Posted on 09/25/2020 3:18:09 PM PDT by DoodleBob
It was 40 years ago today that Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham suddenly passed away. The 32-year-old drummer had had a heavy night of 40 shots of vodka, before tragically choking on his own sick. Now his bandmate Jimmy Page has paid tribute to one of rock’s greatest drummers of all time.
The 76-year-old posted Led Zeppelin’s first album cover on his Instagram account.
Aside from today being the 40th anniversary of Bonham’s death, it’s also the 52nd anniversary of the recording of the band’s debut album.
Page began with some fond memories from 1968 with Led Zeppelin before paying tribute to Bonham at the end.
The guitarist wrote: “Today heralds the inception of the epic Led Zeppelin I album.”
Page continued: “The moment whereby I would be able to manifest the sounds and layers I had heard in my head and also prove my status as a producer.
“The group went to Studio No.1, Olympic Studios, 117 Church Road, Barnes, London, SW13, having extensively rehearsed the material for Led Zeppelin I at my house in Pangbourne and we had had the opportunity to perform a good percentage of that material during a few concerts in Scandinavia and the UK to experience our music in a live situation under the clandestine cloak of the Yardbirds.
“In those days, the studio time was scattered and limited over a few days in September and October, dictated by Olympic's availability.
”Thus, with the aid of my old friend Glyn John's masterful engineering, at 11pm on Wednesday 25th September 1968, we began our recordings and embarked upon committing this eclectic powerhouse to tape.”
The 76-year-old added: “Much has been speculated about the initial recordings, so I thought it would be useful to show the worksheet from RAK that gives the dates and times that we were scheduled initially to go in.
“It makes fascinating reading.”
Paying tribute to Bonham, Page wrote: “The opening track of Led Zeppelin I, Good Times Bad Times, changed drumming forever with the glorious technique of John Bonham.
“Sadly, this day is 40 years since his passing. He left a heroic musical legacy.”
Following Bonham’s death, Led Zeppelin released a statement on December 4, 1980.
Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones had decided to disband out of respect for their drummer.
Led Zeppelin wrote: “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.”
Of course, Led Zeppelin have reunited over the years since.
Four times in fact, in 1985 (for Live Aid), 1988, 1995 and 2007. John’s son Jason Bonham played the drums on the latter three reunions.
Sadly, Led Zeppelin haven’t reunited since, with Page most recently saying it’s unlikely.
He told the BBC this summer: “It doesn’t look as though there’s anything in the future, unfortunately.
“We’re talking about a concert that was gigantic at the time, but that was 2007: time passes, y’know?”
Thanks for posting. Terrific band.
And as we wind on down the road...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnu1E5Kslig
Thanks for posting this.
Contrast with...
Eric “Stumpy Joe” Childs (1966–1967) Choked on vomit of unknown origin,
perhaps but not necessarily his own, because “you can’t really dust for vomit.”
my favorite band of all time, which came to a crashing end on my 17th birthday with the death of Bonzo...
Was gonna see them in concert...they were going to have 4 shows in Chicago.
Went to buy the paper where they had the order forms for tickets then heard he died.
Still have the paper...tickets were 10 dollars apiece.
At least he didn’t die in a bizarre gardening accident...
There are youtube vids where his drumming is isolated. It’s nice just hearing him play drums.
That was my 24th birthday the day he passed. Somehow I’m still here, missing the big lug.
Well, at least it wasn’t a chicken salad sandwich.....
That’s how Brian May’s butt died.
I noticed that this thread is not past 11.
Never tire of Led Zeppelin and that beat - thank you John. Only the good die young.
Led Zeppelin sounds just as great now as they did the first time I heard them. The highlight of my concert going life was Led Zeppelin, May,1973 concert in Houston at the Sam Houston Coliseum. Nothing or no one could surpass that concert!
Gods of the garbage society.
Still have the paper...tickets were 10 dollars apiece.
I’ll give $12.00 each for the tickets, if you throw in the paper ?
Damn time fly’s by, it was just two years earlier Keith Moon died, arguably the two best Rock Drummers ever.
If I recall Zeppelin was one of the first where they took great performers from other bands and put them together. Led Zeppelin 3 i got my brother for Christmas in the early 70s I have a casset tape that I played on the road just yesterday (93 Jeep) that still sounds great.
Oh, and the ticket price was $6.50. On the floor. 12th row. Yeah, it was GOOD
Never mailed it in he died that day I got the paper.
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