John Bonham: The Funk Master of Music

John Bonham was a master of funk and groove who laid down the foundation for Led Zeppelin’s sound. He was an innovator who could make his drums sing.

Introduction

John Bonham was born on May 31, 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. He began playing drums at age five, using a kit his father had bought him. When he was ten years old, his family moved to Bristol. In 1966, at the age of eighteen, he joined the rock band The Squires. After a short time with The Squires, he left the band to join Tim Rose and Steve Winwood in their new group called Traffic.

Bonham’s powerful style of drumming helped Traffic achieve great success with their album Mr. Fantasy (1967). His funk-influenced grooves can be heard on songs like “Paper Sun” and “Feeling Alright”. In 1968, he contributed to the Jimi Hendrix Experience album Electric Ladyland. He can be heard on the song “Voodoo Chile”.

In 1969, Bonham auditioned for Led Zeppelin and was immediately hired. Led Zeppelin became one of the most successful rock bands of all time. They released nine studio albums between 1969 and 1979. Their most famous songs include “Stairway to Heaven”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and “Kashmir”.

On September 25, 1980, at the age of thirty-two, John Bonham died after drinking forty shots of vodka in twelve hours. His death brought an end to Led Zeppelin. In 2005, he was voted the greatest drummer of all time by a poll of fellow musicians in Modern Drummer magazine

Early Life and Influences

John Bonham was born on May 31, 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. John was the son of Joan Bonham and Jack Bonham. Joan was a housewife and Jack was a bricklayer. John had two sisters, Pamela and Deborah. When he was five years old, his family moved to Willesden Green in North West London. His parents encouraged his musical talents from an early age. John began to play the drums when he was just a teenager.

His family

John Henry Bonham was born on May 31, 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, to Joan and Jack Bonham. He began playing drums at age five with his father’s band, the Blue Star Trio. His influences ranged from look-alikes of his favorite drummers—such as Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich—to pop stars like Ringo Starr and Cliff Richard. He also took an early interest in jazz, which he would later explore more deeply.

His musical influences

John Bonham was influenced by several music artists from an early age. One of his first influences was Elvis Presley. Although Bonham was too young to have seen Presley perform live, he was a big fan of his music. He was also influenced by other rock and roll artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

Bonham’s first drummer influence was Animal from The Muppets. He loved the way Animal played the drums and would often imitate him while playing with his friends. Another big influence on Bonham was jazz drummer Jo Jones. He was impressed by Jones’ technique and feel for the groove.

Bonham’s biggest influence, however, was Keith Moon of The Who. Bonham saw Moon perform live several times and was mesmerized by his style of playing. He later said that Moon was “the best drummer I ever saw in my life.”

Led Zeppelin

John Bonham was born on May 31, 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England. He was the son of Joan Bonham and Jack Bonham. Jack was a window-dresser and later a house painter; Joan was a housewife. Bonham was the youngest of three children, he had two sisters: Pat and Barbara.

The formation of Led Zeppelin

The formation of Led Zeppelin came about through the chance meeting of drummer John Bonham and guitarist Jimmy Page in 1966, when both musicians were session players in London. Bonham was initially not interested in joining a new band, but after being persuaded by Page, he agreed to audition for lead singer Robert Plant and bassist John Paul Jones. The four members clicked immediately, and they began rehearsing and writing original material soon afterwards.

Led Zeppelin made their debut at a music festival in Norway in 1968, and they released their self-titled debut album the following year. The album was a massive success, with hits like “Whole Lotta Love” and “Dazed and Confused” helping to cement the band’s reputation as one of the most exciting live acts of theirgeneration.

Over the next decade, Led Zeppelin would go on to release a further seven studio albums, each one adding to their legend. Bonham’s drumming was a key component of Led Zeppelin’s sound, and he was widely considered to be one of the greatest rock drummers of all time. He tragically died in 1980 at the age of 32, bringing an end to Led Zeppelin.

The band’s success

Few bands have achieved the level of success that Led Zeppelin did during their time together. Formed in 1968, the band remains one of the best-selling groups of all time, with estimated sales of over 200 million records. They were also one of the most influential rock bands of their era, helping to pioneer the development of hard rock and heavy metal music.

Much of the band’s success can be attributed to the incredible talents of its members, particularly drummer John Bonham. Bonham was an immensely powerful player, with a unique style that combined elements of funk and jazz into his hard-hitting rock beats. His approach helped to define Led Zeppelin’s sound and made him one of the most respected drummers in rock history.

Bonham’s Drumming Style

John Bonham is often cited as one of the greatest drummers of all time. His unique style combined elements of funk, rock, and blues. He was a master of creating groove and feel in his playing. Let’s take a closer look at his style.

His use of funk

John Bonham was not only an excellent drummer, but he also had a great sense of rhythm and timing. He often used funk patterns in his playing, which helped to give Led Zeppelin’s music a more groove-oriented sound. Bonham’s use of funk can be heard on songs like “Tramp” and “Fool in the Rain.”

His use of the triplet

John Bonham’s style of drumming was unique and influential. He popularized the use of the triplet in rock music, as well as the power chord, which helped define the sound of heavy metal. He was also known for his use of the wah-wah pedal, which he used to create a “swimming” sound in his drum solos. Bonham was an innovator in the use of double-bass drumming, and was one of the first rock drummers to utilize the technique extensively.

His Death

It was September 25th, 1980, when the world lost one of the most influential drummers of our time. John Bonham, going by the name of Bonzo, was the powerhouse drummer of Led Zeppelin. He was revered for his unique style which combined funk, rock, and jazz. He was one of a kind, and his death was a tragic loss for the music world.

The cause of his death

On September 25, 1980, Bonham was picked up by bandmate and friend John Paul Jones to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios in Berkshire. During the journey, after consuming four quadruple vodkas with orange juice, Bonham stopped to vomit from the car window and then lay down in the fetal position on the back seat. Jones continued to drive for a short distance before stopping to check on his colleague. Upon doing so, he realized that Bonham could not be awakened. Despite frantically reviving him for an extended period of time, Jones could not get his bandmate back to full consciousness, and eventually realised that he had died.[120] Paramedics pronounced Bonham dead at the scene when they arrived at approximately 1 pm

The impact of his death

The impact of his death was devastating to the band. They had just released their most successful album, “Physical Graffiti”, and were about to embark on a huge world tour. After Bonham’s death, the remaining members decided to carry on as a three-piece band, with all three members sharing drum duties. This arrangement proved to be unsuccessful and the band eventually disbanded in 1980.

Bonham’s death also had a profound effect on Led Zeppelin’s fans. For many, he was the driving force behind the band’s sound and they struggled to accept Led Zeppelin without him. The band’slast album, “In Through the Out Door”, was released posthumously in 1979 and reached number one in the US, but it was clear that Led Zeppelin was no longer the same band without Bonham.