John Bonham that is, who died [accidentally] 38 years ago TODAY [25/9/1980]....Bonzo had had a massive drinking session on the way to, and while at, Bray Studios before heading to Jimmy Page's house...then later he fell asleep, and choked on his own vomit.

'Immigrant Song'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8OtzJtp-EM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is why JB passed away aged just 32..from WIKI..


'On 24 September 1980, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios for a tour of North America, to begin 17 October in Montreal, Canada – the band's first since 1977. During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he drank four quadruple vodka Screwdrivers (16 shots between 400–560 ml, also equivalent to 9-13 American standard drinks). He then continued to drink heavily after arriving at rehearsals. The band stopped rehearsing late in the evening and then went to Page's house, the Old Mill House in Clewer, Windsor. After midnight on Thursday, 25 September, Bonham fell asleep; someone took him to bed and placed him on his side. Led Zeppelin tour manager Benji LeFevre and John Paul Jones found him unresponsive the next afternoon. Bonham was later pronounced dead at 32 years old.

The inquest on 27 October 1980 showed that in 24 hours, Bonham had consumed around 40 shots (1–1.4 litres) of 40% ABV vodka, after which he vomited and choked. The finding was accidental death. An autopsy found no other recreational drugs in Bonham's body. According to Rolling Stone, he was on a medication for anxiety and depression at this time. Bonham's remains were cremated and his ashes interred on 12 October 1980, at Rushock parish church, Worcestershire.

John Bonham's gravestone at Rushock Parish churchyard, Worcestershire, with drumsticks left in tribute by fans not shown]
Rather than replace Bonham, Led Zeppelin decided to disband. They said in a press release on 4 December 1980: "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 signed "Led Zeppelin".

Didn't they look at Neil Peart (Rush) as a replacement before disbanding?

Yes, he was.

was he buggery the best, he was good in a rock band, but that's as far as it went

I think BJ Wilson from Procol Harum was asked to be the original drummer in Led Zep before they settled for Bonham. Just mentioning because IMO BJ along with Ginger Baker are the best rock drummers.

Fantastic drummer he was for a rock band.
I always used to predominantly take notice of lead guitarists/vocalists when I watched bands but as I've aged I take much more of an interest in the drummers (and base to a lesser extent).
I dislike modern use of drum machines/loops on albums- get a real drummer ffs, there must be plenty of good session men around who will sound better & add a bit of variation.

A couple of drummers I've seen in the last 12 months that I've really appreciated are: Kliph Scurlock - playing with Gruff Rhys when he started touring his latest album (evidently he used to drum for Flaming Lips but I know nowt about about them); Michael Jerome who plays with Richard Thompson when he does electric/band tours.

Keith Moon and Dave Grohl would have to be in any Rock drummer Top 5 , with the likes of Baker/Lars/Bonham /Peart also vying for the same positions imvho.Though as the cat said when it licked the dogs ars@ “its a matter of taste”

moon was just a noisy git

Brilliant drummer, that’s a given. Best ever? All down to personal opinion. Of his contemporaries, probably only Cozy Powell came close to matching Bonham’s power and technique.

Gene Krupa - spectacular, amazing, best.

Carl Palmer. He’s still alive and playing (and teaching). I saw him last November

I have to agree on Carl Palmer, I,ve seen him as early as The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, and Emmerson, Lake and Palmer
Also Bill Bruford is very good.

I'm staying out of this.

Buddy Rich

Oh go on then - guess how good this guy turned out to be !!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA5D-WEcNGA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvu0mZUFHMg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Buddy Rich for me.

Awesome. Thanks for that Funky

buddy rich ? no, that lad from't farmers glory was ten times better, rich was a****

As drummers go Neil Peart of Rush is the best there is,watched him in concert since 78 over 35 times never failed to deliver and also not just the drumming the song writing is out of this world , but then again I’m a bit biased .2112

Cosy Powell was highly rated. Didn't he have a single out called dance with the devil ?

/cozy, not tea cosy, and anyway, he was just a novelty act

Benny Benjamin for me (and John Lennon).

Billy Cobham for me.

"Cozy Powell was highly rated."

He was: good friends with John Bonham, and admired by Carl Palmer (who he replaced for a while in ELP) and a close colleague of Brian May (Queen) and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)to name a few. All but Bonham were in attendance at the unveiling of a blue plaque in Cozy's home town of Cirencester commemorating his life. (I was there, too).

The guy at Rovers was

Nah.

The crown belongs jointly to Zig Modeliste of The Meters and Al Jackson, Jr. of Booker T and the M.G.s.

Bonham was mighty- if “Kashmir” doesn’t thrill you, you may already be dead- but not the best.

Animal from the Muppets wins this hands down

Ian Paice is my nomination.

This is the drum track isolated over the PA from a live rendition of Deep Purple's 'Burn'. Yes, live.

Listen and weep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWNXF4i66Jk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got tickets to see King Crimson at the Lowry couple of years ago. I only went because a mate couldn't go so got his ticket and went with another mate. The line up was Robert Fripp guitar, Jakko Jakszyk vox and guitar, Mel Collins horns and flute, Tony Levin bass, and Pat Mastelotto, Bill Rieflin and Gavin Harrison all on drums. The drums were set up at the front of the stage and were the main focus for most of the concert and the stand out musician was Gavin Harrison.
Here is footage of the rehearsals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9Q4HpO ... Fw&index=2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here is Harrison on Letterman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igDSyZMy8_E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Not necessarily the best ever, but I love his musicality.
I think Mitch Mitchell is often overlooked.
Special mentions for Tool's Danny Cary, Fishbone's Phillip Fisher, Bernard Purdie, Vinnie Colaiuta, Terry Bozzio and Tiki Fullwood.

Terry Williams was half decent too.

Good call. Rockpile were awesome.

Honourable mentions:

Jaki Liebezeit (Can)
Tom Ardolino (NRBQ)
Fran Cristina (Fabulous Thunderbirds)

I don't mind Zep, but what was Page thinking when he allowed Moby Dick to be on Led Zeppelin II and Song Remains the Same? It's utter shite - same goes for all drum solos.

Give me Moe Tucker any day.

Benny Benjamin just in front of Richard Pistol Allen and Uriel Jones. Absolute class.

I proposed Benjamin earlier for what it's worth - surely best ever - about 10% quicker than his nearesr rival.

Neil Peart for me.

Wile E Coyote wrote:was he buggery the best, he was good in a rock band, but that's as far as it went

This is from an online biography about John Bonham..

Awards & Accolades:
Many years after John Bonham's death, he continues to maintain a reputation as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time..


''Classic Rock listed Bonham as number one in their list of '50 Greatest Drummers in Rock' - 2005
Stylus Magazine rated Bonham as the number 1 greatest rock drummers in their list: '50 Greatest Rock Drummers' - 2007
Gigwise place Bonham as 'The Greatest Drummer Of All Time' - 2008
Rhythm Magazine's reader poll voted Bonham as No. 1 in their: '50 Greatest Drummers Of All Time' - 2009
Modern Drummer Magazine described Bonham as "The greatest rock ’n’ roll drummer in history" - 2010
The BBC's series: 'I'm in a Rock 'n' Roll Band!' rated Bonham as the best drummer of all time. - 2010
In the readers poll by Rolling Stone: 'Rolling Stone Readers Pick Best Drummers of All Time', Bonham was voted number one and "led the list by a significant margin" - 2011''


WEC....you appear to be attempting to be making a name for yourself on here, by making 'outlandish' statements.

Of the comments above, which one's should I take any notice of?

You're certainly making a name for yourself down our end..

Thanks for all the replies...a massive amount of knowledge about drummers on here..

As I remember him at the time, the best but now cliched by copyists.

I was thinking today about David Bowie and what that was all about, imagining for a laugh, two old school friends mocking 'Let's Dance' at a reunion bash on stage.

David Bowie was a Capricorn and so too are Page and Jones, the guitar combo of Led Zep. As a Capricorn myself, I kind of know what world they see and what their reciprocation musically with that, is (sort of.)

I don't really know much about the Immigration Song, one of my favourite tracks but I haven't a clue as to what it is, other than a intuitive feeling, most people sing records without any care to the words at all. I think the Vietnam war is what made them make that record, as it was on the news every night for over ten years at a time when the whole nation was glued to the box.

Chester Thompson!

Sandy Nelson's wipeout for me, not my era but as good as drumming gets.

It's so awesome the Immigration Song, I've been playing the link over and over. I can't imagine how anybody could make that. That's why they were and still are the greatest ever rock band, although they've made some crap along the way. I can only assume that the music was commissioned by the American Gov. for their soldiers to go with the F-16 (whatever) pilot's headgear etc. It really is like it's from outer space.

The Americans lost the Vietnam war because they had to pussyfoot for Joni Mitchell. it could have been 'What Vietnam?' in 5 mins. flat. Literally flat.

That was THE biggest mistake in the history of the Western World. THE BIGGEST. And it's been curtsey boys politically correctly to everything as it shafts you, ever since.

I like your first paragraph Pstotto.

Thanks for the links in 16 and 29 which were excellent.

I cannot find any evidence of a possible link between Neil Peart and Led Zeppelin [lots of trivial stuff online though]

You can hear the drumming pretty good on this next one [you can hear everything !]


- and a couple of comments from YouTube....


1] 'This has the greatest drum sound ever captured on tape! Just incredible..'

2] 'Drums were recorded in a wooden stairwell, in the main house, at Headley Grange, Hampshire. Mics were suspended from the ceiling... Produced by Jimmy Page, recorded between Nov. '70, and Jan. '71 at several locations, most prominently, the Victorian house at Headley Grange..'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b97hqSDRspw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS'..

You're all completely wrong. This is the greatest drummer of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItZyaOlrb7E" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

bob-the-scutter wrote:Chester Thompson!

Love Chester Thompson's work with Frank Zappa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmcYTShN4Fk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bill Bruford. Simon Fox was excellent but not as well-known.

BFCmaj wrote:Love Chester Thompson's work with Frank Zappa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmcYTShN4Fk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is that Chester Thompson in the bra?

Quicknick wrote:Is that Chester Thompson in the bra?

Breaster Thompson

Pstotto wrote:That's why they were and still are the greatest ever rock band, although they've made some crap along the way.

All the greats have turned out turkeys. It’s the trying new stuff that makes them great.

They don't have to put the turkeys on the album though, do they? One of the records by Zep I've always been a bit disappointed in (but for another reason,) is Black Country Woman. I like the record but the mixing and recording of it is atrocious. I don't know what happened at the recording mansion in Hampshire but it really does sound like it's coming from down another corridor in another room.