Jason Bonham

Jason John Bonham (born 15 July 1966) is an English drummer. He is the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and Patricia "Pat" Bonham (née Phillips). After his father's death in September 1980, he played with Led Zeppelin on occasions, including the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London in 2007.

Bonham in 2010

Jason Bonham
Jason Bonham performing at The Roxy, West Hollywood, California on 11 October 2009
Background information
Born (1966-07-15) 15 July 1966
Dudley, Staffordshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
  • vocals
Years active1970–present
LabelsMJJ Music/Epic/SME
Associated acts
Websitejasonbonham.net

Biography and musical career

Early years

Bonham could play drums skillfully at the age of five,[1] and appeared with his father in the film The Song Remains the Same, drumming on a scaled-down kit.[2] At 15, he joined his first band, Airrace. In 1985, he joined Virginia Wolf, making two albums and touring the US supporting the Firm.[1]

In 1988, Bonham joined Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page for his Outrider album and tour. In May of the same year, Bonham appeared with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin for a performance at Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in New York City.[1]

In 1989, Bonham appeared as a special guest at the Moscow Music Peace Festival, performing the song "Rock and Roll" with many major rock stars of the day. That same year, he formed his own band, Bonham, whose Zeppelin-inflected first release The Disregard of Timekeeping had a hit single, "Wait for You" and the music video for the subsequent single "Guilty" did get some play; however, after a lukewarm reception for their 1992 release, Mad Hatter, the band was dissolved, and Bonham concentrated on session work and guest appearances.

On 28 April 1990, Bonham married Jan Charteris, in Stone, Worcestershire. His wedding reception included a jam with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones. The Bonhams have two children: a son named Jager and a daughter, Jaz (born 1993).[1]

Bonham drummed for Paul Rodgers on the Grammy nominated Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters project. A year later with Slash and Paul Rodgers, he appeared at Woodstock II in 1994. Bonham reformed his band with a new lead vocalist, Marti Frederiksen, replacing Daniel MacMaster. Renamed Motherland, they released the album Peace 4 Me later in 1994; however, his down-to-earth nature always showed—on one occasion making an encore drumming appearance for local Led Zeppelin tribute bands Fred Zeppelin and Led Zepagain.

In 1995, Bonham and his sister Zoe represented his father when Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bonham soon put together another solo project that culminated in In the Name of My Father - The Zepset, which featured the songs of Led Zeppelin. Proceeds from the album went to charity. The album followed up with When You See the Sun.

Following an album and tour with his aunt Debbie Bonham, Jason Bonham was invited to drum for hard rock group UFO. In 2006, he recorded with Joe Bonamassa.[1]

Jason Bonham also appeared in the movie Rock Star, 2001.[1] Bonham played drummer A.C., of the fictional band Steel Dragon. The film also featured performances by musicians such as Zakk Wylde, Jeff Pilson, Myles Kennedy, Jeff Scott Soto, Brian Vander Ark, Blas Elias, Nick Catanese, and Ralph Michael Saenz of Steel Panther fame . He also played on the film's soundtrack.

Bonham starred with Ted Nugent, Evan Seinfeld (Biohazard), Sebastian Bach (Skid Row), and Scott Ian (Anthrax) on the VH1 reality television show, Supergroup, in May 2006. The musicians formed a band called Damnocracy (after ditching the names FIST, God War, and Savage Animal) for the show, during which they lived in a mansion in Las Vegas for twelve days and created music. Jason also played drums live with Foreigner from 2004 to 2007 and part of 2007 to 2008.

Bonham joined the group Black Country Communion late in 2009 and stayed with them until they broke up in March 2013. He rejoined the group when they reformed in 2016.

Participation in Led Zeppelin reunions

On 14 May 1988, the Atlantic Records label held its 40th Anniversary Celebration by staging a non-stop concert lasting almost 13 hours. A reformed Led Zeppelin, with Jason on drums, closed the event.

On Saturday 28 April 1990 Jason Bonham married Jan Charteris. Later, during the wedding reception at the Heath Hotel in Bewdley, England, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones joined Jason on stage and performed Custard Pie / It'll Be Me / Rock And Roll / Sick Again / Bring It On Home for the wedding party.

Main article: Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert

On 12 September 2007, it was announced that Jason Bonham would step into his father's shoes and play drums for a Led Zeppelin reunion concert. This took place on 10 December 2007 at London's O2 arena as part of an all-star tribute to Ahmet Ertegun.[3][4][5] His performance was described as "flawless" by music critics.[6]

Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening and other experiences

In February 2009, Jason Bonham and James Dylan began working together in what would become Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening, a live homage to his father's band. In autumn of 2010, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening embarked on their first North American tour[7] and toured worldwide during 2011.

Bonham more recently played drums, along with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of the group Heart on vocals and guitar respectively, with successive additions of band, string and horn sections and choirs (including the Joyce Garrett Youth Choir)[8] for a show-ending performance of Stairway to Heaven during the Led Zeppelin tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors hosted by Barack Obama in December 2012 while clearly emotional band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones looked on.[9] It was described as a "bring down the house" version.[10]

In the Summer of 2013, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening joined forces with the band Heart for "The Heartbreaker Tour" celebrating the music of Led Zeppelin.[7][11]

Later that year, he teamed up again with Glenn Hughes to form a new rock band, which became California Breed, adding the guitarist Andrew Watt.

In 2014, Bonham joined Sammy Hagar's supergroup Sammy Hagar and the Circle. The band featured Led Zeppelin tracks along with songs from Hagar's various career projects, such as Montrose, Van Halen, and Chickenfoot.[12]

From early March to late May 2015, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening toured extensively North America. On 4 December 2015, the band kicked off their North American Winter Tour in San Jose, California.[7] In early May 2016, they embarked on a one-month / 22-date North American tour.

Equipment

Drums

Jason Bonham currently endorses DW Drums. Prior to this, for many years he played a Ludwig Vistalite drumkit similar to his late father's.

DrumDepthDiameter
Bass14"26"
Snare6.5"14"
Rack Tom10"14"
Floor Tom 116"16"
Floor Tom 216"18"

Cymbals

Endorses Paiste[13] cymbals

CymbalModelDiameter
Crash200222"
Ride200224"
Thin CrashFormula 60222"
Hi-Hats2002 Sound-Edge15"
Gong38"

Drumsticks

Bonham has produced his own line of signature series drumstick with Pro-Mark. The SD531W is made of American Maple with acorn shaped, wooden tips. The taper is relatively short and the sticks have considerably large dimensions, being 16.75" (42.5 cm) in length and 0.595" (1.5 cm) in diameter. The sticks also feature the symbol used by Bonham's father, John Bonham, of the three interlocking rings – they are printed next to Jason's signature on the side of the stick.

Other

Bonham endorses Remo drum heads and DW drums & hardware. He uses DW 9000 Series Double Pedals.

Discography

References
  1. "About". Jason Bonham Official Site. 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  2. Cute Jason BONHAM and his father and mother on YouTube
  3. "News Article". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  4. Elizabeth Goodman (12 September 2007). "Led Zeppelin to Play Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert on November 26 in London". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  5. "Led Zeppelin return to the stage". BBC News. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  6. "Zeppelin: Thirty years after last concert, 'Song Remains the Same'". Evansville Courier & Press. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  7. "James Dylan Biography". James Dylan Official. 2016. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  8. Serpick, Evan (3 December 2012). "Led Zeppelin Get All-Star Tribute at Kennedy Center Honors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  9. Heart – Stairway to Heaven (Live at Kennedy Center Honors) on YouTube
  10. Wismer, David (27 December 2012). "Heart's Ann Wilson Kills Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' At Kennedy Center Honors". Forbes. Retrieved 7 April 2019. Other players included Shane Fontayne with the lead guitar solo
  11. "Heart and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening wow crowd at Cruzan on opening night of tour," Sun-Sentinel, 22 June 2013
  12. Greene, Andy (3 April 2015). "Watch Sammy Hagar and the Circle Tear Through 'When It's Love'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  13. "Jason Bonham | Official Site". Jasonbonham.net. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
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