Led Zeppelin's Former Publicist Says John Bonham Was 'An Angry And Mean Drunk'

WHY the F VCK is this a headline? I dont know any drunk, including myself, who ISNT angry and mean. Its part of being drunk. The operative phrase that Goldberg made in that article was"greatest rock drummer". Goldberg's relationship's with the members of Led Zeppelin are documented well enough for any honest person to know, that he had resepct and admiration for them all.

Some grub just wants a story.

It's really sad the way people take the one bad thing about a person and try to make it what they were all about; or just as bad when they take the worst moment in a person's life ... or a period when they were feeling really down and out...and try to "define" the person's entire life according to that moment... as if that's who they are or were.

John Bonham was so many other thing's... much more important things... things that much more acurately define who he was... than an "angry drunk" to quote the turnip grub who conjured up this bogus story.

Being angry when you drink is just something that happens, but it's not who you are...

Who Bonham was/is... is a great father to his son and family... he was a dedicated musician to his craft... and as you so righteously pointed out Marcus and Gigwise more or less glossed right over, John Bonham was also (arguably) the ...

"greatest rock drummer" of all time.

He was also apparently pissed off at the time for being critiqued by what he thought was an unfair appraisal by a know nothing critic who may have gave him a "wink and a nod" for all we know. I'm not making excuses, but I think it's not fair to assume that we know what he was thinking and what his reasoning was... especially since he's not here to defend himself.

People always think they know, but they are sooo wrong; you can't just go by what you see or hear somebody say or do... you have to know what they are thinking because there is almost always more going on from their perspective and their side of the story... and sometimes there is a lot more going on then meets the eye.

Who knows what may have really set him off, but manhandling some twits oversized lapels and raising his voice is not the same as giving the poor schmuck a jaw breaker without warning... and BONZO was certainly capable of doing that too... so a case can be made that he showed great restraint in that interview also ... the bottom line is who really cares?

LONG LIVE "BONZO THE GREAT"

May his Spirit play the extended drum solo on Moby Dick forever and a day.

What a crock of twaddle. Absolutely correct both of you guys. Everyone can be prone to acting like a selfish tool when the demon takes over. that's part of the ride! Its entirely chance on whether you get up or down. thats the same with EVERYONE. I think I saw this narrow chested gimp on TV once giving an interview. Sure he needs a bit of cash. I have equally heard personal stories of Bonzo being totally a gent especially with fans. My pal met him when we were kids 30 years or so ago. At a Motocross event. Jason Jnr was into it at the time. He was a perfect gent. If you were working for him i can imagine he could be beligerent difficult and no doubt like Moon the Loon and all great Drummers, mad as a hatter. that is what Drummers are. that's why they shun the limelight and play at the back. Mostly quite reserved, shy guys!
Anyway, my personal stand out "story" of bonham is when me and a couple of pals visited the great man's grave in Rushock, Worcs one weekend morning pilgrimage. There was no one there, man nor beast, other than the three of us until i felt a brush against my leg, turned round and it didnt click for 10 seconds or so then it twigged. It was a Black Dog. That dog was nowehere around any time before as we were making our way round and it was gone in 5 seconds! that's the honest. Co-incidence or sign? I can play quite a bit of the great man's work to decent standard but one think i will never do is perfect the one handed hi-hat work on Fool In the Rain. In my view his greatest work is to be found on that album, the South Bound Suarez lick at the end. Now that IS Genius. That tool Goldberg was indeed lucky to bump into a genius. As i say, a Force of Nature, as i believe it says on his headstone?

your full of shit, and you talk too much!

daco wrote:

your full of shit, and you talk too much!

I hope your commenting on the article... if so I totally agree with you... what a bunch of BS.

Tizzer wrote:

What a crock of twaddle. Absolutely correct both of you guys. Everyone can be prone to acting like a selfish tool when the demon takes over. that's part of the ride! Its entirely chance on whether you get up or down. thats the same with EVERYONE. I think I saw this narrow chested gimp on TV once giving an interview. Sure he needs a bit of cash. I have equally heard personal stories of Bonzo being totally a gent especially with fans. My pal met him when we were kids 30 years or so ago. At a Motocross event. Jason Jnr was into it at the time. He was a perfect gent. If you were working for him i can imagine he could be beligerent difficult and no doubt like Moon the Loon and all great Drummers, mad as a hatter. that is what Drummers are. that's why they shun the limelight and play at the back. Mostly quite reserved, shy guys!
Anyway, my personal stand out "story" of bonham is when me and a couple of pals visited the great man's grave in Rushock, Worcs one weekend morning pilgrimage. There was no one there, man nor beast, other than the three of us until i felt a brush against my leg, turned round and it didnt click for 10 seconds or so then it twigged. It was a Black Dog. That dog was nowehere around any time before as we were making our way round and it was gone in 5 seconds! that's the honest. Co-incidence or sign? I can play quite a bit of the great man's work to decent standard but one think i will never do is perfect the one handed hi-hat work on Fool In the Rain. In my view his greatest work is to be found on that album, the South Bound Suarez lick at the end. Now that IS Genius. That tool Goldberg was indeed lucky to bump into a genius. As i say, a Force of Nature, as i believe it says on his headstone?

Great story, I'm sure the black dog lifted his leg on every headstone in the cemetary except for the late great BONZO.

Also, not being a drummer I am still aware of Bonham's work on Moby Dick and his famous intro to Rock n Roll and there are many other hard driving jams that stand out for Zep with regard to drums, but one would not think of fool in the rain and Suarez right of the top of their head as drum songs... but then every Zep song is a drum song and guitar song.

I will definitely be listening the next time around... maybe later on today and I can't wait to hear the one handed high hat on Fool in the Rain (but I don't know if I can stop listening to Pages octave pedal solo) and last lick for Suarez too... once again, great posts like that are always welcome.