Posted on 10/05/2020 3:21:21 PM PDT by Twotone
The song grabs you in the first two seconds: two shots on an E chord, followed by quarter-note hi-hat hits. You know something big's going to happen. No—it already is happening.
At five seconds, the hi-hat hits double into eighth-notes as the E chord shots repeat. At seven seconds, the addition of a swung sixteenth-note (played on cowbell with a brush) signals the imminent, exhilarating plunge into a song you've never heard, but which you now want to hear more than anything else.
And at twelve seconds, an authoritative, effortlessly-executed drum fill plunges you into what might be rock and roll's greatest first song on a first album, ever...and we already know—before the song, or even a proper drum part, has started—we're in the presence of drumming greatness. The rest of the song, as well as the rest of the album, only further confirms it.
The song is "Good Times, Bad Times". The album is Led Zeppelin I, released in early 1969. And the drummer was a scrawny, twenty year old Brummie who'd never taken a drum lesson in his life. For the next twelve years, John Bonham would power the biggest, most influential, most iconic rock band in history, until his premature death forty years ago this past week. Even now, all these years later, ask any rock musician who the greatest rock drummer in history is, and almost all will name Bonham. Here's why.
Think about any musical contender for the "greatest" something or other—singer, guitarist, saxophonist, etc.—and you'll notice that underneath all the differences in style, they were all great musicians first.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
You’re welcome. :)
Great album. I know every note. ( not really, almost )
Alan White played on Imagine, and with Lennon’s Elephants Memory. Many, many years with Yes. Great drummer.
No Disgrace is still one of my favorites.
Thanks !
The Beatles were great pop songwriters, but mediocre musicians compared to many of their peers. Zeppelin, on the other hand was the confluence of 4 of the greatest musicians in the rock era, and the relationship between them that brought their music to life. When British music fans were asked to name the members of the best all-star band, the members of Zeppelin were individually selected among all the musicians of the classic rock era....
Sorry, will turn off fanboy mode
Yikes! If we are to commend drummers then by all means do not overlook Phil Ehart of Kansas, who at 70 is still rocking it hard, and with a new album to boot! Go check out Kansas’ new album The Absence of presence, and marvel at Phil’s fantastic drumming.
Bill Bruford...”Gradually Going Tornado”. Check out “Q.E.D” from the compilation.
Let’s not forget Keith Moon. Also self-taught, and “insanely” good.
Love your passion. Beatles to the grave.
Bruford and Chris Squire formed a fantastic rhythm section. More than a rhythm section actually... Starship Trooper is my favorite.
Moon certainly was unique, not the easiest guy to play live with, as Pete said many times.
Paul was a pretty darn good musician. Could play bass, lead guitar, drums and keyboards.
Listen to his first solo album, he played everything on it.
Probably my favorite drummer that no one really talks about is Liberty DeVitto, who plays for Billy Joel.
Not my favorite, no doubt a great drummer, though.
The Beatles were great and Paul was a competent guitarist, but no Hendrix, Clapton, Page or Beck. Not even Townsend.
Paul played bass, mostly. George was Rolling Stone top 10 ? of 100, greatest.
You may be understating their abilities, WADR ( with all due respect )
All this reminiscing-— 35 years ago Ronnie Milsap made a cross over effort— and buddies and I were there— a who’s who of Muscle Shoals people, keyboards, guitar (think it was John Dough, so to speak), great songwriter Bill Labounty.
And the song was a flop— no country in it- but can Ronnie Milsap sing! Fond memory. The video features cameos, Marisa Hartigkay, i think the Devo guys. California (now a mental state).
She Loves My Car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aiim9sVWWXA
Ginger Baker was a jazz drummer in a rock band.
Ditto Bruford.
[six months later]
Kashmir was the all-time peak for Zep. It’s one of a handful I enjoy hearing.
Bonham’s biggest drumming is on the Memphis Minnie / Kansas Joe tune, “When the Levee Breaks”, which is of course on 4.
The interplay between Bonham and Page in “Misty Mountain Hop” (ditto, 4) is always a pleasure.
Page and Plant were once discussing taking Zep toward the Incredible String Band approach, incorporating an early-music sound. Bonham overheard this and shut it down with some drunken profanity. :^)
In an interview with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull (I think it was there, if memory serves, list of disclaimers), he talked about how Tull and Zep were in the same set of studios while Tull was doing Aqualung. Page had Bonham moved into a stairwell (they could all hear him fine throughout the building) to get that sound miked just right.
In one of these vids (search results), Carmine Appice discusses how Bonham wanted the identical kit, so Carmine arranged it.
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=vid&q=Carmine+Appice+on+john+bonham
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