Mythical drummer of the no less legendary Led Zeppelin. The death of John Bonham marks the end of one of the greatest rock'n'roll groups in history. Tribute
John Bonhamlegendary member of Led Zeppelin, is considered one of the greatest and influential rock drummers of all time. Bonham was born on May 31, 1948 and died on September 25, 1980 at the age of 32.
We cannot talk about the end of Led Zeppelin – we cannot speak eloquently about Led Zeppelin good or bad – without taking into account John Bonham. In a way, he was the center of the band's story and the force that propelled its music. Bonham had grown up with a drink in his hand in the Black Country and found himself in a music scene where, at the time, there was a lot of drinking. The problem was that Bonham was an alcoholic of the highest order. Many described him as the warmest and most down-to-earth member of Led Zeppelin when he was sober, but after a few drinks he could be very aggressive. Richard Cole believed that Bonham's temper came from the strain he felt being away from his wife and children. In MojoNick Kent reported a memory that Bryan Ferry had of a night with Bonham in Los Angeles: “Ferry said Bonham started crying and begged him to take him home to his family in the Midlands, terrified by his insatiable appetite on the road.”
“Jones later told Cameron Crowe that his death seemed 'terribly arbitrary'”
Ruthless
But at times Bonham's conduct was merciless. One day, according to Hammer of the Godshe staggered out of the cabin of the Starship jet, drunk, grabbed a flight attendant and announced he planned to rape her. Grant and Cole had to belt him. Another time, Bonham showed up at LA's most famous rock bar, the Rainbow, drank ten Black Russians in a row, glared at the crowd, and when a young woman recognized him and smiled at him, he punched her in the face and went back to drinking.
On September 24, 1980, Led Zeppelin met to rehearse before the upcoming American tour. Bonham had overcome his heroin addiction and was taking medication to ease anxiety and depression – but he had also been drinking vodka all day and the alcohol was making his depression worse. Plant remembered Bonham being tired and inconsolable: “He was like, 'I don't want to do that. You'll play the drums and I'll sing.' ” Bonham drank during rehearsal until there was no point in continuing to play. Then the group found themselves at Jimmy Page's new house in Windsor. Bonham drank several double vodkas and collapsed around midnight. He was installed in a spare bedroom by an assistant. The next day, in the afternoon, John Paul Jones went to wake Bonham, accompanied by Plant's assistant, Benji LeFevre. Bonham was dead; he had turned over in his sleep, drank water, vomited into his lungs and choked. Jones later told Cameron Crowe that his death looked “terribly arbitrary”.
“There was also a kind of horrible innocence and intensity and, in the middle of it all, a magnificent genius. »
Annihilated
IThey said nothing more for two months, but then it was all over. “It was so… finalPlant said. I never thought about the future of the band or the music.”
In the history of Led Zeppelin, there was hubris and tragic endings. He had harsh judgments and crushed feelings – some deserved, some not. Also a kind of horrible innocence and intensity and, in the middle of it all, a magnificent genius.
Above all, there was a weight to bear. Robert Plant – the band member who seemed to have matured the most, but at what cost – kept his distance from Led Zep's history and music for years. Conversely, Jimmy Page loved the group's history and music and remained close to it. Remastering albums, compiling previously unreleased live shows on CD and DVD and playing Led Zeppelin on stage whenever he could. For his part, John Paul Jones lives calmly with his family. He works as an arranger and producer and records without fanfare (he overcame his drug problems in 1983).
Page, Plant and Jones played together a few times after 1980 – in Live Aid in 1985, at 40e Atlantic Records' anniversary in 1988 and the group's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 – but none of these opportunities fulfilled them. Not even this very last concert in 2007 at the O2 Arena in London in tribute to Ahmet Ertegun. With Jason Bonhamson of the late John, behind the barrels. They knew what was missing.
