John Bonham, the drummer who passed away, is one of the most recognisable beatkeepers in rock ‘n’ roll history. Before his untimely death in 1980, his distinctive, thunderous style and technical prowess were instrumental. They helped define the sound of Led Zeppelin through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Bonham was self-taught, like the majority of our percussion idols. His natural talent and unwavering creativity pushed him to become one of the most significant drummers of his era.
Phil Collins and countless other contemporary drummers credit Bonham as a major influence. The former Genesis member recalled his first viewing of Bonham’s performance in the years before Led Zeppelin in a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 6.
“I witnessed John Bonham perform this popular rendition of “Morning Dew” at the Marquee Club alongside American singer Tim Rose. Collins recalled that “he was on tour with this guy John Bonham on drums.” “I went to see Tim Rose, but I had never seen anything like it until I saw Bonham.”
He went on, “I became a convert there and then because he had the best bass drum I’ve ever seen”. “I therefore began to accompany him to any gigs he was scheduled to play in a band. The following time I saw him, he was still with Led Zeppelin under the name The New Yardbirds. Since no one else was doing that, the early LED Zeppelin was truly amazing.
Despite being the founder of the harder rock genres, Bonham’s training was primarily in traditional rhythm and blues music. One time, Billy Joel’s drummer Liberty DeVitto described his hero to Drum Magazine as “John Bonham, an R&B drummer in a heavy metal band.” “He had the R&B fills and feel of Roger Hawkins on ‘What Is And What Should Never Be,’ the heavy sound and attack of Carmine on ‘D’yer Maker’. As he developed, he added more swing or jazz feels, like the Purdie-style shuffle for ‘Fool in the Rain.’”
Carmine Appice elaborated on the varied preferences of the late friend and fellow drummer in an interview for the same feature. He claimed that John enjoyed rock and roll like Little Richard and Bo Diddley as well as the great Motown, Atlantic, and Stax artists.
The drummer Bev Bevan, best known for his work with ELO, agreed, adding that Bonham’s preferences appeared to be more ingrained on the other side of the Atlantic. Bevan said, “I don’t think John was a big fan of British drummers. But he definitely had to be influenced by Tony Meehan, Brian Bennett, and Clem Cattini’s session work.” “John and I have similar taste in music, all American.”
He continued, “John and I agreed that Earl Palmer and Hal Blaine were the two best rock and roll drummers”. Bonzo’s introduction to Zep’s “Rock and Roll” was undoubtedly influenced by Palmer’s drumming on Eddie Cochran’s “Something Else.”
As much as Bonham respected Ginger Baker, the drummer for Cream, his British rival, Bevan said otherwise. According to Baker’s modest autobiography, Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Drummer, Bonham believed they were at the top of the British drumming hierarchy together.
According to Baker, “John Bonham once said that there were only two drummers in British rock ‘n’ roll. Himself and Ginger Baker”. This made me think, ‘You cheeky little bastard!'”
