John Bonham
John Henry Bonham (Redditch, England; May 31, 1948-Clewer, England; September 25, 1980), was a British musician famous for having been the drummer of the group rockLed Zeppelin. He is considered one of the best rock drummers in history, since he changed the approach to the instrument. He created a style that consisted of a harder punch with fewer ornaments, much further removed from blues and rockabilly (styles predominant in rock/pop drummers of the time).) adding touches of jazz and funk, powerfully influencing all subsequent generations of rock drummers, including heavy metal. The music magazine Gigwise included Bonham in first position on its List of the 50 Greatest Drummers in History. After his death, many drummers said that he was the best of the time. Robert Plant said that the only one capable of rivaling John was Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice, since both were the masters of the drums in the 70s .
Bonham was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. He started playing drums at the age of five; He had his first rhythm equipment at the age of fourteen, a Premier kit.
In 1964, Bonham formed his first band, Terry Webb and the Spiders. He also played for local bands, such as The Blue Star Trio and The Senators. It was around this time that Bonham decided to dedicate himself to music professionally. He joins several unsuccessful bands, including the blues band Crawling King Snakes, whose singer was Robert Plant. During that period, Bonham gained a reputation as the loudest drummer in all of England. On one occasion he was asked to leave the Birmingham Studio because he played too loudly to be tolerated by the owner, who even told him that there was no future for a drummer like him. Ten years later, the owner of the studio received a note that read "Thanks for the career advice...", accompanied by a gold record from Led Zeppelin.[citation needed] Bonham continued to be part, along with Robert Plant, of less successful bands until Tim Rose formally invited him to be the touring drummer of his band.
Led Zeppelin
Jimmy Page, who would be Led Zeppelin's guitarist, wanted to form a new band after The Yardbirds broke up. With bassist John Paul Jones already recruited, his first choice for singer was Terry Reid. However Reid was working with Mickie Most, and suggested Robert Plant, who in turn suggested Bonham as a drummer. After seeing Bonham play for Tim Rose in Hampstead, London in July 1968, Page and Peter Grant (the group's manager) were convinced that he was the one.
During Led Zeppelin's first tour in the US (December 1968), Bonham became friends with Carmine Appice, drummer of Vanilla Fudge, who introduced him to Ludwig batteries, a brand he used ever since. and with which he would sign a representation contract for the rest of his career. Bonham also used the longest and heaviest drumsticks on the market, which he referred to as "trees."
His revolutionary style is present in all of Led Zeppelin's compositions, but songs like "Immigrant Song" (Led Zeppelin III), "When the Levee Breaks" (Led Zeppelin IV), "The Ocean" (Houses Of The Holy), and "Achilles Last Stand" (Presence) those who marked the band's style. The group recognizes him as the creator of the rhythmic figure of the riff of "Kashmir" and 'Out On The Tiles'. The studio recording of "Misty Mountain Hop" perfectly captures his excellent mastery of those dynamics.
His work on the heads has influenced almost every hard rock/heavy metal drummer. Bonham's style was marked by a very rhythmic beat accompanied by a lot of feel, explosive breaks and a unique use of inverted rhythmic figures, executed very followed between the bass drum and the snare. All of this, combined with his rugged attack, made Bonham immediately recognizable to the listener.
His drum solos, first "Pat's Delight" later called "Moby Dick" and 'Over The Top', lasted about half an hour, even played without drumsticks to achieve new sound effects. On Led Zeppelin's tours after 1969 he expanded his kit, including congas, symphonic timpani, and symphonic gongs. Bonham is also recognized as the first drummer to use electronically synthesized timpani, which he debuted during the performance of the song 'Kashmir'. in Dallas, Texas, in 1977.
In 1974, Bonham appeared in the Ringo Starr film Son of Dracula, playing drums in Count Downe's (Harry Nilsson) backing band. Bonham was part of a massive percussion band, which included, among others, Keith Moon (drummer of The Who) and Starr (of the Beatles). He was also a collector of vintage sports cars and motorcycles, which he kept on his family farm, called The Old Hyde.
Bonham also recorded for other artists. In 1970, he played for Lord Sutch on his album Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends. He also recorded for his friend Roy Wood, on the album On The Road Again (1979). Later he would return to the stage, but this time with Paul McCartney's band: Wings on his album Back To The Egg for the song 'Rockestra Theme'.
Death
On September 24, 1980, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios for a North American tour, which would begin on October 17 in Montreal, Canada, the first of the band since 1977. During the trip, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he drank four quadruple vodka screwdrivers (16 shots between 400–560 ml, also equivalent to 9-13 standard American drinks). He then continued to drink heavily after arriving at rehearsals. The band stopped rehearsing late in the evening and then went to Page's home, Old Mill House in Clewer, Windsor. After midnight on September 25, Bonham after drinking fell asleep; someone carried him to the bed and turned him on his side. Led Zeppelin's tour manager Benji LeFevre and John Paul Jones found him unconscious the following afternoon. Bonham died at Jimmy Page's mansion in Clewer, Windsor, on 25 September 1980 from aspiration of vomit. He was 32 years old.
After his death there was speculation about a possible replacement to replace him in Led Zeppelin, but finally the members of the group decided that he was irreplaceable and, therefore, the group could not continue to exist. The group played again in 2007 at a concert in London to pay tribute to the late owner of Atlantic Records, playing on drums his son Jason Bonham, who learned to play with his father since he was a child.
Bonham's kits
- Kit Pre Led Zeppelin (?-1968), Slingerland Green Sparkle.
- Bombo 22"x14"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom 13"x9"
- Supraphonic Box 14"x5"
2. Led Zeppelin Kit (1968/US Tour), Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl
- Bombo 24"x14"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom Base 18"x16"
- Tom 13"*9"
- Box 20's/30's COB Tube Lug
3. Ludwig Brand Representation Kit, Ludwig Thermo Gloss Natural Maple
- Bombo 26"x14" (occasionally used another bomb of the same dimensions that he used for some concerts on the U.S. Tour 1969)
- Tom Base 18"x16"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom 14"x12"
- Chrome Box Supraphonic Snare 14"x6.5"
- Two Natal Congas Classic Splash 12"
- Cencerro Ludwig Gold Tone
4. Recording kit (1970-1975), Ludwig Green Sparkle
- Bombo 26"x14"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom Base 18"x16"
- Tom 14"x10"
- Chrome Box Supraphonic 14"x6.5"
- Timbal Symphony Ludwig 29"
- Timbal Symphony Ludwig 30"
5. Kit The Song Remains The Same (1973-1975), Ludwig Amber Vistalite
- Bombo 26"x14"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom Base 18"x16"
- Tom 14"x10"
- Chrome Box Supraphonic Snare 14"x6.5"
- Timbal Symphony Ludwig 29"
- Timbal Symphony Ludwig 30"
6.Final Kit (1977-1980), Ludwig Stainless Steel
- Bombo 26"x14"
- Tom Base 16"x16"
- Tom Base 18"x16"
- Tom 15"x12"
- Chrome Supraphonic Box with Mach Lugs 6.5"x14"
Dishes
Bonham used Paiste's Giant Beat until 1972, then signed a representation contract with the brand and exchanged his old turntables for those of the 2002 series, which he used for the rest of his career.
His regular set consisted of:
- Sound-edge Hi-Hats 15"
- Medium Crash 16"
- Medium Crash 18"
- Medium Ride 24"
- Symphonic Gong 38"
I also had an 18" Medium Crash, a 20" and a 22' Crash/Ride, which he used on rare occasions.