Tony Iommi, the guitarist for Black Sabbath, came of age in an era full of hugely influential figures, and he’s seen plenty of great acts come to the top. He witnessed the global conquest of some of the most famous bands, but none were closer to his heart than Led Zeppelin.
Despite the differences in their respective genres, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin made a lasting impact on the rock genre. Although Sabbath is recognized as the true creator of throbbing heavy metal, both artists significantly expanded the genre’s reach. This expansion was particularly notable when compared to the cultural upheaval of the “British Invasion.” Led Zeppelin contributed to creating the genre’s standard, even though the Birmingham group rightfully holds this title.
Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath had a close personal relationship in addition to their revolutionary compositional choices. The connection between Tony Iommi and John Bonham, the drummer for Led Zeppelin, dates back to the mid-1960s. During this time, they were both involved in different bands in the West Midlands scene. In 1973, Bonham served as Iommi’s best man at his wedding to Susan Snowdon because they were such close friends. Unfortunately, though, because of the guitarist’s horrifying personal life, the marriage ended after just three years.
Aside from the remaining band members, Iommi is in a better position than most to comment on the inner workings of Led Zeppelin. This is due to his intimate personal relationship with the band. He claimed that despite any personal prejudice he may have had, the late Bonham was the key to their secret “power.” Bonham combined natural hard rock thunder with the jazz technique of Gene Krupa, creating a distinctive and influential musical fusion.
During Led Zeppelin’s 2006 induction into the UK Music Hall of Fame, Iommi said, “Guitars are the thing in some bands.” However, the drums were the focal point of Led Zeppelin’s musical force. They included a variety of sounds, including reggae, in their sound. To put it this way, let me What would music be like without Led Zeppelin? since I cannot!”
Iommi demonstrated just how ahead of his time his late friend was when he disclosed in a 2020 interview with Guitarist Magazine. He revealed that his loud playing had led to his early dismissal from multiple bands. This revelation highlighted the visionary nature of his friend’s musical approach and the challenges he faced in being truly innovative. “We knew Planty and Bonham,” he recalled. The best man at my first wedding was Bonham. I used to hang out with him quite a bit. The same gigs that we used to play. He would be with another band, and we would be performing at this club.
“They let me go.” “What took place?” “I’m too noisy,” He would later join another band, but they would fire him for being too loud. He was in and out of bands all the time,” Iommi said.
Watch John Bonham in action below.
