Website design By BotEap.comJohn Bonham was one of the most influential drummers in the world, especially in the hard rock and heavy metal genre. He was born in England in 1948, and from an early age began pounding on pots and pans, boxes, anything with a flat surface that would allow him to imitate the jazz and big band drummers who inspired him. He spent his teenage years working construction with his father and looking for bands to play with. This was how he first met Robert Plant, and although the two only performed together in the same group for a brief time, they kept in touch over the years.

Website design By BotEap.comBonham got his big break at the age of 20, when Robert Plant himself called him to ask if he was interested in joining a band that noted guitarist Jimmy Page was putting together. Bonham, or ‘Bonzo’ to his friends, responded in the affirmative and history was made. With the addition of John Paul Jones, the Led Zeppelin lineup was established.

Website design By BotEap.comMany modern musicologists and drummers agree that John Bonham was an absolute master of his instrument. He hit the drum skins very hard and used extremely thick drumsticks. These sticks can be used to play the most brutal rhythm or become incredibly agile to play a smooth sound that is no louder than falling rain. He was famous for creating a beat in which the drum sound seemed to occur right behind the beat, rather than hitting it exactly in the middle, as was the tradition for rock drummers of his day. This style of playing suits both Jones and Page very well, and Bonham was able to incorporate many complex drum patterns and fills into songs that most drummers wouldn’t even attempt during a solo.

Website design By BotEap.comAs was the case with so many rock stars in the 1970s, John Bonham was plagued by the demons of substance abuse, particularly alcohol. Big fan of cars, he too had had bad luck with them due to his drinking, and his hard partying had gotten completely out of control. On a typical morning for him in September 1980, Bonham began his day with a large amount of alcohol before being driven to and from tour rehearsals. He was left home to “put him to sleep”, and when Jones and the band’s tour manager found him the next morning, he had drowned in his sleep, the victim of the day’s binge drinking.

Website design By BotEap.comBonham’s headstone to this day is covered with respectfully stacked drumsticks left behind by those who have come to pay their respects. He is survived by a son and a daughter, and his son Jason has become an excellent drummer in his own right.