Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • "Worst rap album in history"
  • Superbooth 2025
  • Eilish vs Radiohead
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums

Drum stars on why they love John Bonham

News
By Rich Chamberlain published 30 May 2015

Portnoy, Nicko, Phillips and more

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

We love Bonzo!

We love Bonzo!

To mark what would have been John Bonham's 68th birthday we have trawled through the vaults and picked out some of drumming's biggest stars paying tribute to Bonzo. We didn't have to search too hard...

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Charlie Benante

Charlie Benante

"John Bonham was one of those guys that I just wanted to be like. Who puts a drum solo on their second record and gets away with it?

"That took balls, but they had the confidence to do it. After that record they couldn’t do a thing wrong. [Led Zep IV is] definitely an album for drummers. ‘Stairway To Heaven’, for me growing up and hearing that song on the radio, I couldn’t wait for that song to come on. You have to wait a while for the drums to come in, but when they do it’s so awesome.

"It’s probably one of the greatest songs ever recorded without a chorus. I always think about the way Zeppelin worked. ‘Misty Mountain Hop’ is a drummer’s dream. The drums sound explosive, then that snare roll at the end. There’s so much feel in that song, the way he pulls it back. After that is ‘Four Sticks’, and he played that with four sticks. The time signature of that song is a little strange to catch. He has the hi-hat going the whole time. The way it was recorded was kind of avante garde at the time because it doesn’t really go into anybeat, just toms.”

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Brent Fitz

Brent Fitz

“Bonham’s intro and solo outro on ‘Rock And Roll’ can’t be topped. And, the way he brings in the band with that perfect fill and groove on ‘Stairway To Heaven’ is simply magical. I can’t wait for it every time I hear the song!”

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Nicko McBrain

Nicko McBrain

“My first influence was Ringo Starr and Charlie Watts, then the great Keith Moon. Bonham’s right on the back of that.

That drum sound was what really drove me and pulled me into it. That’s where my style really generated from – those four guys. The first song that really inspired me was ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and the middle breakdown, where he was playing a lift hat. then he would play a percussive motif on the bell. I never heard anything like it in my life!”

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Mike Portnoy

Mike Portnoy

"Every album Bonzo recorded with Zeppelin is mandatory listening for every drummer... but Led Zeppelin IV perhaps is the band and Bonham at theirmost iconic. ‘Black Dog’ is a great example of Bonham laying down such a strong groove in the midst of changing odd time signatures... ‘

"Four Sticks’ is a great example of Bonzo’s creativity with instrumentation as well as his ability to make an odd time signature still swing (in this case 5/4)... And of course, the drum intros to both ‘Rock And Roll’ and ‘When The Levee Breaks’ are perhaps two of the most famous drum intros of all-time! This is the stuff of legends...”

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Simon Phillips

Simon Phillips

“I love any musician with a strong character that is able to adapt to the music. He had such a wonderful groove and sound and blended the two perfectly. having played with Jimmy and knowing how tricky his songs can be I really understand the mastery of John’s approach to those iconic tunes. Always puts a smile on my face to hear him play!”

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
John Tempesta

John Tempesta

“IV was the record that really inspired me on drums. The first song I learned how to play was ‘Black Dog’. Every track on that record is incredible!

‘Stairway To Heaven’ is such a classic, timeless song. Come on! ‘Rock And Roll’, ‘Misty Mountain Hop’! It doesn’t get better than that and Bonzo’s feel, sound and overall performance is the reason why he was the King!”

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Rich Chamberlain
Rich Chamberlain

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).

More about drums

“I’d urge anyone wanting to make music to avoid waiting around for others to give you permission”: Eli Keszler on staying true to yourself as an artist, working with Skrillex and Oneohtrix Point Never, and his self-titled new project

“At full throttle, this speaker is capable of delivering room-filling volume without strain”: Alesis Strike Amp 12 MK2 review

Latest

“Prince was really excited and kept pumping us up, saying ‘We’re making history tonight’”: How Prince summoned one of the greatest guitar solos of all time from thin air

See more latest
More about drums

“I’d urge anyone wanting to make music to avoid waiting around for others to give you permission”: Eli Keszler on staying true to yourself as an artist, working with Skrillex and Oneohtrix Point Never, and his self-titled new project

“At full throttle, this speaker is capable of delivering room-filling volume without strain”: Alesis Strike Amp 12 MK2 review

Latest

“Prince was really excited and kept pumping us up, saying ‘We’re making history tonight’”: How Prince summoned one of the greatest guitar solos of all time from thin air

See more latest
Most Popular
Paul Di'Anno in 1981
“If you’re a singer, you’re totally reliant on your body. You can't put a bit more distortion on your amp or use effects. You can’t compensate. You’re very exposed”: Why Iron Maiden had to change their singer to reach the next level
Guitars on a shop wall
“The effects of these sudden and unpredictable tariff actions will have a long-term effect on musicians worldwide”: Guitar industry leaders to meet with Trump in a bid to avert “devastating” impact of tariffs
PinkPantheress
“The only difference for me between me calling it an album and a mixtape is what I went into it thinking it was”: PinkPantheress on why her new project, Fancy That, is a mixtape rather than an album
The Beatles in 1967
“John said, ‘I don’t know where to go from here.’ So Paul said, ‘Well, I’ve got this other song I’ve been working on.’ They joined the two bits together to make one song”: The story of the greatest thing The Beatles ever recorded
Metallica
"While being dubbed the ‘Metallica Quake’ online, it actually posed no danger": Metallica’s Enter Sandman triggers mini earthquake on its American Football ‘homecoming’
Trevor Horn
“I had a bit of a shock because I’d just come from working with Yes, who had done 1,000s of live shows and were all brilliant players. Frankie Goes To Hollywood had done 5 shows and they could barely play”: Trevor Horn on the making of Relax
The Who announce final US tour
“I was hypnotised when I was a little boy - by my dentist who was experimenting with hypnotism”: Pete Townshend reveals why he always does his best on stage, as The Who announce final US tour
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score an impressive £400 off a Rickenbacker 330, £200 off PRS, and up to 80% off a host of synth gear
Gene Simmons
“We may jump up on stage and jam. It's very loose”: Gene Simmons tells Kiss fans to expect the unexpected at the band’s upcoming Las Vegas event
Lose Yourself in movies
“You sir, are an absolute madman. I can't imagine how long this took”: You have to see this astonishing Lose Yourself movie mash-up

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...