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?”
arguably the two best Rock Drummers ever.
#3 ?
There’s never been another like Bonham, and there never will be again. He was a giant.
They didn’t just break the mold when they made him; the mold exploded.
When I was a yute I happened to be near Tower records in Hollywood one summer day (1972?). I looked a lot like Bonham, so much so I had two girls begging me for an autograph. I told them they were mistaken. They refused to believe me so I signed for them. True story Maynard.
I completely agree. Bonham and Moon weren't quite the same style, but each was at the apex of his own style.
Rock and Roll is the greatest opening beats of all time.
An example of playing a stupid drinking game and winning a stupid prize-but still a damned shame-great drummer...
I have the Mothership CD in my truck-love to crank it up and jam on the way to/from work and errands...
Saw Led Zeppelin live in the early 70’s, from right down in front - great show and it was loud.
in Palm Springs at a swimming pool when a kid ran out and said Micheal Jackson died - a guy said he can’t I have tickets for his show next month.
Bonham was 32 years old when he died and to me that seemed positively ancient at the time. Also in 1980, Led Zeppelin was considered one of the "dinosaur bands" in the rock world along with Pink Floyd who also put out their best album the previous year "The Wall".
I consider myself one who can hold my liquor pretty well but 40 shots in a night is out of my league for sure.
I read it was 40 shots, but it started early in the morning, before rehearsal. Healthy people dont chug vodka on the way to practice.
I remember wondering why a band would break up bc the drummer died. I was about 9 yrs old. I understand now why they disbanded.
Not really a roll model for our youth.
Great drummers for sure, but there have been and are many. Neil Pert. Bill Bruford, Ginger Baker, etc.
Source. Little Richard’s Keep A Knockin’
So glad to have seen the band live at the Long Beach auditorium.
With Jethro Tull as the warm up act, believe it or not.
Led Zeppelin also didn’t like the idea of music videos; people were “watching” music instead of hearing/listening to it.
Lol
i disagree- this is the greatest opening beat of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOEQTJV_3-w
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