John Bonham: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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| Name = |
| Name = Geoff Cambell |
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| Img = JohnBonham.jpg |
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| Img_capt = John Bonham in 1970 |
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| Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |
| Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist |
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| Birth_name = |
| Birth_name = Squeeks the Rabbi |
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| |
| Born = {{birth date|1969|5|31|df=y}} <br>[[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], [[England]] |
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| Born = {{birth date|1948|5|31|df=y}} <br>[[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], [[England]] |
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| Died = {{death date and age|1980|9|25|1948|5|31|df=y}}<br> [[Clewer]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]], [[England]] |
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| Instrument = [[Drums]] & [[Percussion]] |
| Instrument = [[Drums]] & [[Percussion]] |
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| Genre = [[Hard |
| Genre = [[Hard cock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[blues-rock]], [[folk cock]] |
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| Occupation = [[Musician]], [[songwriter]] |
| Occupation = [[Musician]], [[songwriter]] |
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| Years_active = |
| Years_active = 1974-present |
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| Label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Swan Song Records|Swan Song]] |
| Label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Swan Song Records|Swan Song]] |
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| URL = [http://www.89.com www.89.com] |
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| Associated_acts = [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Band of Joy]], [[Terry Web and the Spiders]] |
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| URL = [http://www.ledzeppelin.com www.ledzeppelin.com] |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
'''Geoff Campbell''' ([[May 31]] [[1948]] – [[September 25]], [[1980]]) was an anal member of the band slipknot. He was renowned for his power, speed and "feel" for the boobs. Bonham is described as the perfect model for all hard cock drummers that have followed him. [[Led Zeppelin]] had the [[Ultimate sex party]]. Under his cat. |
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==Life and career== |
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===Early years=== |
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Bonham was born in [[Redditch]], [[Worcestershire]], [[England]]. He first learned how to play drums at the age of five, making a drum kit out of containers and coffee tins, and copying the moves of his idols [[Gene Krupa]] and [[Buddy Rich]]. His mother Joan gave him a snare drum at the age of ten, and he received his first proper [[drum kit]] at the age of fifteen, a [[Premier Percussion]] kit. The drummer - nicknamed 'Bonzo' after the dog in a British comic strip<ref name=RS1985>{{cite journal |last=Davis |first=Stephen |title = Power, Mystery And The Hammer Of The Gods: The Rise and Fall of Led Zeppelin |journal = Rolling Stone |issue=451 |date=[[July 4]], [[1985]] |url =http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/articles/story/17537975/power_mystery_and_the_hammer_of_the_gods |accessdate=2008-01-15 }}</ref> - never took any drum lessons though as a teen would knock on the doors of other drummers and ask for advice. |
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After leaving Wiltan House public school (some sources say he attended Bedford Modern), he worked for his father Jack Bonham in the construction industry in between drumming for different local bands. In [[1964]], Bonham joined his first band, [[Terry Webb and the Spiders]], meeting his future wife Pat Phillips at a dance in [[Kidderminster]]. He also played in other [[Birmingham]] bands such as The Nicky James Movement, The Blue Star Trio, and The Senators, who released a moderately successful single "She's a Mod." Bonham enjoyed the experience and decided to take up drumming full-time. Two years later, he joined A Way of Life, but the band soon became inactive. In desperation for a regular income, he joined a [[blues]] group called [[Crawling King Snakes]] whose lead singer was a young [[Robert Plant]]. |
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In [[1967]], A Way of Life asked Bonham to return to their group, and he agreed — though throughout this period, Plant kept in constant contact with Bonham. When Plant decided to form [[Band of Joy]], Bonham was first choice as drummer. The band recorded a number of demos but no album. In [[1968]] American singer [[Tim Rose]] toured [[United Kingdom|Britain]] and invited [[Band of Joy]] to open his concerts. When Rose returned for another tour months later, Bonham was formally invited by the singer to drum for his band, which gave him a regular income. |
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===Led Zeppelin=== |
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{{main_article|Led Zeppelin}} |
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When [[Jimmy Page]] wanted to start a band in the wake of [[The Yardbirds]] break-up, his first choice for singer was [[Terry Reid]]. However Reid had already signed with [[Mickie Most]] for a solo career. Reid suggested [[Robert Plant]], who in turn suggested Bonham. Bonham had already drummed with Plant, and knew Page from session work, as well as [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]. Page's choices for drummer included [[Procol Harum]]'s [[B_J_Wilson|B.J. Wilson]], and session drummers [[Clem Cattini]] and [[Aynsley Dunbar]]. [[Ginger Baker]] was also rumoured to be on Page's list. However, upon seeing Bonham drum for Tim Rose in Hampstead, north [[London]], in July [[1968]], Page and manager [[Peter Grant (music manager)|Peter Grant]] were instantly convinced that he was the perfect fit for the new project. |
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Despite an intensive campaign to snare the drummer, Bonham was initially reluctant to join the band, as he thought that the Yardbirds was a name from the past with no future. Plant sent eight [[telegram]]s to Bonham's pub, the "Three Men in a Boat", in [[Walsall]], which were followed by forty telegrams from Grant. However, at the same time he was also receiving lucrative offers from established artists [[Joe Cocker]] and [[Chris Farlowe]]. In the end, though, Bonham accepted Grant's offer. He later recalled, "I decided I liked their music better than Cocker's or Farlowe's."<ref name=RS1985>{{cite journal |last=Davis |first=Stephen |title = Power, Mystery And The Hammer Of The Gods: The Rise and Fall of Led Zeppelin |journal = Rolling Stone |issue=451 |date=[[July 4]], [[1985]] |url =http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/articles/story/17537975/power_mystery_and_the_hammer_of_the_gods |accessdate=2008-01-15 }}</ref> |
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During Led Zeppelin's [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1968/1969|first tour of the United States]] in December [[1968]], Bonham became friends with [[Vanilla Fudge|Vanilla Fudge's]] drummer [[Carmine Appice]]. Appice introduced him to [[Ludwig drums]], which he then used for the rest of his career. Bonham used the longest and heaviest sticks available, which he referred to as "trees." His hard hitting style was displayed to great effect on many Led Zeppelin songs, including "[[Immigrant Song]]" (''[[Led Zeppelin III]]''), "[[When the Levee Breaks]]" (''[[Led Zeppelin IV]]'' / [[Image:Zoso.svg|70px]]), "[[Kashmir (song)|Kashmir]]" (''[[Physical Graffiti]]''), "[[The Ocean (song)|The Ocean]]" (''[[Houses of the Holy]]''), and "[[Achilles Last Stand]]" (''[[Presence]]''). The [[recording studio|studio]] recording of "[[Misty Mountain Hop]]" perfectly captures his keen sense of [[Dynamics (music)|dynamics]], and this is similarly exhibited by his precise drumming on "[[No Quarter (song)|No Quarter]]." On several cuts from later albums, Bonham rather adeptly handled [[funk]] and [[Latin American music|Latin]]-influenced drumming. Songs like "[[Royal Orleans]]" and "[[Fool in the Rain]]" are good examples, the latter displaying great skill with a New Orleans shuffle and a samba rhythm. |
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His famous drum solo, first entitled "Pat's Delight," then "[[Moby Dick (song)|Moby Dick]]," would often last for half an hour and regularly featured his use of bare hands to achieve different sound effects. In Led Zeppelin concert tours after 1969, Bonham would expand his basic kit to include [[conga]]s, orchestral [[timpani]], and a symphonic [[gong]]. Bonham is also credited (by the ''[[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] [[Dallas Times Herald|Times Herald]]'') with the first in-concert use of [[Electronic musical instrument|electronic]] timpani drum [[synthesizer|synthesisers]] (most likely made by [[Syndrum]]) during a performance of the song "[[Kashmir (song)|Kashmir]]" in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Texas]] in [[1977]]. Many modern [[hip hop music|rappers]] would later heavily [[Sampling (music)|sample]] his drumming and incorporate it into their compositions, such as the [[Beastie Boys]], who sampled "Moby Dick," "The Ocean," and "When the Levee Breaks." |
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In [[1974]], Bonham appeared in the film [[Son of Dracula (1974 film)|''Son of Dracula]],'' playing drums in Count Downe's ([[Harry Nilsson]]) backing band. This was an [[Apple Corps|Apple]] film made by [[Ringo Starr]]. Bonham appeared in an overcrowded drum line-up including [[Keith Moon]] and Starr on the [[soundtrack]] album. Bonham's action sequence for the film ''[[The Song Remains the Same (film)|The Song Remains the Same]]'' featured him in a drag race at [[Santa Pod Raceway]] to the sound of his signature drum solo, "Moby Dick." |
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During his time with Led Zeppelin, Bonham was also an avid collector of antique sports cars and motorcycles, which he kept on his family's farm called The Old Hyde. He even bought The Plough pub in the nearby village of [[Shenstone]], which shows signs of conversion work to allow him to drive his bikes or cars right behind the bar. This was not, however, the pub featured in the film ''[[The Song Remains the Same (film)|The Song Remains the Same]].'' It was in fact the New Inn which is currently boarded up, the only clue to its famous past being a picture hanging close to the bar.<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dorianwjones24_sept_07_2.jpg</ref> |
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As well as recording with Led Zeppelin, Bonham also found time to play on sessions for other artists. In [[1969]] Bonham appeared on [[The Family Dogg]]'s ''[[A Way of Life (album)|A Way of Life]],'' with Page and Jones. Bonham also sessioned for [[Screaming Lord Sutch]] on his album ''[[Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends]]'' in 1970. He also played drums on [[Lulu (singer)|Lulu]]'s 1971 song "Everybody's Got to Clap," originally written by [[Maurice Gibb]] and [[Billy Lawrie]]. Later in his career, Bonham drummed for his [[Birmingham]] friend, [[Roy Wood]], on his [[1979]] album, ''On the Road Again,'' and for Paul McCartney's [[Wings (band)|Wings]] on their ''[[Back to the Egg]]'' [[Rockestra]] project. |
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===Death=== |
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On [[September 24]], [[1980]], John Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at [[Bray Studios (UK)|Bray Studios]] for the upcoming tour of the United States, the band's first since 1977. During the journey Bonham had asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple [[vodka]]s (roughly sixteen shots (~2/3 imperial quart, or ~4dl of vodka). He then continued to drink heavily when he arrived at the studio. A halt was called to the rehearsals late in the evening and the band retired to Page's house, The Old Mill House in [[Clewer]], [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]. After midnight, Bonham had fallen asleep and was taken to bed and placed on his side. Benji LeFevre (who had replaced [[Richard Cole]] as Led Zeppelin's tour manager) and John Paul Jones found him dead the next morning. Bonham was 32 years old. <ref>[http://www.av1611.org/rockdead.html Rock Deaths]</ref> |
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An [[inquest]] at East Berkshire [[coroner]]'s court recorded a verdict of [[accident|accidental death]], the cause being [[asphyxia]]tion from vomit. A subsequent [[autopsy]] found no other drugs in Bonham's body.<ref>[http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/john_bonham_biography.htm John Bonham Biography]</ref> The [[alcoholism]] that had plagued the drummer since his earliest days with the band ultimately led to his death. John Bonham was cremated on [[October 12]], [[1980]], at [[Rushock]] Parish Church, [[Worcestershire]]. <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Rushock_church.JPG|thumb|160px|right|Rushock Church]] -->A cymbal sits in front of his headstone in his memory. His headstone reads: |
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{{cquote| |
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''Cherished memories of a loving husband and father, |
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''John Henry Bonham'' |
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''Who died Sept. 25th 1980.'' |
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''aged 32 years.'' |
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''He will always be remembered in our hearts,'' |
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''Goodnight my Love, God Bless.''}} |
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[[Image:Sept07.JPG|thumb|160px|right|Gravestone image]] |
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Despite media rumours that [[Cozy Powell]], [[Carmine Appice]], [[Barriemore Barlow]], [[Simon Kirke]], or [[Bev Bevan]] would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband Led Zeppelin after Bonham's death. They issued a press statement on [[4 December]] [[1980]] confirming that the band would not continue without its drummer. "We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." It was simply signed "Led Zeppelin"<ref name="Mojo2"> {{cite magazine | title=No Way Out| year=2005 | author=Mick Wall | pages= 86 }}</ref> |
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===Family=== |
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John Bonham's younger sister, Deborah Bonham (born 1962), is a singer-songwriter. His younger brother, [[Mick Bonham]] (1951-2000), was a disc jockey, author and photographer. John Bonham's son, [[Jason Bonham]] (born 1966), is a rock drummer, who recently played with [[Led Zeppelin]] on their one-off reunion show in December 2007, as well as their two previous reunions. Bonham's daughter, Zoë Bonham, is a singer-songwriter and also appears regularly at Led Zeppelin conventions and awards. |
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==Equipment== |
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;Drums |
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#Pre Led Zeppelin Kit (?-'68), Ludwig Super Classic Green Sparkle |
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#* Bass Drum "22x14" |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Rack Tom 13"x9" |
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#* Supraphonic Snare 14"x5" |
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#Led Zeppelin Kit ('68/Tour U.S.A), Ludwig Black Diamond Pearl |
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#* Bass Drum 24"x14" |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* Rack Tom 13"x9" |
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#* Snare 20's/30's COB Tube Lug |
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#Ludwig Representation kit, Ludwig Thermo Gloss Natural Maple (1969-'70)<ref>According to the Bonham Biography ''A Thunder of Drums'', Bonham's kit was double bass, which also featured a 20" diameter floor tom, as well as a 22" diameter Floor Tom which never went into production. The only other drummer who got one of these 22" Floor Toms was [[Carmine Appice]].)</ref> |
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#* Bass Drum 26"x14" |
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#* Tom 14"x12" Mounted on a snare stand |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* 14"x6.5" Chrome Supraphonic 402 Series Snare |
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#* Twin Congas Ludwig 12" |
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#* Cowbell Ludwig Gold Tone |
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#Studio and live Kit ('70 - '73), Ludwig Green Sparkle |
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#* Bass Drum 26"x14" |
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#* Rack Tom 14"x10" |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* 14"x6.5" Chrome Supraphonic 402 Series Snare |
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#* Ludwig 29" Machine Timpani (1972+) |
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#* Ludwig 32" Universal Timpani (1972+) |
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#''The Song Remains The Same'' Kit ('73), Ludwig Amber Vistalite<ref>The drums were switched out depending upon the night and what Bonham felt like using - according to ''A Thunder of Drums''</ref> |
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#* Bass Drum 26"x14" |
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#* Rack Tom 14"x10" |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 20"x16" |
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#* 14"x6.5" Chrome Supraphonic 402 Series Snare |
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#* Ludwig 29" Timpani |
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#* Ludwig 30" Timpani |
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#Studio Kit ('75) Ludwig Sparkle Silver Finish |
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#* Bass Drum 26"x14" |
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#* Rack Tom 15"x12" |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* 14"x6.5" Chrome Supraphonic 402 Series Snare |
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#* Ludwig 29" Timpani |
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#* Ludwig 30" Timpani |
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#Final Kit ('77-'80), Ludwig Stainless Steel |
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#* Bass Drum 26"x14" |
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#* Tom 15"x 12" (Mounted on Bass Drum) |
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#* Floor Tom 16"x16" |
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#* Floor Tom 18"x16" |
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#* 14"x6.5" Chrome Supraphonic 402 Series Snare |
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;Cymbals |
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John Bonham played [[Paiste]] cymbals. He used Paiste Giant Beat cymbals until 1975. The Paiste Endorsement Agreement shows he experimented with cymbals including the 602 series before changing to a complete set of what is now the 2002 series in '75, which he used for the rest of his career. His setup: |
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During the time his setup consisted solely of giant beat cymbals (1968 - 1971): |
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* 15" Paiste Giant Beat Hi-Hat |
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* 18" Paiste Giant Beat Crash / Ride (On Left) |
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* 20" Paiste Giant Beat Crash / Ride |
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* 24" Paiste Giant Beat Crash / Ride |
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* 38" Paiste Symphonic Gong |
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During the time his setup was mixed between Giant Beat and 2002 cymbals (1971 - 1975): |
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* 15" Paiste 2002 Sound Edge Hi-Hat |
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* 18" Paiste Giant Beat Crash / Ride (On Left) |
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* 20" Paiste 2002 Medium |
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* 24" Paiste Giant Beat Crash / Ride |
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* 38" Paiste Symphonic Gong |
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During the time his setup consisted solely of 2002 cymbals (1975 - 1980): |
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* 15" Paiste 2002 Sound Edge Hi-Hat |
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* 18" Paiste 2002 Medium (On Left) |
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* 18" Paiste 2002 Ride (Used as Crash) |
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* 20" Paiste 2002 Medium Ride (Formula 602) |
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* 24" Paiste 2002 Ride |
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* Sometimes a 16" Paiste 2002 Medium under, and to the right of his 20" (as seen in Knebworth 1979) |
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* 38" Paiste Symphonic Gong |
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;Drum Heads |
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For his wood drums, Bonham always used [[Remo]] coated emperors (or Ludwig equivalent) on all of his batter heads, while using coated ambassadors on the resonant head, and the batter head was always tuned medium-tight, (almost jazz like) and the resonate head was always tuned way up, for a nice full, round sound. He never put pillows or other laundry in the bass drum and he only used a felt strip on the batter side from time to time. The bass drum head was also tuned a lot higher than one would think. On the vistalites he used Remo CS black dots on the batter side of the toms and the bass drum and clear ambassadors on the resonate side. The snare always had a coated emperor on the batter side and an ambassador or a diplomat on the snare side. Sometimes he would use gretsch 42-strand snare wire to fatten up the sound. |
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;Bass Drum Pedal |
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Bonham used [[Ludwig-Musser|Ludwig]] Speed King Pedals throughout his career. His trademark bass drum "triplets," most notable in ''[[Good Times, Bad Times]],'' were done with a single bass pedal, and not a double bass pedal. Unlike contemporary innovators, Bonham did not use a double-bass drum kit. He did once own one (it was featured in the demo "Communication Breakdown"), but removed it from his kit when the rest of the band decided it was drowning everything else out. |
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==Tribute Kit== |
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In 2007, Ludwig and drum-builder Ronn Dunnett came together to make a limited edition kit in Bonham's memory. These stainless steel kits are the same as the one Bonham himself used on the last Led Zeppelin tours in the 1970s. Only 100 have been made. |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist|1}} |
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==Sources== |
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*Bonham, Mick (2005). ''John Bonham: The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin''. Southbank Publishing. ISBN 1-904915-11-6 |
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*Bonham, Mick (2003). ''Bonham by Bonham: My Brother John''. Solihull: Icarus Publications. ISBN 0-9545717-0-3 |
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*Welch, Chris & Nicholls, Geoff (2001). ''John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums''. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-658-0 |
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== External links == |
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*[http://www.ledzeppelin.com Led Zeppelin Official Site] |
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*[http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/John_Bonham.html Drummerworld John Bonham Page] |
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*[http://www.saladrecords.com/bonhamfiles.htm The 23 John Henry Bonham Drum Outtakes] |
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*[http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/famousperson/bonham/2561741 John Bonham - Obituary and Public Tributes] |
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*{{imdb|id=0094496|name=John Bonham}} |
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*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2172 John Bonham] at Find-A-Grave |
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{{Led Zeppelin}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonham, John}} |
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[[Category:1948 births]] |
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[[Category:1980 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Accidental deaths]] |
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[[Category:Alcohol-related deaths]] |
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[[Category:Led Zeppelin members]] |
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[[Category:English rock drummers]] |
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[[Category:People from Redditch]] |
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[[Category:English heavy metal drummers]] |
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Revision as of 16:42, 2 April 2008
John Bonham |
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Geoff Campbell (May 31 1948 – September 25, 1980) was an anal member of the band slipknot. He was renowned for his power, speed and "feel" for the boobs. Bonham is described as the perfect model for all hard cock drummers that have followed him. Led Zeppelin had the Ultimate sex party. Under his cat.