Drumming in rock changed dramatically with the passing of John Bonham, the drummer for Led Zeppelin. Bonham revolutionised the drumming world when the quartet made their breakthrough in the late 1960s, blending a jazz background with a hard rock edge and remarkable technical proficiency. Expert in off-beat, bass-drum, and triplets, he would have had no primary influence on many later rhythmic pioneers had it not been for his efforts, which included songs in a wide variety of formats.
Jimi Hendrix, possibly the most innovative guitarist of his day, was blown away by Bonham’s thunder. As Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant once recounted, highlighting how obvious Bonham’s skill was to all. The American said to Plant, as collected in A Thunder of Drums. “That drummer of yours has a right foot like a pair of castanets!”
Neil Peart, the drummer for Rush, is a legend who was profoundly influenced by Bonham’s work. He is widely considered as one of the greatest drummers of all time. The singer even listed one of his all-time favourites as the Led Zeppelin man. He stated: “When I was starting out, very young, John Bonham and Led Zeppelin were new in those olden days” in the 2005 movie Anatomy of a Drum Solo. John Bonham always performed the big triplets on his enormous bass drum. At the time I had two small bass drums. I simply included those, then. As a variation, I also had an idea similar to four-beat triplets. Then, as time went on, I discovered numerous methods to advance that. Moreover, to use it in songs other than solos.
“John’s style was cutting edge,” Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain said in 2020 to Louder Sound in reference to the brilliance of Bonham’s well-known “Moby Dick” solo. John was a true trailblazer of the fast right foot. Bonham used Moby Dick to help him experiment with triplets and a lot of doubles on his bass drum. The way he group the triplet with the four note group on top at such a rapid pace amazed me.
Given the dexterity of Bonham’s style, it makes sense that he studied under some of the greatest artists of their day. Given this, and in light of his passing in 1980, it has long been necessary to provide an answer to the question of who his all-time favourite drummer was. Although Bonham never provided a conventionally definitive response, it is evident from his assessment of jazz drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa as “God” how he thought.
The legendary Neil Peart once said of Gene Krupa, “Gene Krupa was the first rock drummer in very many ways”. Citing him as one of the original drum pioneers. Keith Moon would not have existed if Gene Krupa hadn’t. It goes without saying that John Bonham would not have existed.
An impressionable young Bonham fell in love with the percussionist’s unique style and exuberant approach. This made him a celebrity showman. “The 1956 Benny Goodman biography, with Krupa as the swing king, greatly influenced the Led Zeppelin star”. His brother Michael explained this influence on Bonham’s website. John saw the movie with his father, according to Michael, who also said that Gene Krupa was “God” to the aspiring musician.
According to reports, Bonham also shared a deep affection for another iconic Krupa film. In “Beat The Band,” the Chicagoan plays on steam pipes, a groundbreaking moment for the 1947 musical setting. Although there isn’t much more information available regarding Bonham’s affection for Krupa, all the evidence points to the American being the Led Zeppelin hero’s all-time favourite.
