Author Topic: John Bonham  (Read 11858 times)

Hornisse

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #45 on: September 26, 2010, 05:22:12 PM »
Their third LP was a poor seller and did not go multi-platinum until the early 1990's.  They did play Palmer Auditorium in Austin (their only Austin appearance) in August 1969.  A "huge" arena that probably held 1000 on a good night.  I don't think the stadium tours started until later.


Dave W

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #46 on: September 26, 2010, 06:09:43 PM »
Their third LP was a poor seller and did not go multi-platinum until the early 1990's.  They did play Palmer Auditorium in Austin (their only Austin appearance) in August 1969.  A "huge" arena that probably held 1000 on a good night.  I don't think the stadium tours started until later.

Poor seller? It wasn't as big as LZ II but it reached number 1 on the Billboard album chart at the time. According to Billboard LZ IV only got to number 2.

They sold out the old Met Center here in 1970 (capacity about 15,000). They mostly played auditoriums and arenas back that early, but I do recall being amazed to read about a stadium concert they did somewhere in the US where they sold out at $40 a ticket, which was unheard of at the time.

They were big. The buzz about them was huge. Of course not everyone was a fan, not by a long shot. Some critics hated them, especially some at Rolling Stone.

Lightyear

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #47 on: September 26, 2010, 06:12:58 PM »

uwe

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #48 on: September 27, 2010, 03:00:21 AM »
I didn't know Master Dave knew so much about Led Zep.

Now I'm really jealeous. He never knew that much about Deep Purple. Talk about adding insult to injury ...
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Dave W

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #49 on: September 27, 2010, 07:38:48 AM »
I don't know much about them other than what was public and obvious back then.

Rhythm N. Bliss

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #50 on: September 27, 2010, 07:22:50 PM »
Yeah, a cult so secretive that their first three albums went platinum several times over and they sold out arenas and stadiums all over North America well before Stairway. They were huge by the time Led Zeppelin II hit the charts.

Ok~ so it was an open secret.  :P
Yeah, the "secret cult" was a meeting of 17,000 kids but at least we didn't have to sleep in line to get tix.
 In '72 I did stay in line all night for Stones & Who tix!! & FOUGHT for 'em too!!

John Bonham was FANTASTIC & Jones made him sound even better!!
What a Rhythm Section!!

You guys who don't love Zep would if you saw 'em stoned outa your mind on LSD!!! ha haaaa haaaaa

I also remember a radio station announcement back in the 70s that said "Led Zeppelin is America's favorite band to have sex to, according to a survey."
There's your X factor, Uwe!  lol

Chaser001

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #51 on: September 27, 2010, 10:06:10 PM »
I found Led Zeppelin to be somewhat of a disappointment.  Hendrix and Cream were hard acts to follow.  If I had to pick the greatest band of the 70s, it would be the Allman Brothers band.  Although they had some great songs, I could just never emotionally connect with Led Zeppelin.

Chaser001

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #52 on: September 28, 2010, 06:25:40 AM »
Growing up Led Zep was never my favorite band but I have always loved certain songs. As I grew older I began liking them even more although I always felt Jimmy Page was overrated as a guitar player. Honestly, I rather enjoyed Bonham's sometimes non-syncopatic drumming and thought he used it as an asset.

I always hated it that radio stations lumped LZ, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, etc into the "hard rock" category because it always seemed like a bullshit designation to me. Some of those bands created their own categories and never fit in any other.

Speaking of drummers, Carl Palmer has always amazed me and I think Nick Mason has always been underrated, especially when you listen to lots of that very early '70s live stuff.

I've never been very good with trying to analyze categories.   But to me during the 70s there really did seem to be a hunger in America for what I'd call hard rock.  This became especially noticeable to me over the summer when a friend and I spent several hours one night listening to songs that had been hits in the 70s.  We didn't just focus on the U.S., either.  Gradually, I began to see a pattern.  It seemed to me that during the 70s there was more of an appetite for hard rock than I had realized, especially when I began to compare what had been hits in the U.S. to what had been hits in other countries.  The fact that Led Zeppelin was popular made perfect sense.  My friend had been on a vacation to Finland not long ago.  He played an entire CD of songs from different artists that had been popular in Finland in 2009.  Of course I couldn't understand a word, but the genre is what I'd call hard rock.  It's a broad genre and it may be a BS designation sometimes when some bands labeled that way really belong to a different genre.  All I know is that after listening to that Finnish CD it became clear that my taste in music must be closer to the Finns than to the Americans now.  Whatever they are calling that music in Finland, whether it's hard rock or whatever, I really liked it. 
« Last Edit: September 28, 2010, 06:33:31 AM by Chaser001 »

uwe

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #53 on: September 28, 2010, 11:12:24 AM »
Hard Rock ruled the airwaves internationally from 1969-74 and then again from 83-89. It comes and goes in waves, adapts and incorporates other styles. And is incorporated: A lot of New Country has AOR hard rock arrangements. And then there are eternal hard rock hunting grounds such as Scandinavia.

What I find fascinating is that Led Zep ruled America, but in Germany could never achieve the sales of say Deep Purple, Uriah Heep (huger in Germany than anywhere else, in the late seventies they had three hit singles in the chartts simultaneoisly, that was when their sales in the US abd UK had already dropped out of top 100 sight) or Status Quo. Led Zep were about as popular as B grade hardrock bands such as Nazareth and Ufo. They hardly toured Germany (or the continent) and you can of course ask the question whether Peter Grant had them only touring America because they were more popular there or whether they were more popular in the US due to their incessant touring there. IIRC, Zeppelin toured Germany at the beginning of their career and then again at the end in 1980 or so, never in between. And Germany was the largest rock vinyl market after the USA and Japan.
We've taken too much for granted ... and all the time it had grown ...
From techno seeds we first planted ... evolved a mind of its own ...

nofi

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #54 on: September 28, 2010, 03:16:20 PM »
terr,  you are apparently operating from the official 'lysergic' calander

things are always different over there.
"life is a blur of republicans and meat"- zippy the pinhead

nofi

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #55 on: September 28, 2010, 03:19:30 PM »
my choice for a 'rock' drummer to play with would be charlie watts, ringo or simon kirk.
"life is a blur of republicans and meat"- zippy the pinhead

Hornisse

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #56 on: September 28, 2010, 04:26:02 PM »
I think my initial attraction to them was the LZII cover.  My older sisters bought the album new and I was 8 years old when it came out.  I still love Page's solo on Whole Lotta Love and the way Heartbreaker ends and Living Loving Maid starts.  They sure had a lot of variety on their 8 studio LP's.  Allmusic.com says this about them:

Led Zeppelin was the definitive heavy metal band. It wasn't just their crushingly loud interpretation of the blues -- it was how they incorporated mythology, mysticism, and a variety of other genres (most notably world music and British folk) -- into their sound. Led Zeppelin had mystique. They rarely gave interviews, since the music press detested the band. Consequently, the only connection the audience had with the band was through the records and the concerts. More than any other band, Led Zeppelin established the concept of album-oriented rock, refusing to release popular songs from their albums as singles. In doing so, they established the dominant format for heavy metal, as well as the genre's actual sound.

Led Zeppelin formed out of the ashes of the Yardbirds. Jimmy Page had joined the band in its final days, playing a pivotal role on their final album, 1967's Little Games, which also featured string arrangements from John Paul Jones. During 1967, the Yardbirds were fairly inactive. While the Yardbirds decided their future, Page returned to session work in 1967. In the spring of 1968, he played on Jones' arrangement of Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man." During the sessions, Jones requested to be part of any future project Page would develop. Page would have to assemble a band sooner than he had planned. In the summer of 1968, the Yardbirds' Keith Relf and James McCarty left the band, leaving Page and bassist Chris Dreja with the rights to the name, as well as the obligation of fulfilling an upcoming fall tour. Page set out to find a replacement vocalist and drummer. Initially, he wanted to enlist singer Terry Reid and Procol Harum's drummer B.J. Wilson, but neither musician was able to join the group. Reid suggested that Page contact Robert Plant, who was singing with a band called Hobbstweedle.

After hearing him sing, Page asked Plant to join the band in August of 1968, the same month Chris Dreja dropped out of the new project. Following Dreja's departure, John Paul Jones joined the group as its bassist. Plant recommended that Page hire John Bonham, the drummer for Plant's old band, the Band of Joy. Bonham had to be persuaded to join the group, as he was being courted by other artists who offered the drummer considerably more money. By September, Bonham agreed to join the band. Performing under the name the New Yardbirds, the band fulfilled the Yardbirds' previously booked engagements in late September 1968. The following month, they recorded their debut album in just under 30 hours. Also in October, the group switched its name to Led Zeppelin. The band secured a contract with Atlantic Records in the United States before the end of the year. Early in 1969, Led Zeppelin set out on their first American tour, which helped set the stage for the January release of their eponymous debut album. Two months after its release, Led Zeppelin had climbed into the U.S. Top Ten. Throughout 1969, the band toured relentlessly, playing dates in America and England. While they were on the road, they recorded their second album, Led Zeppelin II, which was released in October of 1969. Like its predecessor, Led Zeppelin II was an immediate hit, topping the American charts two months after its release and spending seven weeks at number one. The album helped establish Led Zeppelin as an international concert attraction, and for the next year, the group continued to tour relentlessly. Led Zeppelin's sound began to deepen with Led Zeppelin III. Released in October of 1970, the album featured an overt British folk influence. The group's infatuation with folk and mythology would reach a fruition on the group's untitled fourth album, which was released in November of 1971. Led Zeppelin IV was the band's most musically diverse effort to date, featuring everything from the crunching rock of "Black Dog" to the folk of "The Battle of Evermore," as well as "Stairway to Heaven," which found the bridge between the two genres. "Stairway to Heaven" was an immediate radio hit, eventually becoming the most played song in the history of album-oriented radio; the song was never released as a single. Despite the fact that the album never reached number one in America, Led Zeppelin IV was their biggest album ever, selling well over 16 million copies over the next two and a half decades.

Led Zeppelin did tour to support both Led Zeppelin III and Led Zeppelin IV, but they played fewer shows than they did on their previous tours. Instead, they concentrated on only playing larger venues. After completing their 1972 tour, the band retreated from the spotlight and recorded their fifth album. Released in the spring of 1973, Houses of the Holy continued the band's musical experimentation, featuring touches of funk and reggae among their trademark rock and folk. The success of Houses of the Holy set the stage for a record-breaking American tour. Throughout their 1973 tour, Led Zeppelin broke box-office records -- most of which were previously held by the Beatles -- across America. The group's concert at Madison Square Garden in July was filmed for use in the feature film The Song Remains the Same, which was released three years later. After their 1973 tour, Led Zeppelin spent a quiet year during 1974, releasing no new material and performing no concerts. They did, however, establish their own record label, Swan Song, which released all of Led Zeppelin's subsequent albums, as well as records by Dave Edmunds, Bad Company, the Pretty Things, and several others. Physical Graffiti, a double album released in February of 1975, was the band's first release on Swan Song. The album was an immediate success, topping the charts in both America and England. Led Zeppelin launched a large American tour in 1975, but it came to a halt when Robert Plant and his wife suffered a serious car crash while vacationing in Greece. The tour was canceled and Plant spent the rest of the year recuperating from the accident.

Led Zeppelin returned to action in the spring of 1976 with Presence. Although the album debuted at number one in both America and England, the reviews for the album were lukewarm, as was the reception to the live concert film The Song Remains the Same, which appeared in the fall of 1976. The band finally returned to tour America in the Spring of 1977. A couple of months into the tour, Plant's six-year-old son Karac died of a stomach infection. Led Zeppelin immediately canceled the tour and offered no word whether or not it would be rescheduled, causing widespread speculation about the band's future. For a while, it did appear that Led Zeppelin was finished. Robert Plant spent the latter half of 1977 and the better part of 1978 in seclusion. The group didn't begin work on a new album until late in the summer of 1978, when they began recording at ABBA's Polar studios in Sweden. A year later, the band played a short European tour, performing in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Austria. In August of 1979, Led Zeppelin played two large concerts at Knebworth; the shows would be their last English performances.

In Through the Out Door, the band's much-delayed eighth studio album, was finally released in September of 1979. The album entered the charts at number one in both America and England. In May of 1980, Led Zeppelin embarked on their final European tour. In September, Led Zeppelin began rehearsing at Jimmy Page's house in preparation for an American tour. On September 25, John Bonham was found dead in his bed -- following an all-day drinking binge, he had passed out and choked on his own vomit. In December of 1980, Led Zeppelin announced they were disbanding, since they could not continue without Bonham.

Rhythm N. Bliss

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #57 on: September 28, 2010, 07:45:18 PM »


Led Zeppelin was the definitive heavy metal band. It wasn't just their crushingly loud interpretation of the blues -- it was how they incorporated mythology, mysticism, and a variety of other genres (most notably world music and British folk) -- into their sound. Led Zeppelin had mystique. They rarely gave interviews, since the music press detested the band. Consequently, the only connection the audience had with the band was through the records and the concerts. More than any other band, Led Zeppelin established the concept of album-oriented rock, refusing to release popular songs from their albums as singles. In doing so, they established the dominant format for heavy metal, as well as the genre's actual sound.

Throughout their 1973 tour, Led Zeppelin broke box-office records -- most of which were previously held by the Beatles -- across America.

 They did establish their own record label, Swan Song, which released all of Led Zeppelin's subsequent albums, as well as records by Dave Edmunds, Bad Company, the Pretty Things, and several others. Physical Graffiti, a double album released in February of 1975, was the band's first release on Swan Song. The album was an immediate success, topping the charts in both America and England. Led Zeppelin launched a large American tour in 1975

Led Zeppelin returned to action in the spring of 1976 with Presence. Although the album debuted at number one in both America and England, the reviews for the album were lukewarm, as was the reception to the live concert film The Song Remains the Same, which appeared in the fall of 1976. The band finally returned to tour America in the Spring of 1977. A couple of months into the tour, Plant's six-year-old son Karac died of a stomach infection. Led Zeppelin immediately canceled the tour and offered no word whether or not it would be rescheduled, causing widespread speculation about the band's future. For a while, it did appear that Led Zeppelin was finished. Robert Plant spent the latter half of 1977 and the better part of 1978 in seclusion. The group didn't begin work on a new album until late in the summer of 1978, when they began recording at ABBA's Polar studios in Sweden. A year later, the band played a short European tour, performing in Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Austria. In August of 1979, Led Zeppelin played two large concerts at Knebworth; the shows would be their last English performances.

In Through the Out Door, the band's much-delayed eighth studio album, was finally released in September of 1979. The album entered the charts at number one in both America and England. In May of 1980, Led Zeppelin embarked on their final European tour. In September, Led Zeppelin began rehearsing at Jimmy Page's house in preparation for an American tour. On September 25, John Bonham was found dead in his bed -- following an all-day drinking binge, he had passed out and choked on his own vomit. In December of 1980, Led Zeppelin announced they were disbanding, since they could not continue without Bonham.


Nice summary of the band there, Hornisse.

Some of you seem to have overlooked Bad Co.--also mentioned here--the first band to sign to Zep's Swan Song label. They were another GREAT No. 1 Hard Rock band of the 70s!!!!

Presence is a BADASS Zep album & fully deserved it's Number One status in America & England.
Achilles Last Stand is Bonzo at his BEAST er BEST! heh

Hey~ at least Plant didn't call his new band Hobbstweedle.  ;D
 

Hornisse

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #58 on: September 28, 2010, 07:53:55 PM »
That summary was written by Allmusic.com Terr.  And I agree about Presence!  JPJ's 8 string bass on Nobody's Fault But Mine and Achilles is super!  (as well as Bonzo's drumming!)

Rhythm N. Bliss

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Re: John Bonham
« Reply #59 on: September 28, 2010, 08:01:34 PM »
Yeah! Jones is PHENOMENAL!
It's strange that he took so long to produce a solo album but his 1999 ZOOMA album is among my favs.

I wanna post that great photo of Bonham & Jones smiling happily  at the camera onstage...I'm sure you all know the one I mean.

« Last Edit: September 28, 2010, 08:14:10 PM by Rhythm N. Bliss »