I love this article. Bonham and Zep swung; one of the few hard rock bands that did. I laughed when Jimmy Page said "evil" about the sound in the documentary. It sounds like there's still an occultist beneath the respectable veneer of elder statesman.
Re: Page's occultism, I am told that he was a devout reader of Aleister Crowley, among others within the British occult tradition (Austin Osman Spare, etc.)
He also produced a soundtrack for the Kenneth Anger film "Lucifer Rising" (which was ultimately discarded in favor of the Bobby Beausoleil score.)
"How The West Was Won" tells such a story! Wally Heider and Jimmy Page captured Bonham so perfectly. Mel Lewis remembers Wally Heider recording the Terry Gibbs Dream Band records; he also did an Ellington dance gig at an Air Force base that I love called "Hot Summer Night", Sam Woodyard on drums.
I love thinking about Led Zeppelin as an adult and drawing connections between their music and other music, connections I missed as a teenager getting into them in the 1980s. Back then, I wasn't aware of, for example, Fairport Convention, and couldn't make a connection between that scene and Led Zeppelin III. Though I was into Yes, I couldn't make the connection between prog rock and the song that opens "Houses of the Holy", "The Song Remains the Same". I've come to appreciate how canny a pop musician Page was, whereas 40 years ago, I saw him mostly as the dark wizard of heavy rock. Pages' overt "borrowings" are well documented, but that's not so interesting to me (I of course condemn it, but I don't let it blot out everything else he did). It's the way Page synthesized so many influences and made them into "Led Zeppelin music" that fascinates me. I don't hear that nearly as much in Deep Purple or Grand Funk Railroad or you name the heavy 70s band.
And Bonham...my appreciation for his musical hookup with Page has increased enormously since I was a kid. I'm not a drummer, and thus not in a position to critique Bonham technique vis-a-vis his peers or jazz drummers, but I know that like Al Jackson, Howard Grimes, or Benny Benjamin, Bonham gave the music what it needed in the studio. Moby Dick, I can take or leave :)
I struggle sometimes to get past both the cruelty and the priapic silliness in the LZ story, but this quite lovely post helps me understand why I stick with the music after all these years. And it means even more coming from the jazz side of the street.Thanks!
I love this article. Bonham and Zep swung; one of the few hard rock bands that did. I laughed when Jimmy Page said "evil" about the sound in the documentary. It sounds like there's still an occultist beneath the respectable veneer of elder statesman.
I think you're right about Page. Glad you enjoyed and thanks for the comment!
Re: Page's occultism, I am told that he was a devout reader of Aleister Crowley, among others within the British occult tradition (Austin Osman Spare, etc.)
He also produced a soundtrack for the Kenneth Anger film "Lucifer Rising" (which was ultimately discarded in favor of the Bobby Beausoleil score.)
https://youtu.be/a6R4gss0Lx8?si=GuSY3Vr9xOaig32i
Bonhamology - Nice John Bonham site by the great jazz drummer George Fludas.
https://www.youtube.com/@BONHAMOLOGY/videos
Thanks for sharing-- George is a great player, and this is a great resource!
Great write up! For me, a lifelong Zeppelin fan, “how the west was won” was a total revelation, far and away the hardest grooving live Zep
"How The West Was Won" tells such a story! Wally Heider and Jimmy Page captured Bonham so perfectly. Mel Lewis remembers Wally Heider recording the Terry Gibbs Dream Band records; he also did an Ellington dance gig at an Air Force base that I love called "Hot Summer Night", Sam Woodyard on drums.
The movie was great, but it shouldn't have stopped at LZ II. It should've covered all the albums. :)
Also, Bonzo is king. With respect to Peart and Copeland. :)
Let's hope for a part 2! Thanks Frank..
Thanks for great read. Bonham one of the best and LZ is one my fave bands of all time.
Thanks Barbara!
I love thinking about Led Zeppelin as an adult and drawing connections between their music and other music, connections I missed as a teenager getting into them in the 1980s. Back then, I wasn't aware of, for example, Fairport Convention, and couldn't make a connection between that scene and Led Zeppelin III. Though I was into Yes, I couldn't make the connection between prog rock and the song that opens "Houses of the Holy", "The Song Remains the Same". I've come to appreciate how canny a pop musician Page was, whereas 40 years ago, I saw him mostly as the dark wizard of heavy rock. Pages' overt "borrowings" are well documented, but that's not so interesting to me (I of course condemn it, but I don't let it blot out everything else he did). It's the way Page synthesized so many influences and made them into "Led Zeppelin music" that fascinates me. I don't hear that nearly as much in Deep Purple or Grand Funk Railroad or you name the heavy 70s band.
And Bonham...my appreciation for his musical hookup with Page has increased enormously since I was a kid. I'm not a drummer, and thus not in a position to critique Bonham technique vis-a-vis his peers or jazz drummers, but I know that like Al Jackson, Howard Grimes, or Benny Benjamin, Bonham gave the music what it needed in the studio. Moby Dick, I can take or leave :)
Great comments, thanks Jim!
I struggle sometimes to get past both the cruelty and the priapic silliness in the LZ story, but this quite lovely post helps me understand why I stick with the music after all these years. And it means even more coming from the jazz side of the street.Thanks!
Cruelty and priapic silliness-- I hear you, beautifully put. Thanks for reading and commenting, much appreciated!