment of the elderly.^[22]

Bonham's cousin Billy Bonham (born 1950), also played keyboards for Terry Reid and Ace Kefford.^[23]

Legacy[link]

Awards and accolades[link]

While Bonham is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential rock drummers by other musicians and commentators in the industry, he continues to enjoy his greatest acclaim from fans, and several opinion polls and critic lists continue to list him in first place before any other drummer in rock history. In 2007, Stylus magazine rated Bonham number 1 on its list of the 50 greatest rock drummers,^[2] as did the online music magazine Gigwise.com in 2008,^[4] and a Rolling Stone reader's poll where he "led the list by a significant margin" in 2011.^[24] Bonham was ranked at no. 1 on Classic Rock's 2005 list of "50 Greatest Drummers in Rock",^[25] and Modern Drummer magazine describes him as "the greatest rock 'n' roll drummer in history."^[3] In September 2008, Bonham topped the Blabbermouth.net's list of "Rockers fans want brought back to life", ahead of Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury.^[26] Rhythm magazine voted him the greatest drummer ever, topping their reader's poll to determine the "50 greatest drummers of all time" for its October 2009 issue.^[27] At the end of the BBC Two series I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band! on 5 June 2010, John Bonham was named the best drummer of all time.^[28]

John Bonham has been described by Allmusic as one of the most important, well-known and influential drummers in rock.^[1] Adam Budofsky, managing editor of Modern Drummer magazine, writes "If the king of rock 'n' roll was Elvis Presley, then the king of rock drumming was certainly John Bonham."^[29]

Influence on notable musicians and tributes[link]

Many rock drummers were influenced by John Bonham's work with Led Zeppelin. A few of them include Joey Kramer,^[30] Lee Kerslake,^[31] Tony Thompson,^[32] Dave Grohl,^[33] Tommy Lee,^[34] Peter Criss,^[35] Stewart Copeland,^[36] Chad Smith^[37], Dave Lombardo^[38] and Brad Wilk. ^[39]

Several of these drummers have testified to Bonham's influence, such as Roger Taylor of Queen, who stated:

The greatest rock 'n' roll drummer of all time was John Bonham who did things that nobody had ever even thought possible before with the drum kit. And also the greatest sound out of his drums—they sounded enormous, and just one bass drum. So fast on it that he did more with one bass drum than most people could do with three, if they could manage them. And he had technique to burn and fantastic power and tremendous feel for rock`n`roll.^[40]

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters, Nirvana and Them Crooked Vultures has said:

John Bonham played the drums like someone who didn't know what was going to happen next—like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. No one has come close to that since, and I don't think anybody ever will. I think he will forever be the greatest drummer of all time.^[41]

Similarly, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers has remarked:

To me, hands down, John Bonham was the best rock drummer ever. The style and the sound was so identifiable to one person. Any drum set that he would play, it sounded like him.^[42]

Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones told Guitar Player's Jas Obrecht:

John Bonham is the best at being John Bonham and doing what he does. Or did—unfortunately, he's dead. He was the best. There wasn't anyone better than John Bonham at doing that, and thank goodness we've got some records so that you can hear it.^[43]

Eric Carr, former drummer of Kiss, stated:

At least 85% of all of the rock drummers today have gotten influences from Bonham, and all have recognised how great he was. Every band in the business – guaranteed – has tried to do something with that Bonham sound, which shows that everyone from A to Z has listened to him.^[44]

Musicians other than drummers have also paid tribute to Bonham. John Paul Jones, who formed a very tight musical partnership with him as Led Zeppelin's power rhythm section, stated that Bonham was a "bass player's dream".^[45] Jimmy Page has also commented:

One of the marvelous things about John Bonham which made things very easy [for a producer] was the fact that he really knew how to tune his drums, and I tell you what, that was pretty rare in drummers in those days. He really knew how to make the instrument sing, and because of that, he could just get so much volume out of it by just playing with his wrists. It was just an astonishing technique that was sort of pretty holistic if you know what I mean.^[46]

A major tribute for John Bonham entitled "Bonzo: The Groove Remains the Same—A Night In Honor of John Henry Bonham" was performed on 25 September 2010—the 30th anniversary of his death. Notable drummers that appeared at the tribute included Steven Adler, Vinny Appice, Kenny Aronoff, Frankie Banali, Jason Bonham, Fred Coury, Jimmy D'Anda, James Kottak, Chris Slade, Chad Smith, Brian Tichy, Joe Travers and Simon Wright, while Carmine Appice performed via video.^[47]

Bonham is also admired outside of rock music. In 1988, for example, the Pulitzer laureate Christopher Rouse composed Bonham in tribute to the drummer.

Equipment[link]

Drums[link]

Bonham performing in Madison Square Garden with Led Zeppelin, in 1973

Bonham initially used Premier drums, but in the late 1960s was introduced to Ludwig drums by Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge.^[48] Throughout the remainder of his career, Bonham was a major endorser of Ludwig Drums. In concert, he used a wide range of different drum kits, but mostly of the same sizes. From 1970 onwards, he used a 14×26ʺ bass drum, which was the most identifiable part of his setup. He used 16×16ʺ, 16×18ʺ and (on certain live performances) a 18×20ʺ floor tom, while occasionally changing his tom sizes, which included sizes 12×14ʺ, 10×14ʺ, and 12×15ʺ.

Studio and touring kit (1969–1970)

• 12×15ʺ Tom (mounted on snare stand, and later a Rogers mount was added)
• 16×16ʺ Floor Tom
• 16×18ʺ Floor Tom
• 14×26ʺ Bass Drum

(Bonham did have a second bass drum that can be seen in the "Communication Breakdown" promo; however, it was never used in any recordings. This double bass drum set-up was once used live during a tour with Vanilla Fudge. Also included a 20ʺ floor tom which were rarely used due to their size.)

Studio and touring kit (1970–1973)

• Drums—Ludwig Green Sparkle
  • 10×14ʺ Tom (mounted on a rail consolette mount)
  • 16×16ʺ Floor Tom
  • 16×18ʺ Floor Tom
  • 14×26ʺ Bass Drum
  • 6.5×14ʺ Ludwig Chrome Supraphonic 402 Snare
  • 29ʺ Machine Timpani (1972+)
  • 29ʺ 32ʺ Universal Timpani (1972+)
  • Ludwig Speed King Bass pedal
• John was known for telling the band that the Green Sparkle kit was his favourite and best sounding kit, and it was used on all recordings from IV onwards, excluding Presence where he used the Silver Sparkle kit.

Touring kit (1973–1975) ^[49]

• Drums—Ludwig Amber Vistalite
  • 10×14ʺ Tom
  • 16×16ʺ Floor Tom
  • 16×18ʺ Floor Tom
  • 14×26ʺ Bass Drum
  • 6.5×14ʺ Ludwig Chrome Supraphonic 402 Snare
  • 29ʺ Machine Timpani
  • 32ʺ Universal Timpani
  • Ludwig speed king bass pedal

Touring kit (1977–1980)

• Drums—Ludwig Stainless Steel
  • 12×15ʺ Tom (mounted on a rail consolette mount)
  • 16×16ʺ Floor Tom
  • 16×18ʺ Floor Tom
  • 14×26ʺ Bass Drum
  • 6.5×14ʺ Ludwig Chrome Supraphonic 402 Snare—42 Strand Snare (vs. the standard 20)^[50]
  • 29ʺ Machine Timpani (1972+)
  • 32ʺ Universal Timpani (1972+)
  • Ludwig Speed King Bass pedal

Cymbals[link]

Bonham used Paiste Cymbals exclusively. His cymbal setup included Paiste Giant Beat cymbals until 1970. The Paiste Endorsement Agreement shows he experimented with cymbals including the 602 series before changing to a complete set of what is now the 2002 series in '71, which he used for the rest of his career.

His Paiste "Giant Beat" series cymbal setup (1969–1970):

• 15" Giant Beat Hi-Hats (w/ hi-hat tambourine)
• 18" Giant Beat Multi
• 20" Giant Beat Multi
• 24" Giant Beat Ride

His Paiste "2002" series cymbal setup (1970–1980):

• 15" 2002 Sound Edge Hi-Hats (w/ hi-hat tambourine)
• 24" 2002 Ride
• 18" 2002 Medium Crash
• 20" 2002 Medium Crash
• 18" 2002 Medium Crash (occasionally)
• 38" Paiste Symphonic Gong
• Ludwig Cowbell (made by Paiste)

Drum heads[link]

Bonham played Remo drum heads throughout his career. For his wood drums, he always used Remo Coated Emperors (or Ludwig equivalent) on his batter sides, while using coated ambassadors on the resonant side of his toms, and a Diplomat or clear Ambassador on the resonant side of his snare drum. The bass drums front head was always a medium weight head, for instance a Remo Coated Ambassador. The batter head was always tuned medium-tight, (almost jazz-like) and the resonant head was always tuned way up, for a full, round sound. He never put anything inside his bass drum (although his band members have said that he would sometimes fill it with crumpled tin foil, so that it would project). He only used a felt strip on the batter side occasionally. The bass drum heads were also tuned a lot higher than normal.

On the Vistalites he used Remo CS black dots on the batter side of the toms and the bass drum and clear Ambassadors on the resonant side. The snare always had a coated Emperor on the batter side and an Ambassador or a Diplomat on the snare side. He sometimes used a Gretsch 42-strand snare wires to fatten the snare sound.

Bass drum pedal[link]

Bonham used Ludwig Speed King Pedal (with tight spring tension) throughout his career. His trademark bass drum "triplets",—played interchangeably with doubles and singles—which are most notable in "Good Times Bad Times", were played on a single bass pedal, and not a double bass pedal. Unlike some contemporary drummers, Bonham did not use a double-bass drum kit. He did once own one (it was featured in the demo "Communication Breakdown"), but it was removed from his kit by the rest of the band. John Bonham did play double bass drums while the band was touring with the band Vanilla Fudge.^{[citation needed]}

It is possible to hear the squeak of the pedal in several recordings, including "Since I've Been Loving You", "The Ocean", "The Rain Song", "Over the Hills and Far Away", "Dancing Days", "The Crunge", "Houses of the Holy", "Ten Years Gone", "Bonzo's Montreux" and the live version of "I Can't Quit You Baby" on Coda and "All My Love" on In Through The Out Door. Jimmy Page later commented:

The only real problem I can remember encountering was when we were putting the first boxed set together. There was an awfully squeaky bass drum pedal on "Since I've Been Loving You". It sounds louder and louder every time I hear it! [laughs]. That was something that was obviously sadly overlooked at the time.^[51]

Tribute kits[link]

In 2005, Ludwig began issuing Bonham reissue kits in green sparkle maple and amber Vistalite. Ludwig currently offers "Zep Kits" in their Vistalite and Classic lines, with a 26" bass drum, a 14" tom mounted on a snare stand, and 16" and 18" floor toms. In 2007 they issued a limited edition stainless steel kit similar to the ones Bonham used on the last Led Zeppelin tours in the 1970s. The stainless steel shells were manufactured by Ronn Dunnett of Dunnett Classic Drums.

References[link]

Sources[link]

Constructs such as ibid., loc. cit. and idem are discouraged by Wikipedia's style guide for footnotes, as they are easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated title. (May 2010)

• Bonham, Mick (2005). John Bonham: The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin. Southbank Publishing. ISBN 1-904915-11-6
• Bonham, Mick (2003). Bonham by Bonham: My Brother John. Solihull: Icarus Publications. ISBN 0-9545717-0-3
• Welch, Chris & Nicholls, Geoff (2001). John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-658-0

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John Bonham

• Led Zeppelin official site
• JohnBonham.co.uk
• Drummerworld John Bonham page
• John Bonham videos, pictures, and quotes at TotalDrumsets.com
• The 23 John Henry Bonham Drum Outtakes
• John Bonham – Obituary and Public Tributes
• John Bonham at the Internet Movie Database
• John Bonham at Find-A-Grave

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Jason Bonham
Jason Bonham performing at The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA on Oct. 11, 2009
Background information
Born	(1966-07-15) 15 July 1966 (age 45) Dudley, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom
Genres	Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Drums, percussion, vocals
Years active	1970–present
Associated acts	Bonham, Led Zeppelin, UFO, Foreigner, Steel Dragon, Damnocracy, Airrace, Virginia Wolf, Black Country Communion, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience
Website	www.jasonbonham.net

Jason John Bonham (born 15 July 1966) is an English drummer. Jason's parents are Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and Pat Phillips. After his father's death in 1980, he played with Led Zeppelin on different occasions, including the Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London in 2007.

Biography[link]

He first began playing drums at the age of four, and appeared with his father in the film The Song Remains the Same, drumming on a scaled-down kit.^[1] At 17, he joined his first band, Airrace. In 1985, he joined Virginia Wolf, making two albums and touring the U.S. supporting the Firm.

In 1988, Bonham joined former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page for his Outrider album and tour. In May of the same year, Bonham appeared with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin for a performance at Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in New York.

In 1989, Bonham appeared as a special guest at the Moscow Music Peace Festival, performing the song "Rock and Roll" with many major rock stars of the day. That same year, he formed his own band, Bonham, whose Zeppelin-inflected first release The Disregard of Timekeeping had a hit single, "Wait for You" and the music video for the subsequent single "Guilty" did get some play. However, after a lukewarm reception for their 1992 release, Mad Hatter, the band was dissolved, and Bonham concentrated on session work and guest appearances.

On April 28, 1990, Bonham married Jan Charteris, in Stone, Kidderminster. His wedding reception included a jam with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones. The Bonhams have two children, a son named Jager, and a daughter, Jaz.

Bonham drummed for Paul Rodgers on the Grammy nominated Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters project. A year later with Slash and Paul Rodgers, he appeared at Woodstock II in 1994. Bonham reformed his band with a new lead vocalist, Marti Frederiksen, replacing Daniel MacMaster. Renamed Motherland, they released the album Peace 4 Me later in 1994. However, his down-to-earth nature always showed—on one occasion making an encore drumming appearance for local Led Zeppelin tribute bands Fred Zeppelin and Led Zepagain.

In 1995, Jason represented his father when Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with his sister Zoe by his side. Bonham soon put together another solo project which culminated in In the Name of My Father - The Zepset, which featured the songs of Led Zeppelin. Proceeds from the album went to charity. The album followed up with When You See the Sun.

Following an album and tour with his aunt Debbie Bonham, Jason Bonham was invited to drum for hard rock group UFO. In 2006, he recorded with Joe Bonamassa.

Jason Bonham also appeared in the movie Rock Star, 2001. Bonham played drummer A.C., of the fictional band Steel Dragon. The film also featured performances by musicians such as Zakk Wylde, Jeff Pilson, Myles Kennedy, Brian Vander Ark, Blas Elias and Nick Catanese. He also played on the film's soundtrack.

Bonham starred with Ted Nugent, Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard), Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), and Scott Ian (Anthrax) on the VH1 reality television show, Supergroup, in May 2006. The musicians formed a band called Damnocracy (after ditching the names FIST, God War, and Savage Animal) for the show, during which they lived in a mansion in Las Vegas for twelve days and created music. Jason also played drums live with Foreigner from 2004 to 2007 and part of 2007 to 2008.

Bonham joined the group Black Country Communion late in 2009 and is currently recording music with rock icons Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes and Derek Sherinian.

In 2010, Bonham formed Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, a live homage to his father's band, which toured worldwide through 2011.^[2]

Equipment[link]

Drums[link]

Jason Bonham is endorsed by Ludwig drums.

Cymbals[link]

Endorsed by Zildjian cymbals

Mics[link]

Endorsed by Shure.

Drumsticks[link]

Bonham has produced his own line of signature series drumstick with Pro-Mark. The SD531W is made of American Maple with acorn shaped, wooden tips. The taper is relatively short and the sticks have considerably large dimensions, being 16.75" (42.5 cm) in length and 0.595" (1.5 cm) in diameter. The sticks also feature the symbol; used by Bonham's father, John Bonham; of the three interlocking rings - they are printed next to Jason's signature on the side of the stick.

Other[link]

Bonham is endorsed by Remo drum heads and DW hardware.

Led Zeppelin reunion[link]

On 12 September 2007, it was announced that Jason Bonham would step into his father's shoes and play drums for a Led Zeppelin reunion concert. This took place on 10 December 2007 at London's O₂ arena as part of an all-star tribute to Ahmet Ertegün.^[3][4][5] His performance was described as "flawless" by music critics.^[6]

References[link]

Led Zeppelin portal

External links[link]

• JasonBonham.net (Official website)
• jblze.com (Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience)
• Jason Bonham at the Internet Movie Database