John Bonham, the renowned rock drummer, is consistently voted as the greatest and most influential of all time, a notion shared by prominent figures such as Roger Taylor of Queen, Dave Grohl of Nirvana, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
John Bonham's musical journey began at the tender age of five, when he started playing drums using a makeshift kit, eventually graduating to real drums. His influences stemmed from great American jazz drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He played in a series of bands, forming a lasting association with Robert Plant through Band of Joy, which combined blues, psychedelics, and extended musical workouts.
According to Robert Plant, John Bonham was "totally and absolutely devoted to getting it right." He could not only recreate the music he listened to but also take it to new heights. Plant also mentioned that Bonham knew he was a powerhouse among drummers, and they seemed to have a great affinity for each other.
Although John Bonham and Robert Plant went their separate ways after Band of Joy, they reunited in The Yardbirds, which already featured Jimmy Page. John Paul Jones joined the group, leading to the formation of Led Zeppelin, who released their first album in 1969. The band went on to achieve extraordinary success, particularly in the United States, becoming the biggest rock band of the 1970s.
Tragically, John Bonham died at the age of 32 in 1980. He had a reputation for being a heavy drinker and had consumed excessive vodka in the 24 hours preceding his death, leading to vomiting and asphyxiation. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. Led Zeppelin announced they were disbanding, with Jimmy Page stating that the band could not have continued without John Bonham, who was integral to their sound.
In 1985, Led Zeppelin reunited for Live Aid, with Robert Plant's solo drummer Phil Collins and Tony Thompson of The Power Station temporarily replacing John Bonham. However, this performance has been disowned by the band. John Bonham's son, Jason Bonham, has followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a successful drummer and a member of Led Zeppelin for subsequent reunion performances.
