Jason Bonham


Jason Bonham, son of the late John "Bonzo" Bonham, does not take lightly the responsibility of carrying on his father's legacy. Having made a head start at drumming while he was a child, Jason is now passing on the same lessons to a third generation of Bonham drummers.

John Bonham's death in 1980 left such an impact on the surviving members of Led Zeppelin that they knew immediately they could not continue as they were. Yet Jason Bonham's familiarity with the band made him a shoe-in to join his father's bandmates on the few occasions reunion concerts have taken place.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Bonham's most successful album release to date, the Platinum-certified disc The Disregard of Timekeeping released by his band, Bonham. To mark the milestone, he recently toured with a new band and played under the banner of "An Evening with Jason Bonham."

In the past, Bonham has also toured and/or recorded with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Foreigner, UFO, Paul Rodgers, Joe Bonamassa, Virginia Wolf, Airrace, Healing Sixes and Motherland. He also acted in the movie Rock Star and appeared on the reality TV show "SuperGroup."

- What's the latest on Jason Bonham?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Led Zeppelin won't exist without Plant, insists Harvey Goldsmith

Promoter Harvey Goldsmith said if Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones go on tour with Jason Bonham and some singer other than Robert Plant, they would likely not call it Led Zeppelin.

The founder of Harvey Goldsmith Presents, who promoted Led Zeppelin concerts in the 1970s and last year's one-off reunion, spoke this morning as a panelist in the keynote session at Musexpo Europe 2008, held at the Cumberland Hotel in London. He was quoted in a BBC News report by Ian Youngs.

Goldsmith's remarks, some given privately to BBC News and others delivered as part of the keynote, are carried in the article:

"I certainly don't think they should do a big tour because I can't see the point of it. ... I doubt it will be called Led Zeppelin. ... I just think it's a lot of talk, I think it's wishful thinking. Whether they all come together and do something in the future, they may. I think some of the band really want to go out and do it and other parts of the band need to understand why they're doing it, and if there's no compelling reason to do it, then they shouldn't do it. I think that there is an opportunity for them to go out and present themselves. I don't think a long rambling tour is the answer as Led Zeppelin. ... It's a question of whether they want to do it, and you've got to want to do it. Otherwise it's done for the wrong reasons, and when things are done for the wrong reasons, they don't work."
Current media speculation is that Led Zeppelin will reunite without Robert Plant. Media insist John Paul Jones said this will happen.

However, remarks Jones made over the weekend never included an assertion that his project with Page, Bonham and any yet-to-be-identified singer (or singers) would be called Led Zeppelin.

Jones has said, notably, that he doesn't want his new project to become a Led Zeppelin tribute act. In an interview broadcast by BBC Radio Devon on Oct. 27, Jones said:
"It's gotta be right, you know. Just trying to recreate -- or just find another Robert, I mean, you could just pick somebody out of a tribute band. I mean, what's the point of that, you know? We don't want to be our own tribute band."

6 comments:

  1. First of all, Page never forgot JPJ, Plant insisted they go w/o him to avoid being called Zeppelin.They asked him to join in 98 and he said no because of the original snub and his solo album, you should know that "Mr Lemon" second of all who gives a crap what Harvey says?He's just another leach sucking off Zeppelin. The fans want Zeppelin, and Plant is ruining it for everyone. NOTHING, could ruin the Zep legacy and as was PROVEN at the 02, they still sound Phenomenal! the 3 Who members were awesome w/ Zak and Zep is awesome W/ jason, who DID play in Zep rehearsals in the 70's!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. How exactly is Harvey Goldsmith leaching off of Led Zeppelin? He was very supportive of their concert last year, and one possible side effect of his opinion on Led Zeppelin NOT reuniting for a tour is that there would be no touring Led Zeppelin off of which he or anybody could leach! Am I wrong?

    As for whether Harvey Goldsmith's opinion does or does not matter, why on earth would it matter less than someone who posts on my site anonymously? Answer me that, Anonymous!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am not posting my opinion for it to matter, I post it because its my opinion! and would it really make any difference If I put Joe Blow from Idaho? I doubt it. Anyone in the business side of music is a leach period, especially today. Frankly, I find you to be the most Anti Zeppelin guy of all the Zeppelin sites. thats why I come here last.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anti-Zeppelin married my uncle Bob in december 1952.

    They had a wonderful marriage and prodcuced two kids and lived happily ever after in the midlands.

    Joe Blow from Idaho
    (aka Nuvo911)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jack Bruce seems to place himself in the anti-Zeppelin category: http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/page/classicrock?entry=led_zeppelin_you_re_crap

    I can't believe the venom! But apparently he's kidding: http://gdrg.net/wcsx/2008_11jackbruce.mp3

    Eric Coverdale? Is that David's evil twin?

    Here's the point of view of somebody who, after bringing an open mind to an Alter Bridge concert last night, says he doesn't want Myles Kennedy anywhere near Led Zeppelin: http://thefourohfive.com/2008/11/05/alter-bridge-sheffield-academy/

    ReplyDelete

Users agree to refrain from posting obscenities and defamatory statements.

About the author

Other Led Zeppelin information from Lemon Squeezings

Lemon Squeezings archive

Like what you see?


John Paul Jones is now in one of the hottest and hardest rock bands, Them Crooked Vultures. The frontman, handling lead guitar and vocals, is Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters is on drums. As for Jones, he offers not only bass and keyboard but also mandolin, keytar, lap steel and whatever else is needed.

One album was released in November, and another is forthcoming. A tour of North America completed in November, and the band now heads to Europe in December and Australia in January.

- What's the latest on Them Crooked Vultures, the group featuring John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme?

- What else is John Paul Jones up to?