The Top 10 Greatest Led Zeppelin John Bonham Songs
By Dave Lewis
May 31, 2017
Has any drummer shaken the world as much as John Bonham? Unlikely, as Bonzo’s Top 10 best Led Zeppelin songs prove. From snare drum stampedes, through hi-hat syncopation and jazzy interludes and sheer brutal power, Bonham was the percussive engine at the heart of Zeppelin – just ask anyone from Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters to Black Stone Cherry’s John Fred, or for that matter any of the hundreds of disciples who recently voted him the greatest drummer ever.
10. Good Times Bad Times (1969)
Right from the dramatic two beat opening, John Bonham puts the whole kit through its paces. That pioneering use of bass drum triplets heralded the arrival of a very special drummer. Doing things with a bass pedal that it took two of James Brown’s drummers to try and emulate – and they knew a bit about rhythm.
9. D’yer Mak’er (1973)
Zeppelin’s tongue-in-cheek attempt at reggae on Houses Of The Holy has often been mocked over the years, but if anyone doesn’t deserve the scorn then it’s Bonham. His wide-screen drumming lights up the track from the moment he opens proceedings with an invigorating snare and tom tom drum attack. He deservedly got the lead songwriting credit for his efforts.
8. Fool In The Rain (1979)
An outstanding Bonham showcase from Zeppelin’s studio swansong, In Through The Out Door, that highlights the fusion influence of such jazz giants as Bernard Purdie and Alphonse Mouzon. Clock the percussive perfection at two minute 25 seconds when a blow of a whistle ushers in a Latin samba delight.
7. Rock And Roll (1971)
From the cymbal cashing intro through to the closing precision of the solo, Led Zeppelin IV’s second track is a veritable Bonham tour–de-force. In between, his total regard for the art of timekeeping is a lesson to drummers everywhere.
6. The Ocean (1973)
‘’We’ve done four all ready and now we’re steady.’’ From the moment he counts Zeppelin in on Houses Of The Holy’s closing track, Bonzo provides an incessant funk like groove – note how his spacious drum fills allows Page to effortlessly play off the riff. It all leads to a joyous finale – ‘’So good’’ proclaims Plant, surely acknowledging another Bonham masterclass.
5. Bonzo’s Montreux (1982)
Enter the John Bonham Orchestra. Bonzo had long harboured plans for a dramatic solo piece that would incorporate various percussive instruments. In 1976, he achieved that ambition at Mountain Studios in Montreux. With the help of Page’s Evantide Harmoniser effects, an amalgamation of overdubbed bass drums, snare drums, timpani and congas merge with maximum effect. The result appeared two years after his death on 1982’s posthumous Coda collection.
RELATED VIDEO: The History of Led Zeppelin
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