What's amazing with Bonham is when you just play his drum parts the song is instantly recognisable. Led Zep was a freak band with a combination of 4 freak players. Unmatched in rock music history.
I understand when people are reluctant to say "greatest", but for me Zeppelin was the 'greatest' rock band, ever, for a few reasons, including the ones you listed. There's a reason they were called 'The Mighty Zeppelin'!
One thing you left out is that other drummers were skeptical that Bonzo was actually playing alone on Achilles Last Stand or Good Times Bad Times because no drummer had ever double or tripple thumped the kick bass while doing all the rest. Other drummers thought that was dubbed. He was the best. No debate. Rolling waves of thunder.
@@Fred-vy1hm Rush fans are really getting on my nerves, there isn't a clip about Bonham without you coming up with some shit about Neil Peart, may he rest in peace. You're hard, Rush was a bad band.
Read Jimmy's book mate, Light and Shade. He picked the band, moulded it and the deal was always that if one goes, they all go. That's why he didn't even bother trying to replace John. Great book.
Thought we had crap seats when we arrived at the Nassau Coliseum in '72 seated above and in back (maybe 30' away) of John Bonham's drum kit. Boy were we wrong. Thru the haze of weed we had a birds eye view of Bonham wailing away at a perspective many never had the good luck to see and hear. Bonham pummeled the kit just like Mike Tyson tore into Marvis Frazier back in the day but for 3 freaking hours not 30 seconds. He was trully a beast of a drummer. Great video!
Man I used to ride my bike around the Coliseum in 71' and Hofstra and the creeks and Apollo Diner as a little kid... You have a cherished memory in that show !!! I went there to see Evel Knievel jump the Snake River, I had no idea how we were going to see him LOL as I didn't know it was going to be on a satellite feed or whatever LOL ... was still cool... They were trying to kill Knievel i think - scared Evel too lol...Cheers Maurice !
Bonham and Jones, together, made one of the best rhythm couplings in the planet. They fed off each other's energy and made a solid rhythm together. Some of the best rhythms to ever be played.👍🏻🙂🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I remember thinking as a 16 year old I could get as good a Bonham. I’m now 46 ,been playing this whole time and cant come CLOSE to Bonzo’s ability and musical instincts. I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. And Bonham was NINETEEN on Zeppelins first album!!🤯
I honestly cant come up with a better signature song than "Achilles Last Stand". Not only it requires lots of stamina to keep that groove for +10 minutes, it's also the subtle fills that appear here and there, locking in the bass and the guitar riff. I think it's always been his most complex drumming
I totally understand when the band decided to stop when one of them was gone. The four of them were a music miracle that isn't gonna happen ever again in history
For me, Bonham’s drumming on When the Levee Breaks is the most moving. It’s slow and methodical and yet at the same time powerful and intense. It is truly the driving force behind a great, great song. Also, when I saw his solos up close on the video, I was thinking that the neurons in his brain must be moving at the speed of light and yet not in a haphazard way but focused and precise. He was truly amazing. Great video!
In the post ,Led-ZePPelin eres and you're sixteen- years -old in 1983 listening to When The Levee Breaks, that is when your coordination crosses over and develops .
The things Bonham was able to do while literally completely incoherent on drugs is genius in itself. He was one of a kind. Inspiration to all. I’ve never heard anyone play even remotely similar to him.
On live songs Bonham had this unbelievable ability to throw every trick and Bonhamism he had at a song yet never interfered with pages soloing or plants singing. Zeppelin truly was a tour de force of musical prowess but always was about the song. Legends!!!!
Hahaha mostly true but to say he never interfered is a stretch. There were many occasions where he left the others baffled and totally interfered but they were just so good it didn't matter.....and Bonzo didn't care, win win.
@deanhall6045 let's just say the dude threw alot of shit against the wall, and most of it stuck. I sure miss that guy. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if he made it. Get sober like most? Start working out, getting buff like alot? Still making music? Touring? I miss him. We lost him too soon.
The greatest Led Zeppelin song is their first song of their first album. Good Times, Bad Times start with Bonham absolutely killing it. You can't help but being hooked when you hear it.
Yup that's the first song I ever heard by led zeppelin and my 8 year old mind thought man those drums are loud I love it but oh man when I really deep dived into their material I was shocked. Best hard rock band on the planet long live Led zeppelin!!!!!
I agree with this. Led Zeppelin isn't my favorite band but the very first song on their very first album is musically mind-blowing. Everyone is on point and Bonham lays down one of the best drum tracks in rock.
I was fortunate enough to see John Bonham with Led Zeppelin at the LA Forum in 1977. It was a three hour show with no opening act. At the end of Bonzo's drum solo, when he went to the timpani, Keith Moon came out on stage and manned the second timpani, where they battled back and forth. While watching them I never would have guessed that they would both be gone so soon. The same year I saw Carl Palmer with ELP, and Ansley Dunbar with Journey being the opening act. What a year that was.
I saw them on 7 -17 - 77 at the Kingdome and the tickets were only $10 and I got mine in the parking lot for $3 since that was all I had that day........I saw Bonham out by the Zeppelin semi's parked behind the Kingdome with the guy who drove us there and nobody else was out there ( I was 19)
@@JAHISRAEL I first saw Led Zep in '72 at The Free Trade Hall Manchester England. I got a ticket off a tout outside for £5. Doesn't sound a lot today ut my weekly wage was £7.35. Best concert I've ever been to.
@@JAHISRAEL I never got to see Zeppelin, but I saw Jason Bonham's band in '96 and he did a fabulous job. He sat and talked to me for about 7 or 8 minutes and autographed one of his sticks for me. He is a wonderful, humble man who seems like he could be my best friend if circumstances were right. Wonderful man/musician!
John was my mentor's best mate- they would be asleep on his pub floor whilst punters stepped over them the next day, and Jason (his son) played in my pub a few times- really good guy but had a few problems at the time, sorted himself out a few years later thankfully. 2 decades later I worked with Jimmy on stage and recounted a few anecdotes about my old mentor and John and he was like- "I remember that!!"....cool thing was 2 years later he remembered my name 🙂
My dad was a truly swinging trad jazz and big band drummer in our hometown of New Orleans for over 60 years. Could barely, if at all read music, just had that natural syncopation groove. So growing up at his side , hearing and watching him, gives me all the more appreciation for the talent and genius of Bonham.
I saw Bonham in Manheim Germany in 1980.. the second to last time he played ever.. his genius has been my top influence for over 50 years... I'm now 67.. I just bought a new Ludwig nine pc double bass kit for what.. Bonham only used a 5/7 pc kit ...a life time of practice and I still sometimes only glimpse his genius.. peace brother John ☮️
This is the feature we have all been waiting for! He has always been my drumming idol since I’d first known Led Zeppelin. Thank you guys so much Drumeo! ❤
I also love that whenever they've reunited for anniversary shows - not counting Live Aid - they chose Jason Bonham as the drummer. There are many famous and highly regarded drummers who would kill for that gig but they've honoured John's legacy by inviting his son to play instead.
I honestly can't get enough of Zep-related vids, and the ones on Bonzo definitely never disappoint. Led Zep was like an all-star band with a top-three of all time at each instrument (including voice). For me, still the greatest rockband of all time. I guess the GROAT?
Every Bonham note ever played occurred before he was 33. When trying to appreciate the whole of his music it's mind blowing how young he was and how much we lost when he passed. I can't even begin to imagine the music he could be creating today that is just lost to the universe. I feel the same about Hendrix and especially Janis. We'll never know except that it's certain the world would be a better place.
@@thane9 Ironically, think of how many musicians they inspired because they actually died. Dying young = legend status. Many folks surely picked up the sticks because of this legendary drummer had died, indeed making the world a better place (musically at least).
@@thane9 I totally agree with you. It breaks my heart to see great musicians try to find spiritual peace in drugs and/or alcohol. They will never find it there and so many of them wind up dead sooner or later 😢
I saw him shortly before he passed and in all honesty I've never seen or heard a drummer hit as hard as John and I was so mesmerized during his solo it seemed like I woke up when it was over! I remember looking at each member of Led Zeppelin Robert , John , Jimmy and John Bonham and thinking I'm in the same building they are !!!
His slinky groove and musicality always floors me. I especially love how he tends to play fills slightly ahead of the beat and then just before the crash, there's a slight delay giving the effect of a powerful sling shot.
I've spent my life on the keyboard mate, I'm 63 now and realised about 20 years ago that I'd picked the wrong instrument. Don't get me wrong, piano pays well but that drummer, man, he's always having the most fun at every gig. Cheers.
Honestly, I could never really grasp why JB was so revered. He was an amazing drummer, yes, top 5 or hire. With your explanation of his jazz influence I realized that I had been digging into those drummers long before I had heard of Led Zeppelin. It was great to see how he took those ideas and applied them in new was to rock and roll. A true innovator.
It was 1975 the first time I heard Led Zeppelin, I was 12 years old…it was then that I knew that I would, without doubt, become a drummer…47 years later Bonzo is still my primary influence and Zeppelin is on rotation still to this day. My favorite Zeppelin song, hands down, is the Wanton Song….a system of weights and measures has yet to be devised to weigh just how heavy that groove is…
Led Zeppelin has always been my favorite rock group. They are a band that you literally can listen to every single album and not get tired. Out of all of their songs there might be one song that I don’t like that much but it’s still good. All I can say is that they are amazing musicians.
I’ve never been a big fan of Coda personally but I can listen to Presence and In Through The Outdoor repeatedly and not get bored, under appreciated albums.
These "genius of" videos are so good! I love the way you break down iconic licks so we can see what's really being played. I grew up in the 70s and learned feel from Bonham. For a long time I thought he was always a little behind the beat. Eventually, I realized I was in front of it and he was doing it just right.
You are 100% correct on the simplicity of the beat in when the Levee breaks. Everybody thinks there's more going on. But the beauty of it WAS the simplicity. The effect of the big room sound is what made that groove so freaking phenomenal. I'm so glad you pointed that out.
An incredible Bonzo groove and a top Zep tune for me is The Rover. IMHO it's the most overlooked and underappreciated entry in their catalog. Fantastic intro and great groove afterwards.
Kashmir is my favorite, but here is a little background. I can’t remember the 1st time I heard Zeppelin,but in 1972 driving to school we would always pop Led Zeppelin in the 8 track of my 1967 Mustang. Now there’s nostalgia for you.
YESSSSS!!! he's literally one of thee greatest drummers, and when he was asked about it in that interview he was so humble 👏👏 an absolute beast on the drums
My drumming hero since around 88, I had been playing for 4 years mainly for fun until I heard Bonham and that changed everything. Best advice I personally ever heard from Bonham was "it's not what you play but what you don't play" took a bit to understand, such a simplistic genius
I loved the dig Plant gaveJason Bonham when he introduced him at the O2 concert, referring to Jason’s double bass drum pedal. Just to remind the world that his old mate could do things with one pedal most drummers couldn’t do with two. Jason played brilliantly that night, but John was missed terribly. Be at peace, Bonzo. You will never be forgotten.
I was sent to a boarding school just shy of my 12th birthday in 1974, and very much a child. Dreadfully homesick, I was introduced to Led Zeppelin on my first morning when our dorm prefect put Black Dog on his turntable at full blast. MIND. BLOWN. Even back then I realised that I was listening to something historic, and the combination of Mr Page, Mr Plant, Mr Jones, and Mr Bonham still has the power to move me to tears. The favourite varies with the mood, but Bonzo will always be the driving force. Right now, D'Yer Mak'er is certainly up there. Go figure...
It's too hard to pick a favourite Lef Zeppelin song but 'Dazed and Confused' for me is so evocative and nostalgic of the 70's it almost brings me to tears.
His turnarounds and morphing grooves don’t get explicit treatment here, but they are a big part of his greatness and his influence on many of the best drummers in subsequent rock-and-roll and in related popular music. Bonham created parts that move the music and move with the music. As you did say, his feel was a huge part of his effectiveness and appeal. His parts breathe, and they pump blood through the songs.
This entire video didnt really highlight how good he was. They played 3 seconds of achilles last stand and jumped into too many songs too shortly without letting them cook.
Bonham effected me both consciously and unconsciousnessly. I forget just how much his drumming has gone into my mind and body. As soon as I hear a Zeppelin song- everything comes awake, and I instantly remember how familiar and intimate his playing and the music is to me. 🎉 Fantastic. 🕉 Thank you John and Zepp (!)
It's always nice to listen to ways that they made old recordings unique. Like recording drums from the second story of the building. I'm not one of those people that hates what they hear from the modern top 40... but I do feel like that organic feel of off time tempo and raw recordings is missing in modern popular music. Everything is all perfect to the metronome but that raw feeling is just so addictive.
I heard a story about that recording - apparently Bonzo would keep adding drums to the kit, and every time he took a break the others would sneak in and remove a few!
@QTEEP - I think what you say is true , to an extent, but hear me out for a minute; I started getting into making beats on drum machines and computers a few years back, (I've always been around music, played drums in marching and concert band, and play a few different instruments) and one thing I took note of , right away; many hip hop and EDM beat makers take GREAT care and go above & beyond to make their beats off a bit, metronomically speaking, in fact, it's almost an unwritten rule to make hi hats and other percussive sounds off grid, and to turn quantization OFF, a lot of boom bap hip hop purists would never touch quantization - Having said this, there is a lot of 4 on the floor beats and even other genres that are so sterile, tight to the grid, and so generic, it's rather off putting and really rather "less than" creative
I am almost 69 and I got to see Led Zepplin in San Diego in the mid 1970s and though it's been ages, I can still remember my feelings as I watched and listen to them play. Of course, I have all of their albums when they were released. Bonham is the greatest drummer of all times, and the entire group are fantastic musicians. I have their music so I can listen to them while driving but I can't listen because every time they come on, I can't drive and listen to their music at the same time! I wind up drumming along.
Bonzo was a tremendous talant, his power, timing and thunderous fills were one of the things that made Zeppelin unique. You cannot compare John Bonham to Neil Peart, Ian Paice or Keith Moon because each had a unique style. Nobody should draw comparisons, because each of the percussion greats bring something different and uniquely valuable to the sound. I’m only grateful that his genius will live on. Long May Ian Paice continue to entertain us. RIP Bonzo, Professor and The Loon.
This video is my favourite to date of all Drumeo releases. Thank you, Brandon and the rest of the team for putting this together. You guys really nailed it once again!! A few Zeppelin songs that kick my ass to this day are Houses of the Holy, Misty Mountain Hop, The Song Remains the Same, In the Evening and Achilles Last Stand. Thanks again!! ❤
You nailed the crossover and revving triplets, that sound is so killer. I always wonder if he meant for it to sound like an engine since he was so into anything motorized. That scene with him in his Hot Rod in Song Remains the same was so perfect.
Wow. I’m 61 so Led Zeppelin was my older brother’s music. I listen to it albums at time while running. Thanks for focusing me in on the genius that was JHB.
No one ever brings up Bonzo's Montreux. I want to thank you deeply. It's one of his best. It is truly my favorite. Then on to When the Levee Breaks. You have done him great service.
Love his fills on Dazed and Confused; his “off beat” drum near the end of Custard Pie (“drop down” part); his drum roll towards the end of Misty Mountain Hop; his fills during the outro of Whole Lotta Love; his fill at the end of “I can’t quit you”; his fills on “In my time of dying”. There are so many.
I saw Led Zeppelin on Long Island, NY in 1971. Bonham did the Moby Dick drum solo, and for 20+ minutes, he blew the audience's minds. I even remember him using the BIG Gong behind him. The entire band was fantastic, and to this day, they were the best rock band I have seen live....
Well done, DRUMEO!⭐️⭐️🥁⭐️⭐️ Could listen and watch a “loop” of this non stop! Such an appropriate name for John Bonham; The THUNDER!!! Fantastic video! Gotta say; can’t pick a favorite by Bonzo, just mesmerized by all that he performed 🙏🙏🙏.
One of my all time favorite Zep moments is on Stairway, the "it makes me wonder" part after the drums have come in. You can hear Bonzo's ride cymbal work and it's still breathtaking all these decades later. So much power and emotion and it's not even technical, just 100% pure heart.
During his LZ shows Jason talks a bit about his dad and one thing he says is that when his father played his, Jasons', small miniature kit it sounded huge. I don't doubt it.
I remember when the first Zeppelin album came out. When I heard those insane hi-hat/kick drum triplets in Good Times, Bad Times, I knew this guy was something special. Bonham was a force to be reckoned with. Even people don't normally notice drums would air-drum along with Bonzo. Page, Plant, and Jones knew what they had, and wisely gave him the latitude to do his unique thing.
After school I practiced 3 hours every night for years and still never totally reproduced his chrematistic Bonham swagger, God Bless, RIP John Bonham. Ken.
Fool in the Rain is one of my favorite songs because of that half-time shuffle. I loved it before I ever started playing drums. Later on my teacher showed it to me and I learned it and still love playing along with it!
One of the biggest things Bonham did in his solos to make it feel like him, was when he was counting the downbeats on the hi-hat, he would add the bass drum on the UP beat. This would make for a super cool and odd feel that was entirely Bonham. He used it in such a way that it became iconic to him without people even really realizing it.
In the mid-seventies when I was fifteen/sixteen and learning my craft, playing around the clubs 5 or 6 nights a week with my first three rock bands, Moby Dick was my solo. My own tribute to JB - but I never saw Zep live, only on The Old Grey Whistle Test. After seeing The Song Remains The Same in cinemas, I was overflowing with inspiration and to this very day I can't stop myself adding his triplets and quads into many of my fills when it's right for the music. I remember in 1978 we auditioned a new guitarist with TSRTS song and he played it flawlessly. I'll never forget the buzz of that audition. He got the gig!
Wonderful! In an era where drums were flat, dull and unresponsive John Bonham played and tuned his drums as they were. The inspiration as taken from the past. Bringing out the organic natural resonance of the drums. Simplistic and complex at times to create the full effect of tone. He also used his creative imagination to create orchestration for Led Zeppelin music. Historically and dramatically brilliant !
Tengo un amigo que me introdujo a Led Zeppelin cuando tuve 16 año y hasta el día de hoy sigo agradecido. Cualquier canción de ellos me recuerdo de el ya que lo perdí ase tres años. 😞
Love your Genius of series. Yes as musicians we should all take the time to understand why the greats were great, but it can be a lot of work and hard to figure out where to start and what was actually going on in the songs. Having someone point out things like this makes us all better, thank you for making these!
As a Led Zeppelin fan for 51 yrs. Bonham was one of my many favorite drummers. A unique & powerful drummer. I really enjoy Moby Dick / 1973 Madison Square Garden Concert. That will be my #1 drumming solo. For me. He was a great drummer throughout his career in Led Zeppelin. Miss you John. 😍😊😉😑😔❤️💜🙏🥁🎶🎤📻
I was Drumming in 1970 at age 13 ( Double bass ) and was following Bonzo, I have picked up my sticks after 53 years and still can play. I love it and feeling it in my arms but they are getting firmer and I love it. The greatest Drummer of all time especially Moby Dick where he became part of the kit.
My favorite Bonzo (and therefore Zeppelin) song is In My Time of Dying. When it gets rolling, I swear Bonzo takes over and plays LEAD DRUMS!!! I NEVER tire of jamming along with that!!! As a bonus comment, I think that Four Sticks is kind of a capstone for their whole trajectory, bridging the sexual drive of their earlier epic, Whole Lotta Love, with the ethereal progressions of their latter-day epic, Kashmir.
This was a great breakdown of Bonham's drumming on the classic Zeppelin tracks. From this video I particularly learned to appreciate his Timpani playing more than I had the first time I saw him use them in his Moby Dick solo. This video is more than a drum demonstration, it is also a great history lesson. Great job drumeo!
One of my favorite things ever is if you listen closely on Sine I’ve been loving you you can hear the squeak of his base drum petal. I was 16, baked ass hell with my headphones on when I noticed it and it melted my impressionable mind. When I first heard it it really helped bring it home that he was a person in a room playing it and humanized it so much
04:46 Bonzo’s bass drum (kick drum) work was as legendary as everything else he did. My favorite example of this is from Houses of the Holy, on the song “Over the Hills and Far Away”. I love his feel and dynamics, which always came through so perfectly in the Zeppelin recordings. My favorite drum track of his has to be “Stairway to Heaven”. If there is a better rock and roll drum recording, I’ve not heard it!
Back then drummers would try to do that using 2 bass drums and now they cheat with the double pedal they can adjust to double kick each time so they can do the quad.
A really good description of Bonham’s playing! I always though of his drumming as musical. The right groove, fill or solo…every time. Who else but a few of the Jazz guys (Buddy, Jack, Elvin, Philly Joe, Max…) were playing like that?
@@xristospapadimas4554 I love Bill Ward! Spent a lot of time working on his grooves and fills. That said, he’s not Bonham. The opening to Rock and Roll, that middle groove in How Many More Times, Out on the Tiles, and Fool in the Rain…and all the other stuff…some of the most classic grooves in the history of Rock and Roll. Bonham took what he heard from jazz and soul and put it to use in rock before most…a bunch of others followed. It might have been that he was surrounded by great musicians.
As far as favorite Bonham tracks, the (now remastered) Stairway to Heaven from The Song Remains the Same has the most insane footwork of any track in the catalogue. You need to go listen to it in a method you can hear the bass drum (headphones, good speakers, etc.) It will blow you away, especially if you grew up like i did listening to the album where the bass drum wasn't as noticeable.
This was superb- as a non-drummer, but HUGE fan of Bonzo's talent, I found this fascinating. Thank you for posting! I now have even greater regard for John Bonham- what a genius he was.
I was 11 at the time of his passing. I remember quite well the day. Previously my brother had tickets to the Cleveland show and was very excited to go. I was at home for some reason and he called me from work and broke the news of his death. I remember my brother saying next Zeppelin song I hear tune out the rest and listen to the drums and I did. I can tell you 40 some years later when I hear a Zeppelin song my mind (ears) automatically go to the drums. And still hear new stuff that he was doing. John's playing will never get old to me. To me it is as fresh as the day they recorded it. ✌️
Been revisiting Led Zepplin recently. Good Times Bad Times, the very first song on the very first album, what a way to introduce the world to Bonham. Favorite groove has to be Fool in The Rain. In Through The Out Door feels so fresh; like the band have found some direction again and are on the point of creating something new ... and then he's gone. The fills in the guitar solo of Stairway To Heaven are some of the best. There are times when Bonham and Page are so wrapped up together and the drums follow the melody rather than the bass.
Jonh, fuiste uno de mis tres baterías que marcaron mi vida como batería y la fuerza para graduarme de conservatorio musical ( 8 años ) porque quería tocar como tú. Gracias; tengo más de 40 años on the drum y la ilusión y las ganas son tan grandes como aquel niño en 1978 que empezó a dominar el Stick Control y quería tocar como tú . Gracias !!!!!!!
That was a very very good break down of the many aspects of Bonzos drumming. Superb work. To be in time is always the first aspect of a great drummer but to have it and stretch it to feel is even better. He really did have a great feel of power .. restraint.. and of time. Which made him one of the best of all time. His ability to improvise with the band within thier improvising was really what makes all of this even more amazing. Tuned in to all aspects of music and and time in real time with thier time with feel and complete knowledge to do whatever he wanted within that space or take over and lead the way. He was truly a drumming genius and for me it's easy to see why they just would not and could not go on without him from that relationship and feel for each other they had built up in so many different versions of thier music. Within that band and thier way of playing you can truly say he was irreplaceable. He most definitely was that good and who knows what else he would have came up with. One of the many great tragedies of great music. The beats that man could lay down. He was truly a gift to music.. Genius is the right description. Excellent breakdown . Thank you.
Bonzo was the top ! I was grateful to have met his son, Jason and daughter Debra in Reno, Nv. Jason put out an Album " In the Name of My Father" and he does have his fathers drive. My lil brother was an excellent drummer. He passed away in a auto accident. Bonham was his mentor as well as Ginger Baker of Black Sabbath. John had a staggered timed beat that he worked in and out of many of the songs. "Fool in The Rain" was one of the later examples of that. R.I.P.
Learn 10 of Led Zeppelin’s most famous grooves in this FREE Drumeo series!
► www.drumeo.com/grooves-of-john-bonham/
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What's amazing with Bonham is when you just play his drum parts the song is instantly recognisable. Led Zep was a freak band with a combination of 4 freak players. Unmatched in rock music history.
True. His solos in concert were the thing of legend
I love Zep as much as the next guy but there’s simply too many amazing bands to call any one of them the single greatest. That’s a good thing.
I understand when people are reluctant to say "greatest", but for me Zeppelin was the 'greatest' rock band, ever, for a few reasons, including the ones you listed. There's a reason they were called 'The Mighty Zeppelin'!
@@revyu6754 yeah same here. Their music made a kid feel electric back in the day.
Don’t think so I can immediately think of 4 rock musicians better than Led Zeppelin.
One thing you left out is that other drummers were skeptical that Bonzo was actually playing alone on Achilles Last Stand or Good Times Bad Times because no drummer had ever double or tripple thumped the kick bass while doing all the rest. Other drummers thought that was dubbed. He was the best. No debate. Rolling waves of thunder.
Neil Peart was better.
@@Fred-vy1hm Technically yes, but Bonham laid the foundations first...
@@Fred-vy1hm Rush fans are really getting on my nerves, there isn't a clip about Bonham without you coming up with some shit about Neil Peart, may he rest in peace. You're hard, Rush was a bad band.
@@MM-lp5pp or really any drummer discussion for that matter
@@MM-lp5pp I disagree with the bad band bit. But yeah, rush fans can be unbearable
How all these geniuses came together is a miracle in itself!
Read Jimmy's book mate, Light and Shade. He picked the band, moulded it and the deal was always that if one goes, they all go. That's why he didn't even bother trying to replace John. Great book.
@@deanhall6045 Yes, I’m aware but still once in a lifetime!
There is no argument!!! John Bonham was the greatest drummer in history!!!
@@joycebrown1567 there's an argument there but it's mute, he was excellent. No doubt. Cheers.
England is small, maybe that helps.
Thought we had crap seats when we arrived at the Nassau Coliseum in '72 seated above and in back (maybe 30' away) of John Bonham's drum kit. Boy were we wrong. Thru the haze of weed we had a birds eye view of Bonham wailing away at a perspective many never had the good luck to see and hear. Bonham pummeled the kit just like Mike Tyson tore into Marvis Frazier back in the day but for 3 freaking hours not 30 seconds. He was trully a beast of a drummer. Great video!
Man I used to ride my bike around the Coliseum in 71' and Hofstra and the creeks and Apollo Diner as a little kid... You have a cherished memory in that show !!! I went there to see Evel Knievel jump the Snake River, I had no idea how we were going to see him LOL as I didn't know it was going to be on a satellite feed or whatever LOL ... was still cool... They were trying to kill Knievel i think - scared Evel too lol...Cheers Maurice !
Amazing. That must have been pure musical gold.
Bonham and Jones, together, made one of the best rhythm couplings in the planet. They fed off each other's energy and made a solid rhythm together. Some of the best rhythms to ever be played.👍🏻🙂🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
It was great for you guys to include the appreciation and recognition that the rest of the band had for his tenacity and unique ability.
Thanks! I found those radio interviews a few days ago, and I figured they would be perfect for this video. Glad you enjoyed it!
Pity he didn’t mentioned one the most important thing about Bonhams drumming and that is FINESSE!!!
The hidden truth revealed; are you brave enough to learn it? 🌳The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 🌳
@@BrandonToews 0o0o0o0o00o0o0
@@BrandonToews Dr 4r54
I remember thinking as a 16 year old I could get as good a Bonham. I’m now 46 ,been playing this whole time and cant come CLOSE to Bonzo’s ability and musical instincts. I didn’t even know what I didn’t know. And Bonham was NINETEEN on Zeppelins first album!!🤯
no he was 21 but still
i feel ya :) 🙏🙏
Amen brother.
@@niconpvc1292 he was 20 lol, both close
When I was a kid in the 60s I knew he had a special talent he's one of the reasons why I started drumming myself
I honestly cant come up with a better signature song than "Achilles Last Stand". Not only it requires lots of stamina to keep that groove for +10 minutes, it's also the subtle fills that appear here and there, locking in the bass and the guitar riff. I think it's always been his most complex drumming
ABSOLUTELY!!. The live version is totally unreal. Page is a wash of sweat.
Achilles is one of those songs that I don't think was made to even be played live. But somehow they pulled it off.
JPJ's galloping bass line really propels things as well, but, yeah, the drum fills are fantastic!
The hidden truth revealed; are you brave enough to learn it? 🌳The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 🌳
@@D-Fens_1632 That's the genius of Pagey, wright something that you don't think can be played live, then pull it off.
I totally understand when the band decided to stop when one of them was gone. The four of them were a music miracle that isn't gonna happen ever again in history
For me, Bonham’s drumming on When the Levee Breaks is the most moving. It’s slow and methodical and yet at the same time powerful and intense. It is truly the driving force behind a great, great song. Also, when I saw his solos up close on the video, I was thinking that the neurons in his brain must be moving at the speed of light and yet not in a haphazard way but focused and precise. He was truly amazing. Great video!
In the post ,Led-ZePPelin eres and you're sixteen- years -old in 1983 listening to When The Levee Breaks, that is when your coordination crosses over and develops .
Drumming was like the coming flood
Yeah - Levee and Kashmir are tied for first in my head. Can never choose which. RIP BONZO❤
No one ever mentions 'Out on the tiles'. Thats close to his best too. Cheers
Greatest most iconic drum track ever recorded imo
The things Bonham was able to do with a single kick have always been incredible to me.
The hidden truth revealed; are you brave enough to learn it? 🌳The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 🌳
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 veganism is based but this annoying unrelated shit will only move people away from it
@@federruchi6147 I'm a vegan.
The things Bonham was able to do while literally completely incoherent on drugs is genius in itself. He was one of a kind. Inspiration to all. I’ve never heard anyone play even remotely similar to him.
That's the thing about these legendary musicians. Drugs seem to be good for their playing! Hendrix ....
His drumming on "In My Time of Dying", especially the fills, is absolutely genius. Definitely my favorite of all that he did.
finally someone mentions this song, it’s my favorite work by him and my favorite led zeppelin song! it’s insane.
My favorite song is hands down good times bad times the bass drum is absolutely incredible
Yep you aint gonna get better drums than Bonham on this x
@@Himmel.Himmel There's too many songs to mention, to be fair.
Agreed. I love the groove on that song. It drags a bit behind the beat like a great New Orleans drummer would.
I was lucky to see Led Zeppelin 3 times, and being a drummer, when he started his solo I was in awe, to me he is the greatest rock drummer hands down.
Eric, i seen him too & agree Totally .
I'm so envious! Sadly I never got to see them but seriously I'm happy that you did . 👍
On live songs Bonham had this unbelievable ability to throw every trick and Bonhamism he had at a song yet never interfered with pages soloing or plants singing. Zeppelin truly was a tour de force of musical prowess but always was about the song. Legends!!!!
Hahaha mostly true but to say he never interfered is a stretch. There were many occasions where he left the others baffled and totally interfered but they were just so good it didn't matter.....and Bonzo didn't care, win win.
@deanhall6045 let's just say the dude threw alot of shit against the wall, and most of it stuck. I sure miss that guy. I sometimes wonder what it would be like if he made it. Get sober like most? Start working out, getting buff like alot? Still making music? Touring? I miss him. We lost him too soon.
The greatest Led Zeppelin song is their first song of their first album. Good Times, Bad Times start with Bonham absolutely killing it. You can't help but being hooked when you hear it.
Yup that's the first song I ever heard by led zeppelin and my 8 year old mind thought man those drums are loud I love it but oh man when I really deep dived into their material I was shocked. Best hard rock band on the planet long live Led zeppelin!!!!!
Agreed! His kick drum mastery had me hooked from the first time I heard it.
I agree with this. Led Zeppelin isn't my favorite band but the very first song on their very first album is musically mind-blowing. Everyone is on point and Bonham lays down one of the best drum tracks in rock.
I was fortunate enough to see John Bonham with Led Zeppelin at the LA Forum in 1977. It was a three hour show with no opening act. At the end of Bonzo's drum solo, when he went to the timpani, Keith Moon came out on stage and manned the second timpani, where they battled back and forth. While watching them I never would have guessed that they would both be gone so soon. The same year I saw Carl Palmer with ELP, and Ansley Dunbar with Journey being the opening act. What a year that was.
6/23/77! I've heard that amazing show many times. I am so incredibly jealous! th-cam.com/video/sIcJta3vNGY/w-d-xo.html
@@sledzeppelin Here's the kicker-the tickets were $25.00 each.
I saw them on 7 -17 - 77 at the Kingdome and the tickets were only $10 and I got mine in the parking lot for $3 since that was all I had that day........I saw Bonham out by the Zeppelin semi's parked behind the Kingdome with the guy who drove us there and nobody else was out there ( I was 19)
@@JAHISRAEL I first saw Led Zep in '72 at The Free Trade Hall Manchester England. I got a ticket off a tout outside for £5. Doesn't sound a lot today ut my weekly wage was £7.35. Best concert I've ever been to.
@@JAHISRAEL I never got to see Zeppelin, but I saw Jason Bonham's band in '96 and he did a fabulous job.
He sat and talked to me for about 7 or 8 minutes and autographed one of his sticks for me.
He is a wonderful, humble man who seems like he could be my best friend if circumstances were right.
Wonderful man/musician!
His kit just sounds so good. Whoever mic’ed it up and recorded it also deserves praise.
John was my mentor's best mate- they would be asleep on his pub floor whilst punters stepped over them the next day, and Jason (his son) played in my pub a few times- really good guy but had a few problems at the time, sorted himself out a few years later thankfully. 2 decades later I worked with Jimmy on stage and recounted a few anecdotes about my old mentor and John and he was like- "I remember that!!"....cool thing was 2 years later he remembered my name 🙂
My dad was a truly swinging trad jazz and big band drummer in our hometown of New Orleans for over 60 years. Could barely, if at all read music, just had that natural syncopation groove. So growing up at his side , hearing and watching him, gives me all the more appreciation for the talent and genius of Bonham.
I saw Bonham in Manheim Germany in 1980.. the second to last time he played ever.. his genius has been my top influence for over 50 years... I'm now 67.. I just bought a new Ludwig nine pc double bass kit for what.. Bonham only used a 5/7 pc kit ...a life time of practice and I still sometimes only glimpse his genius.. peace brother John ☮️
This is the feature we have all been waiting for! He has always been my drumming idol since I’d first known Led Zeppelin. Thank you guys so much Drumeo! ❤
Thanks, Noah!
@@BrandonToews Anytime!
The hidden truth revealed; are you brave enough to learn it? 🌳The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 🌳
Since I was able to hear drums
@@noahrees8454 how come you don't reply to more people???
I never get tired of listening to Bonham. My favourite rock drummer. A true original.
Legendary. He may be the most influential drummer in history.
Beware! I had a reply exactly like this about a guitar giveaway that I just had to pay the shipping on. It was a SCAM! 😡😡😡😡
The hidden truth revealed; are you brave enough to learn it? 🌳The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 🌳
Agreed, except remove the word : may. He's the only drummer in the history of any music who's gained appreciation ten fold since his glory days.
He may be, but then again maybe not?
@@Doo_Doo_Patrol most influential rock drummer for sure. Jazz drummers were equally or even more influential
LZ will forever have my respect for quitting when JB died. There is just no replacing that kind of natural talent
I also love that whenever they've reunited for anniversary shows - not counting Live Aid - they chose Jason Bonham as the drummer. There are many famous and highly regarded drummers who would kill for that gig but they've honoured John's legacy by inviting his son to play instead.
I like His sons drumming better Jason and his mom and others raised him up NOT to be angry over his dad dying at such a young age !
I honestly can't get enough of Zep-related vids, and the ones on Bonzo definitely never disappoint. Led Zep was like an all-star band with a top-three of all time at each instrument (including voice). For me, still the greatest rockband of all time. I guess the GROAT?
It's not just what he played, it's how young he was when he played it. It's completely crazy.
Every Bonham note ever played occurred before he was 33. When trying to appreciate the whole of his music it's mind blowing how young he was and how much we lost when he passed. I can't even begin to imagine the music he could be creating today that is just lost to the universe. I feel the same about Hendrix and especially Janis. We'll never know except that it's certain the world would be a better place.
@@thane9 Ironically, think of how many musicians they inspired because they actually died. Dying young = legend status. Many folks surely picked up the sticks because of this legendary drummer had died, indeed making the world a better place (musically at least).
@@thane9 I totally agree with you. It breaks my heart to see great musicians try to find spiritual peace in drugs and/or alcohol. They will never find it there and so many of them wind up dead sooner or later 😢
@@thane9 Well said, and all true as I see it.
0:54
Dude, you are a fantastic drummer, yourself. Pretty much a monster, actually.
Thank you!🙏🏻
What I cant get over is how young he was to be so Accomplished & Musically developed.
I saw him shortly before he passed and in all honesty I've never seen or heard a drummer hit as hard as John and I was so mesmerized during his solo it seemed like I woke up when it was over! I remember looking at each member of Led Zeppelin Robert , John , Jimmy and John Bonham and thinking I'm in the same building they are !!!
His slinky groove and musicality always floors me. I especially love how he tends to play fills slightly ahead of the beat and then just before the crash, there's a slight delay giving the effect of a powerful sling shot.
I feel bad for those who haven't yet discovered the joy and art of wonderful drummers. It's too underappreciated today.
I've spent my life on the keyboard mate, I'm 63 now and realised about 20 years ago that I'd picked the wrong instrument. Don't get me wrong, piano pays well but that drummer, man, he's always having the most fun at every gig. Cheers.
Elektronika digitalizacija gej populacija sjebala roken rol .
Much drumming today is terrible and could be done better with a drum machine.
Honestly, I could never really grasp why JB was so revered. He was an amazing drummer, yes, top 5 or hire. With your explanation of his jazz influence I realized that I had been digging into those drummers long before I had heard of Led Zeppelin. It was great to see how he took those ideas and applied them in new was to rock and roll. A true innovator.
What the Polyphonic video “What made John Bonham such a good drummer”, that’s a good video too
he was the first heavy handed drummer easy
*Higher...
@@poindextertunes He worked in construction before he was in the band, so he whacked the shit out of the drums like he was getting paid per hit!....
@@exsappermadman25055 🤣😂🤣😂👍🎶✨️🥁🤣😂🤣😂
It was 1975 the first time I heard Led Zeppelin, I was 12 years old…it was then that I knew that I would, without doubt, become a drummer…47 years later Bonzo is still my primary influence and Zeppelin is on rotation still to this day. My favorite Zeppelin song, hands down, is the Wanton Song….a system of weights and measures has yet to be devised to weigh just how heavy that groove is…
Same story here 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Led Zeppelin has always been my favorite rock group. They are a band that you literally can listen to every single album and not get tired. Out of all of their songs there might be one song that I don’t like that much but it’s still good. All I can say is that they are amazing musicians.
I’ve never been a big fan of Coda personally but I can listen to Presence and In Through The Outdoor repeatedly and not get bored, under appreciated albums.
These "genius of" videos are so good! I love the way you break down iconic licks so we can see what's really being played.
I grew up in the 70s and learned feel from Bonham. For a long time I thought he was always a little behind the beat. Eventually, I realized I was in front of it and he was doing it just right.
You are 100% correct on the simplicity of the beat in when the Levee breaks. Everybody thinks there's more going on. But the beauty of it WAS the simplicity. The effect of the big room sound is what made that groove so freaking phenomenal. I'm so glad you pointed that out.
In My Time of dying, is one of my favorite drum tracks of all time!
An incredible Bonzo groove and a top Zep tune for me is The Rover. IMHO it's the most overlooked and underappreciated entry in their catalog. Fantastic intro and great groove afterwards.
In a way I kind of agree. I was a youngster playing that number and it's a recommendation for anyone testing the waters of John Bonham.
Kashmir is my favorite, but here is a little background. I can’t remember the 1st time I heard Zeppelin,but in 1972 driving to school we would always pop Led Zeppelin in the 8 track of my 1967 Mustang. Now there’s nostalgia for you.
YESSSSS!!! he's literally one of thee greatest drummers, and when he was asked about it in that interview he was so humble 👏👏
an absolute beast on the drums
My drumming hero since around 88, I had been playing for 4 years mainly for fun until I heard Bonham and that changed everything. Best advice I personally ever heard from Bonham was "it's not what you play but what you don't play" took a bit to understand, such a simplistic genius
I loved the dig Plant gaveJason Bonham when he introduced him at the O2 concert, referring to Jason’s double bass drum pedal. Just to remind the world that his old mate could do things with one pedal most drummers couldn’t do with two. Jason played brilliantly that night, but John was missed terribly. Be at peace, Bonzo. You will never be forgotten.
I was sent to a boarding school just shy of my 12th birthday in 1974, and very much a child. Dreadfully homesick, I was introduced to Led Zeppelin on my first morning when our dorm prefect put Black Dog on his turntable at full blast. MIND. BLOWN. Even back then I realised that I was listening to something historic, and the combination of Mr Page, Mr Plant, Mr Jones, and Mr Bonham still has the power to move me to tears. The favourite varies with the mood, but Bonzo will always be the driving force. Right now, D'Yer Mak'er is certainly up there. Go figure...
It's too hard to pick a favourite Lef Zeppelin song but 'Dazed and Confused' for me is so evocative and nostalgic of the 70's it almost brings me to tears.
His turnarounds and morphing grooves don’t get explicit treatment here, but they are a big part of his greatness and his influence on many of the best drummers in subsequent rock-and-roll and in related popular music. Bonham created parts that move the music and move with the music. As you did say, his feel was a huge part of his effectiveness and appeal. His parts breathe, and they pump blood through the songs.
This entire video didnt really highlight how good he was. They played 3 seconds of achilles last stand and jumped into too many songs too shortly without letting them cook.
Bonham effected me both consciously and unconsciousnessly. I forget just how much his drumming has gone into my mind and body. As soon as I hear a Zeppelin song- everything comes awake, and I instantly remember how familiar and intimate his playing and the music is to me. 🎉
Fantastic. 🕉
Thank you John and Zepp (!)
I know exactly what you mean.
It's always nice to listen to ways that they made old recordings unique. Like recording drums from the second story of the building. I'm not one of those people that hates what they hear from the modern top 40... but I do feel like that organic feel of off time tempo and raw recordings is missing in modern popular music. Everything is all perfect to the metronome but that raw feeling is just so addictive.
I heard a story about that recording - apparently Bonzo would keep adding drums to the kit, and every time he took a break the others would sneak in and remove a few!
@QTEEP - I think what you say is true , to an extent, but hear me out for a minute;
I started getting into making beats on drum machines and computers a few years back,
(I've always been around music, played drums in marching and concert band, and play a few different instruments)
and one thing I took note of , right away; many hip hop and EDM beat makers take GREAT care and go above & beyond to make their beats off a bit, metronomically speaking, in fact, it's almost an unwritten rule to make hi hats and other percussive sounds off grid, and to turn quantization OFF,
a lot of boom bap hip hop purists would never touch quantization -
Having said this, there is a lot of 4 on the floor beats and even other genres that are so sterile, tight to the grid, and so generic, it's rather off putting and really rather "less than" creative
I am almost 69 and I got to see Led Zepplin in San Diego in the mid 1970s and though it's been ages, I can still remember my feelings as I watched and listen to them play. Of course, I have all of their albums when they were released. Bonham is the greatest drummer of all times, and the entire group are fantastic musicians. I have their music so I can listen to them while driving but I can't listen because every time they come on, I can't drive and listen to their music at the same time! I wind up drumming along.
Bonzo was a tremendous talant, his power, timing and thunderous fills were one of the things that made Zeppelin unique. You cannot compare John Bonham to Neil Peart, Ian Paice or Keith Moon because each had a unique style. Nobody should draw comparisons, because each of the percussion greats bring something different and uniquely valuable to the sound. I’m only grateful that his genius will live on. Long May Ian Paice continue to entertain us. RIP Bonzo, Professor and The Loon.
This video is my favourite to date of all Drumeo releases. Thank you, Brandon and the rest of the team for putting this together. You guys really nailed it once again!!
A few Zeppelin songs that kick my ass to this day are Houses of the Holy, Misty Mountain Hop, The Song Remains the Same, In the Evening and Achilles Last Stand.
Thanks again!! ❤
Thanks a lot, Stephen! Appreciate it!
Let’s go Brandon!
You nailed the crossover and revving triplets, that sound is so killer.
I always wonder if he meant for it to sound like an engine since he was so into anything motorized. That scene with him in his Hot Rod in Song Remains the same was so perfect.
Excellent video. My favourite is When The Levee Breaks. I saw them live in 1972. Absolutely fabulous.
Been thrashing 'Fool in the rain'
Wow. I’m 61 so Led Zeppelin was my older brother’s music. I listen to it albums at time while running. Thanks for focusing me in on the genius that was JHB.
No one ever brings up Bonzo's Montreux. I want to thank you deeply. It's one of his best. It is truly my favorite. Then on to When the Levee Breaks. You have done him great service.
Very good tribute to his playing!!
Truly a shame that he passed so early...
And in such a tragic and avoidable way!
One can only imagine what an 80’s Zeppelin could’ve sounded like…
No way... How the video started, I started crying.
Bonzo is my Master...
An amazing talent. For me, I love the complexity and syncopated effects on “Fool in the Rain”.
I just said I'd been thrashing fool in the rain, Masterful!!!
Brilliant!!!
Purdey shuffle.
@@RunOfTheHind Yes, you can hear a similar Purdie shuffle on Steely Dan's "Babylon Sister".
Love his fills on Dazed and Confused; his “off beat” drum near the end of Custard Pie (“drop down” part); his drum roll towards the end of Misty Mountain Hop; his fills during the outro of Whole Lotta Love; his fill at the end of “I can’t quit you”; his fills on “In my time of dying”. There are so many.
I saw Led Zeppelin on Long Island, NY in 1971.
Bonham did the Moby Dick drum solo, and for 20+ minutes, he blew the audience's minds.
I even remember him using the BIG Gong behind him.
The entire band was fantastic, and to this day, they were the best rock band I have seen live....
On Black Dog, if you listen intently, you can hear him subtly click his sticks together each and everytime the band comes in to play the riff.
You can also hear the slight squeak of his bass drum pedal in the intro of "Since I've Been Loving You".
@theedmee he drum tapped in a ton of songs. In black dog they merely moved it to the level of part of the song.
Well done, DRUMEO!⭐️⭐️🥁⭐️⭐️
Could listen and watch a “loop” of this non stop! Such an appropriate name for John Bonham; The THUNDER!!!
Fantastic video! Gotta say; can’t pick a favorite by Bonzo, just mesmerized by all that he performed 🙏🙏🙏.
Thanks!
The creativity of this man always blew my mind. Great video!
My personal favorite,(as a non drummer) is Bonham's performance on "In My Time Of Dying"... Pure Emotion. Pure Perfection. Am I Wrong?
One of my all time favorite Zep moments is on Stairway, the "it makes me wonder" part after the drums have come in. You can hear Bonzo's ride cymbal work and it's still breathtaking all these decades later. So much power and emotion and it's not even technical, just 100% pure heart.
He was a master tuner. With his tuning and accurate striking he made his kit sing.
Good point
LZ IV had the greatest drum sounds ever recorded in rock history.
@@Nred9999 and complex with songs like Black Dog and Stairway.
During his LZ shows Jason talks a bit about his dad and one thing he says is that when his father played his, Jasons', small miniature kit it sounded huge. I don't doubt it.
I remember when the first Zeppelin album came out. When I heard those insane hi-hat/kick drum triplets in Good Times, Bad Times, I knew this guy was something special. Bonham was a force to be reckoned with. Even people don't normally notice drums would air-drum along with Bonzo. Page, Plant, and Jones knew what they had, and wisely gave him the latitude to do his unique thing.
After school I practiced 3 hours every night for years and still never totally reproduced his chrematistic Bonham swagger, God Bless, RIP John Bonham. Ken.
Fool in the Rain is one of my favorite songs because of that half-time shuffle. I loved it before I ever started playing drums. Later on my teacher showed it to me and I learned it and still love playing along with it!
One of the biggest things Bonham did in his solos to make it feel like him, was when he was counting the downbeats on the hi-hat, he would add the bass drum on the UP beat. This would make for a super cool and odd feel that was entirely Bonham. He used it in such a way that it became iconic to him without people even really realizing it.
John Bonham and Neil Peart are my favorite old school rock drummers. Hell I basically learned how to play listening to Bonham.
Was blessed to see Rush in Denver (2015) and Neil Peart was BEYOND amazing. He really was a legend.
@@heathermetz6576 Oh what I wouldnt give to go back in time to watch Neil play live.
He seemed to perfectly balance drumming *for* the songs, while simultaneously grabbing your attention with every hit.
In the mid-seventies when I was fifteen/sixteen and learning my craft, playing around the clubs 5 or 6 nights a week with my first three rock bands, Moby Dick was my solo. My own tribute to JB - but I never saw Zep live, only on The Old Grey Whistle Test. After seeing The Song Remains The Same in cinemas, I was overflowing with inspiration and to this very day I can't stop myself adding his triplets and quads into many of my fills when it's right for the music. I remember in 1978 we auditioned a new guitarist with TSRTS song and he played it flawlessly. I'll never forget the buzz of that audition. He got the gig!
Wonderful! In an era where drums were flat, dull and unresponsive John Bonham played and tuned his drums as they were. The inspiration as taken from the past. Bringing out the organic natural resonance of the drums. Simplistic and complex at times to create the full effect of tone. He also used his creative imagination to create orchestration for Led Zeppelin music. Historically and dramatically brilliant !
Bonham taught us how to feel the instrument!
A los 11 años conocí a Led Zeppelin y hoy a mis 45 años sigue siendo mi banda favorita saludos desde Chile 🇨🇱
Tengo un amigo que me introdujo a Led Zeppelin cuando tuve 16 año y hasta el día de hoy sigo agradecido. Cualquier canción de ellos me recuerdo de el ya que lo perdí ase tres años. 😞
Love your Genius of series. Yes as musicians we should all take the time to understand why the greats were great, but it can be a lot of work and hard to figure out where to start and what was actually going on in the songs. Having someone point out things like this makes us all better, thank you for making these!
Glad you enjoy the series!😁
Every song John Bonham played had something unique to pick up on. His versatility is unmatched
As a Led Zeppelin fan for 51 yrs. Bonham was one of my many favorite drummers. A unique & powerful drummer. I really enjoy Moby Dick / 1973 Madison Square Garden Concert. That will be my #1 drumming solo. For me. He was a great drummer throughout his career in Led Zeppelin. Miss you John. 😍😊😉😑😔❤️💜🙏🥁🎶🎤📻
I was Drumming in 1970 at age 13 ( Double bass ) and was following Bonzo, I have picked up my sticks after 53 years and still can play. I love it and feeling it in my arms but they are getting firmer and I love it. The greatest Drummer of all time especially Moby Dick where he became part of the kit.
My favorite Bonzo (and therefore Zeppelin) song is In My Time of Dying. When it gets rolling, I swear Bonzo takes over and plays LEAD DRUMS!!! I NEVER tire of jamming along with that!!!
As a bonus comment, I think that Four Sticks is kind of a capstone for their whole trajectory, bridging the sexual drive of their earlier epic, Whole Lotta Love, with the ethereal progressions of their latter-day epic, Kashmir.
This was a great breakdown of Bonham's drumming on the classic Zeppelin tracks. From this video I particularly learned to appreciate his Timpani playing more than I had the first time I saw him use them in his Moby Dick solo. This video is more than a drum demonstration, it is also a great history lesson. Great job drumeo!
If you listen to Stairway, when he comes in, he is slightly swinging the feel.
One of my favorite things ever is if you listen closely on Sine I’ve been loving you you can hear the squeak of his base drum petal. I was 16, baked ass hell with my headphones on when I noticed it and it melted my impressionable mind. When I first heard it it really helped bring it home that he was a person in a room playing it and humanized it so much
what an amazing band - not able to move forward without the drummer - says it all
04:46 Bonzo’s bass drum (kick drum) work was as legendary as everything else he did. My favorite example of this is from Houses of the Holy, on the song “Over the Hills and Far Away”. I love his feel and dynamics, which always came through so perfectly in the Zeppelin recordings. My favorite drum track of his has to be “Stairway to Heaven”. If there is a better rock and roll drum recording, I’ve not heard it!
Back then drummers would try to do that using 2 bass drums and now they cheat with the double pedal they can adjust to double kick each time so they can do the quad.
A really good description of Bonham’s playing! I always though of his drumming as musical. The right groove, fill or solo…every time. Who else but a few of the Jazz guys (Buddy, Jack, Elvin, Philly Joe, Max…) were playing like that?
BILL WARD...!!!
@@xristospapadimas4554 I love Bill Ward! Spent a lot of time working on his grooves and fills. That said, he’s not Bonham. The opening to Rock and Roll, that middle groove in How Many More Times, Out on the Tiles, and Fool in the Rain…and all the other stuff…some of the most classic grooves in the history of Rock and Roll. Bonham took what he heard from jazz and soul and put it to use in rock before most…a bunch of others followed. It might have been that he was surrounded by great musicians.
As far as favorite Bonham tracks, the (now remastered) Stairway to Heaven from The Song Remains the Same has the most insane footwork of any track in the catalogue. You need to go listen to it in a method you can hear the bass drum (headphones, good speakers, etc.) It will blow you away, especially if you grew up like i did listening to the album where the bass drum wasn't as noticeable.
This was superb- as a non-drummer, but HUGE fan of Bonzo's talent, I found this fascinating. Thank you for posting! I now have even greater regard for John Bonham- what a genius he was.
I was 11 at the time of his passing. I remember quite well the day. Previously my brother had tickets to the Cleveland show and was very excited to go. I was at home for some reason and he called me from work and broke the news of his death. I remember my brother saying next Zeppelin song I hear tune out the rest and listen to the drums and I did. I can tell you 40 some years later when I hear a Zeppelin song my mind (ears) automatically go to the drums. And still hear new stuff that he was doing. John's playing will never get old to me. To me it is as fresh as the day they recorded it. ✌️
Bonham is a legend! I think his part in Led Zeppelin has inspired so many musicians!!
Been revisiting Led Zepplin recently. Good Times Bad Times, the very first song on the very first album, what a way to introduce the world to Bonham.
Favorite groove has to be Fool in The Rain. In Through The Out Door feels so fresh; like the band have found some direction again and are on the point of creating something new ... and then he's gone.
The fills in the guitar solo of Stairway To Heaven are some of the best. There are times when Bonham and Page are so wrapped up together and the drums follow the melody rather than the bass.
The man was a genius, enough said.
Jonh, fuiste uno de mis tres baterías que marcaron mi vida como batería y la fuerza para graduarme de conservatorio musical ( 8 años ) porque quería tocar como tú.
Gracias; tengo más de 40 años on the drum y la ilusión y las ganas son tan grandes como aquel niño en 1978 que empezó a dominar el Stick Control y quería tocar como tú .
Gracias !!!!!!!
I was fortunate enough to see these ol' chaps in '77. Still to this day it was the best concert I have been to and I have been to MANY.
That was a very very good break down of the many aspects of Bonzos drumming.
Superb work.
To be in time is always the first aspect of a great drummer but to have it and stretch it to feel is even better.
He really did have a great feel of power .. restraint.. and of time.
Which made him one of the best of all time.
His ability to improvise with the band within thier improvising was really what makes all of this even more amazing.
Tuned in to all aspects of music and and time in real time with thier time with feel and complete knowledge to do whatever he wanted within that space or take over and lead the way.
He was truly a drumming genius and for me it's easy to see why they just would not and could not go on without him from that relationship and feel for each other they had built up in so many different versions of thier music.
Within that band and thier way of playing you can truly say he was irreplaceable.
He most definitely was that good and who knows what else he would have came up with.
One of the many great tragedies of great music.
The beats that man could lay down.
He was truly a gift to music..
Genius is the right description.
Excellent breakdown .
Thank you.
I cant pick just one Bonham track or solo because they are ALL innovated, complicated, and creative! RIP BONZO! You were the best!
His drums sounded so good too. That thumpy deep bass drum is so iconic.
Bonzo was the top !
I was grateful to have met his son, Jason and daughter Debra in Reno, Nv.
Jason put out an Album " In the Name of My Father" and he does have his fathers drive.
My lil brother was an excellent drummer. He passed away in a auto accident. Bonham was his mentor as well as Ginger Baker of Black Sabbath.
John had a staggered timed beat that he worked in and out of many of the songs. "Fool in The Rain" was one of the later examples of that.
R.I.P.
Ginger Baker was in Cream with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. Bill Ward is Sabbath's drummer. I hope you don't mind me clearing that up.