John Bonham - wikipedia John Bonham For other people named John Bonham, see John Bonham ( disambiguation ). John Bonham Bonham performing with Led Zeppelin in 1973 Background information Birth name John Henry Bonham Also known as Bonzo The Beast ( 1948 - 05 - 31 ) 31 May 1948 Redditch, Worcestershire, England 25 September 1980 ( 1980 - 09 - 25 ) ( aged 32 ) Clewer, Berkshire, England Genres Rock Occupation ( s ) Musician songwriter Instruments Drums percussion Years active 1962 -- 1980 Labels Atlantic Swan Song Associated acts Band of Joy Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin portal John Henry Bonham ( 31 May 1948 -- 25 September 1980 ) was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer for the British rock band Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast bass - drumming, distinctive sound, and `` feel '' for the groove. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rock drummers of all time. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 1 in their list of the `` 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. '' Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early years 1.2 Led Zeppelin 1.3 Work outside Led Zeppelin 1.4 Death 1.5 Family 2 Legacy 2.1 Awards and accolades 2.2 Influence on notable musicians and tributes 3 Equipment 4 References 5 Sources 6 External links Biography Early years John Henry Bonham was born on 31 May 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, to Joan and Jack Bonham. He began learning to play at five, making a kit of containers and coffee tins, imitating his idols Max Roach, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. His mother gave him a snare drum when he was 10. He received his first drum kit from his father at age 15, a Premier Percussion set. Bonham never took formal drum lessons, though as a teen he had advice from other Redditch drummers. Between 1962 and 1963, still at school, Bonham joined the Blue Star Trio, and Gerry Levene & the Avengers. Bonham attended Lodge Farm Secondary Modern School, where his headmaster wrote in his report that `` He will either end up a dustman or a millionaire. '' After leaving school in 1964, he worked for his father as an apprentice carpenter between drumming for local bands. In 1964, Bonham joined his first semi-professional band, Terry Webb and the Spiders, and met his future wife Pat Phillips around the same time. He played in other Birmingham bands such as The Nicky James Movement and The Senators, who made a single, `` She 's a Mod '', in 1964. Bonham took up drumming full - time. Two years later, he joined A Way of Life, but the band folded. Needing a regular income, he joined a blues group called Crawling King Snakes, whose lead singer was Robert Plant. In 1967, A Way of Life asked Bonham to return to the group, and he agreed, while keeping in touch with Plant. Plant formed Band of Joy and chose Bonham as the drummer. The band recorded demos but no album. In 1968, American singer Tim Rose toured Britain and asked Band of Joy to open his concerts. When Rose returned months later, Bonham was invited by the singer to drum for Rose 's band, which gave him a regular income. Led Zeppelin Main article : Led Zeppelin After the retirement of The Yardbirds, guitarist Jimmy Page formed another band and recruited Plant, who in turn suggested Bonham. Page 's choices for drummer included Procol Harum 's B.J. Wilson, and session drummers Clem Cattini and Aynsley Dunbar. Ginger Baker was also rumoured to be on Page 's list. However, on seeing Bonham drum for Tim Rose at a club in Hampstead, north London, in July 1968, Page and manager Peter Grant were convinced he was perfect for the project, first known as the New Yardbirds and later as Led Zeppelin. Bonham was reluctant. Plant sent eight telegrams to Bonham 's pub, the `` Three Men in a Boat '', in Bloxwich, which were followed by 40 telegrams from Grant. Bonham was also receiving offers from Joe Cocker and Chris Farlowe but he accepted Grant 's offer. He recalled, `` I decided I liked their music better than Cocker 's or Farlowe 's. '' John Bonham 's three intersecting circles sigil for the Led Zeppelin IV album During Led Zeppelin 's first tour of the United States in December 1968, Bonham became friends with 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, which he called `` trees. '' His hard hitting was evident on many Led Zeppelin songs, including `` Immigrant Song '' ( Led Zeppelin III ), `` When the Levee Breaks '' ( Led Zeppelin IV / ), `` Kashmir '' ( Physical Graffiti ), `` The Ocean '' ( Houses of the Holy ), and `` Achilles Last Stand '' ( Presence ). Page let Bonham use a double bass drum in an early demo of `` Communication Breakdown '' but scratched the track because of Bonham 's `` over-use '' of it. The studio recording of `` Misty Mountain Hop '' captures his dynamics, similarly exhibited on `` No Quarter ''. On cuts from later albums, Bonham handled funk and Latin - influenced drumming. Songs like `` Royal Orleans '' and `` Fool in the Rain '' are examples, respectively displaying a New Orleans shuffle and a samba. His drum solo, first entitled `` Pat 's Delight, '' later `` Moby Dick '', often lasted 30 minutes. He used bare hands for different sounds. Bonham 's sequence for the film The Song Remains the Same featured him in a drag race at Santa Pod Raceway to the sound of his solo, `` Moby Dick ''. In Led Zeppelin tours after 1969, Bonham included congas, orchestral timpani and a symphonic gong. He is credited by the Dallas Times Herald with the first concert use of electronic timpani drum synthesisers during `` Kashmir '' in Dallas, Texas, in 1977. Work outside Led Zeppelin In 1969, Bonham appeared on The Family Dogg 's A Way of Life, with Page and Jones. Bonham also played for Screaming Lord Sutch on Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends in 1970. He played on Lulu 's 1971 single `` Everybody Clap, '' written by Maurice Gibb and Billy Lawrie. In 1972, he played on a Maurice Gibb - produced album by Jimmy Stevens called Do n't Freak Me Out in the UK and Paid My Dues in the US, credited as `` Gemini '' ( his star sign ). He drummed for his Birmingham friend, Roy Wood, on `` Keep Your Hands on the Wheel '', a single subsequently released on his 1979 album, On the Road Again, and on Wings ' album Back to the Egg on the tracks `` Rockestra Theme '' and `` So Glad to See You Here ''. He was also featured on Paul McCartney & Wings `` Beware My Love '' demo version first recorded in 1976, it remained unreleased until 2014 with the release of the album Wings at the Speed of Sound boxset. Bonham was the best man of Black Sabbath 's Tony Iommi at his wedding ceremony. In 1974, Bonham appeared in the film Son of Dracula, playing drums in Count Downe 's ( Harry Nilsson ) band. Bonham appeared in a drum line - up including Keith Moon and Ringo Starr on the soundtrack album. Death 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, Quebec -- 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, in keeping with his recent abstention from heroin, which he had used intermittently for several years ; although he had recently begun to take Motival ( a cocktail of the antipsychotic fluphenazine and the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline ) to combat his anxiety, it is unclear if these substances interacted with the alcohol in his system. 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 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 ''. Family Bonham had a younger brother, Mick Bonham ( 1950 -- 2000 ), a disc jockey, author and photographer, and a younger sister, Deborah Bonham ( born 1962 ), a singer - songwriter. Bonham was married to Pat Phillips, and the couple had two children ; Zoë Bonham ( born 10 June 1975 ), a singer - songwriter who appears at Led Zeppelin conventions, and Jason Bonham ( born 15 July 1966 ), a drummer who has played with UFO, Foreigner, and Bonham. He previously played in Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes, Derek Sherinian, and Joe Bonamassa. They recorded an album called Black Country in 2010. On 10 December 2007, he played with Led Zeppelin on the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, as well as their reunion at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary show on 15 May 1988. A 1970 film clip of four - year - old Jason playing drums appears in the Led Zeppelin film The Song Remains the Same. Zoë and Jason appeared at the induction ceremony for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin. Bonham 's mother, Joan, died aged 81 on 10 February 2011. She sang for the Zimmers, a 40 - member band set up as a result of a BBC documentary on the treatment of the elderly. Bonham 's cousin, Billy Bonham ( born 1950 ), played keyboards for Terry Reid and Ace Kefford. Bonham collected antique sports cars and motorcycles, which he kept on his family 's farm, The Old Hyde. He bought the Plough pub in nearby Shenstone, near Kidderminster, which was converted to allow him to drive his bikes or cars right behind the bar. Legacy Awards and accolades In 2007, Stylus magazine rated Bonham number one of 50 great rock drummers, as did Gigwise.com in 2008, and a Rolling Stone reader 's poll where he `` led the list by a significant margin '' in 2011, and in 2016, the same magazine ranked him as the greatest drummer of all time in a list of 100 Greatest Drummers of all time. Bonham was ranked no. 1 on Classic Rock 's 2005 list of 50 Greatest Drummers in Rock, and Modern Drummer describes him as `` the greatest rock ' n ' roll drummer in history. '' In September 2008, Bonham topped the Blabbermouth.net 's list of `` Rockers fans want brought back to life '', ahead of Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury. Rhythm magazine voted him the greatest drummer ever, topping a readers ' poll to determine the `` 50 greatest drummers of all time '' in October 2009. At the end of the BBC Two series I 'm in a Rock ' n ' Roll Band ! on 5 June 2010, Bonham was named best drummer of all time. Bonham has been described by AllMusic as one of the most important, well - known, and influential drummers in rock. Adam Budofsky, managing editor of Modern Drummer, writes : `` If the king of rock ' n ' roll was Elvis Presley, then the king of rock drumming was certainly John Bonham. '' According to the Los Angeles Times, even after all these years, Bonham still ranks as the best drummer of all time, mentioning that `` ( his ) beat still bangs like a mofo... Nobody else has brought quite that balance of muscle, groove and showmanship. '' The surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited to play Live Aid in 1985 and employed two drummers, Phil Collins and Tony Thompson, to take his place. In June 2017, John Bonham 's childhood home received a blue plaque in his honour. Influence on notable musicians and tributes Rock drummers influenced by Bonham include Mike Portnoy, Joey Kramer, Lee Kerslake, Tony Thompson, Dave Grohl, Tommy Lee, Peter Criss, Chad Smith, Dave Lombardo, Brad Wilk, John Dolmayan, Yoshiki, and Shinya. Phil Collins, who became a drummer for Robert Plant 's solo career, told Plant he wanted to play with him because he `` loved '' Bonham 's drumming. Dave Grohl said : John Bonham played the drums like someone who did n't know what was going to happen next -- like he was teetering on the edge of a cliff. No one has come close to that since, and I do n't think anybody ever will. I think he will forever be the greatest drummer of all time. Chad Smith remarked : To me, hands down, John Bonham was the best rock drummer ever. The style and the sound was so identifiable to one person. Any drum set that he would play, it sounded like him. Other musicians also paid tribute. John Paul Jones said Bonham was a `` bass player 's dream ''. Page has also commented : One of the marvellous things about John Bonham which made things very easy ( for a producer ) was the fact that he really knew how to tune his drums, and I tell you what, that was pretty rare in drummers in those days. He really knew how to make the instrument sing, and because of that, he could just get so much volume out of it by just playing with his wrists. It was just an astonishing technique that was sort of pretty holistic if you know what I mean. `` Bonzo : The Groove Remains the Same -- A Night In Honor of John Henry Bonham '' was produced by Whitesnake drummer Brian Tichy in Los Angeles on 25 September 2010 -- the 30th anniversary of his death. Notable drummers that appeared at the tribute included Steven Adler, Vinny Appice, Kenny Aronoff, Frankie Banali, Fred Coury, Jimmy D'Anda, James Kottak, Chris Slade, Chad Smith, Joe Travers, Simon Wright, and John 's son, Jason Bonham. Carmine Appice performed via video. In 1988, the Pulitzer laureate Christopher Rouse composed `` Bonham '' in tribute. Bonham 's drumming has been widely sampled in hip hop music ; for example, the Beastie Boys sampled `` Moby Dick '', `` The Ocean '', and `` When the Levee Breaks '' on their debut album Licensed to Ill. The drum beat of the popular song `` Return to Innocence '' by Enigma was sampled from the Led Zeppelin song `` When the Levee Breaks '', played by John Bonham. Equipment Bonham in Madison Square Garden with Led Zeppelin in 1973 Bonham initially used Premier drums, but in the late 1960s was introduced to Ludwig by Carmine Appice. Throughout the remainder of his career, Bonham endorsed Ludwig drums. At times, Bonham 's kick drum pedal squeaked. Jimmy Page later commented : The only real problem I can remember encountering was when we were putting the first boxed set together. There was an awfully squeaky bass drum pedal on `` Since I 've Been Loving You ''. It sounds louder and louder every time I hear it ! ( laughs ). That was something that was obviously sadly overlooked at the time. In 2005, Ludwig reissued Bonham drum kits in several styles and, in 2007, stainless steel kits similar to those Bonham used on the last Led Zeppelin tours in the 1970s. Bonham used Paiste cymbals and Remo drumheads. His hardware was a mixture of Rogers and Ludwig, including the Ludwig Speed King pedal and Rogers Swiv - O - Matic series of hardware. Initially augmenting his kit in live performances with timbales and congas as well as the cowbell, he soon settled on his trademark timpani, gong and ching - ring mounted on his hi - hat stand as the percussion in his setup in addition to the aforementioned cowbell. Bonham drum solos would often feature his playing floor toms and cymbals with his bare hands. He started using this technique as well as developing a finger - control style, influenced from hearing jazz recordings by drummer Joe Morello, during the early 1960s with his first band the Blue Star Trio. References ^ Jump up to : John Bonham Biography. Allmusic ^ Jump up to : John Bonham at Modern Drummer Magazine. Modern Drummer Magazine ^ Jump up to : The Greatest Drummers Of All Time !. Gigwise.com Jump up ^ Chris Welch. The John Bonham Story. Drum Magazine. Retrieved 16 November 2014 Archived 28 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Welch, Chris ( 2001 ). John Bonham : A Thunder of Drums. San Francisco, Calif. : Backbeat. p. 19. ISBN 0 - 87930 - 658 - 0. Jump up ^ Bonham, Mick ( 2005 ). John Bonham : The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin. London : Southbank Publ. p. 31. ISBN 1 - 904915 - 11 - 6. Jump up ^ Ian Fortnam, `` Dazed & confused '', Classic Rock Magazine : Classic Rock Presents Led Zeppelin, 2008, p. 38. Jump up ^ Chris Welch and Geoff Nicholls ( 2001 ), John Bonham : A Thunder of Drums, page 15. Google books ( limited extracts ) Retrieved 7 September 2008 Jump up ^ Chris Welch and Geoff Nicholls ( 2001 ), John Bonham : A Thunder of Drums, page 18. Google books ( limited extracts ) Retrieved 7 September 2008 Jump up ^ Mat Snow, `` Apocalypse Then '', Q magazine, December 1990, p. 76. Jump up ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. `` Led Zeppelin Biography ''. Allmusic. Retrieved 11 November 2008. Jump up ^ Davis, Stephen ( 4 July 1985 ). `` Power, Mystery and the Hammer of the Gods : The Rise and Fall of Led Zeppelin ''. Rolling Stone ( 451 ). Retrieved 15 January 2008. Jump up ^ `` The Geezer Butler Interview ''. Classicbands.com. Retrieved 6 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` 40 Years Ago : Ringo Starr and Harry Nilsson Release ' Son of Dracula ' ''. Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 8 August 2015. ^ Jump up to : Chris Welch ( 1994 ) Led Zeppelin, London : Orion Books. ISBN 1 - 85797 - 930 - 3, pp. 92 -- 94. Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-long-shadow-of-led-zeppelin-20060810 Jump up ^ John Bonham Biography Archived 16 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Mick Wall ( 2005 ). `` No Way Out '' : 86. Jump up ^ Doc Rock. `` 2011 January to June ''. The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Joan Bonham ''. Thezimmersonline.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Probably the oldest rock band in the world ''. BBC News. 28 May 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Happening ! February 1970 ''. Marmalade Skies : The Home of British Psychedelia. marmalade-skies.co.uk. 28 November 1999. Retrieved 27 March 2009. Jump up ^ Stylus Magazine 's `` 50 greatest rock Drummers ''. Stylus Magazine Jump up ^ Greene, Andy ( February 2011 ). `` Rolling Stone Readers Pick Best Drummers of All Time ''. Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved 12 February 2011. Jump up ^ `` Classic Rock Magazine Lists ''. Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 6 October 2011. Jump up ^ John Bonham tops list of rockers fans want brought back to life. Music Radar Jump up ^ 50 greatest drummers of all time : part 2. MusicRadar. Jump up ^ Radio 2 -- Rock And Roll Band. BBC Jump up ^ Adam Budofsky, The drummer : 100 years of rhythmic power and invention, Hal Leonard Corporation, ISBN 1 - 4234 - 0567 - 6, p. 63. Jump up ^ `` The 20 Best Drummers of All Time ''. L.A. Weekly. Jump up ^ http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/15350468.Led_Zeppelin_legend_John_Bonham_gets_prestigious_blue_plaque/ Jump up ^ Steven Scott Fyfe. `` Drummer to Drummer Interview : Joey Kramer ''. joeykramer.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2011. Jump up ^ Todd Seely. `` The Fuze interviews Lee Kerslake ''. bobdaisley.com. Retrieved 30 December 2011. Jump up ^ AllMusic Biography : Neil Peart Jump up ^ The Immortals -- The Greatest Artists of All Time : Led Zeppelin Archived 16 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ AllMusic Biography : Tommy Lee Jump up ^ AllMusic Biography : Peter Criss Jump up ^ The drummer : 100 years of rhythmic power and invention Page 141. Google Books. 1 July 2006. ISBN 9781423405672. Retrieved 1 January 2012. Jump up ^ Arto Lehtinen, Marko Syrjala. `` SLAYER -- Interview with Drummer Dave Lombardo ''. metal-rules.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2011. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived 29 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` interbiew with John Dolmayan ''. tamadrum.co.jp. Retrieved 18 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Yoshiki, X Japan : 10 drummers that blew my mind ''. MusicRadar. 30 November 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016. Jump up ^ `` Interview with Shinya of LUNA SEA ''. jrockrevolution.com. 1 January 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2016. Jump up ^ Christ, Shawn ( 6 January 2015 ). `` Robert Plant Praises Phil Collins For Encouraging His Solo Career After Led Zeppelin 's Split ''. Music Times. Retrieved 28 March 2015. Jump up ^ Dave Grohl. The Immortals -- The Greatest Artists of All Time : 14 ) Led Zeppelin. Rolling Stone Jump up ^ Chad Smith. John Bonham : I 'm in a Rock ' n ' Roll Band on YouTube. BBC Two Jump up ^ Sam Rapallo, In Conversation with John Paul Jones Archived 24 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine., October 1997. Jump up ^ National Public Radio, Guitar Legend Jimmy Page, 2 June 2003. Jump up ^ Drummers Pay Tribute to Bonzo. Gibson Jump up ^ Duffell, Daniel. Making Music with Samples ( 2005 ) : 181 Jump up ^ Ned Raggett ( 1994 - 02 - 08 ). `` The Cross of Changes - Enigma Songs, Reviews, Credits ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ Flans, Robyn. `` Carmine Appice : Power Drumming Forever ''. Modern Drummer. Vol. 31 No. 4. Apr 2007 Jump up ^ Interview with Jimmy Page, Guitar World magazine, 1993 Jump up ^ `` John Bonham : Cymbals ''. led-zeppelin.org. Retrieved 12 July 2015. Jump up ^ `` Original Paiste Cymbal Agreement with John Bonham 7 - 13 - 1971 ''. RCI International. Retrieved 12 July 2015. Jump up ^ Administrator. `` Cymbals ''. led-zeppelin.org. Jump up ^ `` Drum Kit Hardware Ludwig ''. JohnBonham.co.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Percussion Cowbell Congas Tambourine ''. JohnBonham.co.uk. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 22. Jump up ^ Welch, Chris ( 2001 ). John Bonham : A Thunder of Drums. San Francisco : Backbeat. p. 21. ISBN 0 - 87930 - 658 - 0. Sources Bonham, Mick ( 2005 ). John Bonham : The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin. Southbank Publishing. ISBN 1 - 904915 - 11 - 6 Bonham, Mick ( 2003 ). Bonham by Bonham : My Brother John. Solihull : Icarus Publications. ISBN 0 - 9545717 - 0 - 3 Welch, Chris & Nicholls, Geoff ( 2001 ). John Bonham : A Thunder of Drums. San Francisco : Backbeat Books. ISBN 0 - 87930 - 658 - 0 Paul McCartney & Wings - Wings at the speed of sound Boxset : http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/music-review-paul-mccartney-archive-collection-wings-at-the-speed-of-sound/ External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Bonham. Led Zeppelin official site JohnBonham.co.uk Drummerworld John Bonham page John Bonham videos, pictures, and quotes at TotalDrumsets.com The 23 John Henry Bonham Drum Outtakes John Bonham on IMDb Led Zeppelin John Bonham John Paul Jones Jimmy Page Robert Plant Studio albums Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin III untitled fourth album Houses of the Holy Physical Graffiti Presence In Through the Out Door Coda Live albums The Song Remains the Same BBC Sessions How the West Was Won Celebration Day Compilations Profiled BBC Sessions The Best of Led Zeppelin Mothership Led Zeppelin Deluxe Edition Boxed sets Led Zeppelin Remasters Boxed Set 2 The Complete Studio Recordings Definitive Collection Singles `` Good Times Bad Times '' / `` Communication Breakdown '' `` Whole Lotta Love '' / `` Living Loving Maid ( She 's Just a Woman ) '' `` Immigrant Song '' / `` Hey, Hey, What Can I Do '' `` Black Dog '' / `` Misty Mountain Hop '' `` Rock and Roll '' / `` Four Sticks '' `` Over the Hills and Far Away '' / `` Dancing Days '' `` D'yer Mak'er '' / `` The Crunge '' `` Trampled Under Foot '' / `` Black Country Woman '' `` Candy Store Rock '' / `` Royal Orleans '' `` Fool in the Rain '' / `` Hot Dog '' `` Travelling Riverside Blues '' `` Baby Come On Home '' `` The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair '' Films The Song Remains the Same Led Zeppelin DVD Celebration Day Tours Scandinavia 1968 U.K. 1968 North America 1968 -- 1969 U.K. & Scandinavia 1969 North America Spring 1969 U.K. Summer 1969 North America Summer 1969 Europe Autumn 1969 North America Autumn 1969 U.K. 1970 Europe 1970 North America Spring 1970 Iceland, Bath & Germany 1970 North America Summer 1970 U.K. Spring 1971 Europe 1971 North America 1971 Japan 1971 U.K. Winter 1971 Australasia 1972 North America 1972 Japan 1972 U.K. 1972 -- 1973 Europe 1973 North America 1973 North America 1975 Earls Court 1975 North America 1977 Knebworth 1979 Over Europe 1980 Reunions Live Aid ( 1985 ) Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary ( 1988 ) Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert ( 2007 ) Lists Discography Songs Awards and nominations Bootlegs Cover versions by others Led Zeppelin songs written or inspired by others Related Articles Swan Song Records Three Week Hero `` Beck 's Bolero '' Bron - Yr - Aur The Starship Caesar 's Chariot Shark episode Planned tour -- The 1980s, Part One Covers and tributes That ' 70s Show ( season 5 ) Bands The Yardbirds Band of Joy XYZ The Honeydrippers The Firm Coverdale Page Page and Plant Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes Them Crooked Vultures Strange Sensation Books Hammer of the Gods : The Led Zeppelin Saga Stairway to Heaven : Led Zeppelin Uncensored When Giants Walked the Earth People Jason Bonham Peter Grant Richard Cole Book Portal VIAF : 212865 LCCN : no95046963 ISNI : 0000 0000 5515 3021 GND : 130627194 SUDOC : 142858919 BNF : cb14047431m ( data ) BIBSYS : 1034874 MusicBrainz : 9c2b375c - ce68 - 44a8 - 90ac - e06b177f43f9 NDL : 01209775 NKC : ola2002151405 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Bonham&oldid=820884656 '' Categories : 1948 births 1980 deaths Musicians from Worcestershire People from Redditch English rock drummers English heavy metal drummers Led Zeppelin members Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees 20th - century English musicians English session musicians Accidental deaths in England Alcohol - related deaths in England Timpanists Gong players Tambourine players Conga players Castanets players Maracas players Bongo players Timbaleros Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Wikipedia indefinitely move - protected pages EngvarB from November 2014 Articles with hCards Use dmy dates from April 2015 Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Gaeilge Galego 한국어 Hrvatski Ido Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Latviešu Magyar Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Română Русиньскый Русский Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 17 January 2018, at 04 : 45. 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Question: when did the drummer from led zeppelin die
Answer: 25 September 1980