John Bonham remains one of rock’s most revered drummers years after his death. One could argue that Led Zeppelin could have been a very different band without Bonham’s heft, and they’d be right. Bonham’s vision for his drums was evident in scores of Zip’s tunes, and the band relied on his powerful playing to give them a harder edge. This is why Led Zeppelin could not replace him and continue until his death. At times, John Paul Jones criticized bassist Zeb Bonham, but he also needed only seven words to praise his partner’s skill in the rhythm section.
John Paul Jones criticized John Bonham more than once
Bonham received some criticism for his drumming before he became famous. His drum teacher never thought him very good, but kept working with him. However, the self-taught Bonham soon established himself as an in-demand drummer in the Birmingham, England area as a teenager.
Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul John formed a massive rhythm section with Bonham. They clicked almost immediately, but Jones recalled Bonham when the criticism was warranted.
Jones hates “Led Zeppelin” because of Bonham’s uninspired drumming. Ponzo also hated her for what she deserved. Jones criticized Bonham’s percussion on “The Four Sticks” from Airship Fourthly. The complex batting confused Bonham, and Jones called him out.
Jones never hesitated to criticize Bonham, which makes the drummer’s seven words of praise carry even more weight.
Jones praised Bonham’s drumming skills in just seven words
The drum kit may be the most personal instrument in rock music. A guitarist or bassist can pick up any guitar or bass and know that the chords and notes will be in the same place as their particular instrument. Drums are a little different.
Drummers swing their arms wildly when they play. Bonham was no different. He needed his snare drums, floor drums, and precisely placed cymbals in order to play the beats he made for Led Zeppelin. He used unique tuning for his kit as well, so no other kit has sounded quite like it.
Jones had dual praise for Bonham. The guitarist first praised Ponzo for creating complex rhythms with a streamlined range. Jones then praised Bonham for finding himself at home behind any group, per Monster Author CM Kushins:
“[John] He only used a small kit, but he played the big drums. He has never played a large group in terms of number of drums. He only used four drums most of the time and never had racks of the stuff. It didn’t matter what the drums were, I’d hear him sit on all sorts of weird drum kits, and he’d instantly sound like him. It was just the way he hit them, plus an impeccable sense of timing.”
John Paul Jones describes John Bonham’s talents as a drummer
Jones’ praise of Bonham boils down to seven words: “It doesn’t matter what the drums are.”
Each drum kit is set up differently, depending on who is playing it. It’s a personal thing. According to Jones, Bonham sounded like Bonham no matter what drum chair he sat on. Whether he was sitting in his set during concerts at Madison Square Garden or playing Ringo Starr’s drums during a gig, Bonham sounded like Bonham every time. Knowing he called out to his playing partner more than once, Jones’ seven-word praise for Bonham’s skill was high praise indeed.
Led Zeppelin’s rhythm section clicked instantly
Led Zeppelin was formed fairly quickly. Founding guitarist Jimmy Page’s Yardbirds broke up in the summer of 1968. By October of that year, he had Zep in the recording studio working on their debut.
The quartet – Bonham, Jones, Page and singer Robert Plant – rehearsed before they did anything else. The accomplished Jones found a musical equal in Bonham at the first Led Zeppelin meeting. Bonzo backed up his self-assured attitude with his chops, and the Joneses knew they had something special.
He would sometimes call out to his partner in the rhythm section, but John Paul Jones needed only seven words to describe John Bonham’s drumming talents.
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