John Bonham is not overrated

Hi Misfit!

I don't care how people gauge the technical ability of drummers.  I love Bonham's playing for the big sound and the great team playing with Jones and Page.  I just watched the live DVD again the other night and when I watch live Zeppelin, I completely tune out Plant's voice, I don't even hear him.  I just listen to Bonham and Jones mostly because I love to hear what they're doing. 

Interestingly, he had low self esteem.  He was very self conscious of his playing if you believe the recent Zep bio. 

As a drummer, i think he is rated/appreciated as he should. A heavy drummer, with awesome grooves.

Finnforest wrote: Hi Misfit! I don't care how people gauge the technical ability of drummers.  I love Bonham's playing for the big sound and the great team playing with Jones and Page.  I just watched the live DVD again the other night and when I watch live Zeppelin, I completely tune out Plant's voice, I don't even hear him.  I just listen to Bonham and Jones mostly because I love to hear what they're doing.  Interestingly, he had low self esteem.  He was very self conscious of his playing if you believe the recent Zep bio.

lucas wrote: No one ever said that Bonham the father is overrated. If you like his drumming, I urge you to check out Melvins, Dale Crover is clearly inspired by him.

Negoba wrote: Poor Tom!!!   I remember our drummer who could do metal double bass with ease, trying to make that seemingly simple little groove really go, and how hard it was.   Bonzo was a monster. All four of those guys, warts and all, were rock and roll masters.

the Greatest

Henry Plainview wrote:   CPicard wrote: First time I ever see "John Bonham" and "overrated" in the same sentence. I've read bad things about Lars Ulrich, for example, but not one single criticism against Bonham. I'd be willing to write some bad things for you if you want.

Naughty boy.

But that's not the subject of this topic.

aginor wrote: Matt Cameron and Dave Grohl are the two drummers I feel comes closest to Bonham in style, intencety and HP, groove and technique, also Danny Carey have elements of Bonham in his drumming spessially in the solo part of Lateralus is Bonhamish

My issue is not with his talent. My issue is with how he applied it.  His influence did unthinkable damage to the dynamics of three generations of drummers, and "Moby Dick" is basically the exact opposite of what I want drummers to do.

tarkus1980's criticisms are fair, but the problem with his position is the same problem with saying Eddie Van Halen's influence "did unthinkable damage to three generations of guitarists" or that John Coltrane "ruined the saxophone"--  it doesn't really matter whether it's true or not; the impact is undeniable, here to stay, and has been integrated into modern playing as all important techniques are. 

Simply put, it's a didactic position to take.  The fact that Levee was the 'exact opposite' of what tarkus1980 wants - as if what he wanted was important - is the whole point of that drumbeat.   As for notesworth's "way too loud" comment, yeah I've heard that before, so has John Paul Jones who would point out that there is as much little stuff going on as 'loud' in many Zep songs. 

Both of you are over-intellectualizing his playing and seeing flaws where there was intentional tribute to the American blues and country-blues Bonham grew up hearing, instead of appreciating what he contributed to rock drumming in the same way Stewart Copeland brought a subtle jazz approach into the picture or Mitch Mitchell with his frantic style.  Skilled drummers are a dime-a-dozen;  t's not about skill, it's about something else. 

Oh and another thing: without Bonham's tree trunk-like foundation, the high registers of Page and Plant would not have worked in the way it did.  He brought a much needed anchor and masterful timekeeping to an otherwise overindulgent band.   Without Bonzo, there is no Led Zeppelin.




Edited by Atavachron - June 01 2011 at 21:56