When the album 'Duke' came out, by Genesis, Phil Collins beat Dad in a drummers poll. My dad got me to learn 'Turn It On Again' by Genesis. I'd play it, and he'd go, 'Do it again,' until I got it right. I'd play it until I nailed it, and then he went, 'I don't see what the big deal is. My 12-year-old son could play that song.'Collection: Dad
I was listening to the 'Song Remains The Same' version of 'Dazed And Confused' and, oh my God, that is such an amazing version live.
I've never been a huge fan of drum solos.
I always say dad was a lot more funky than people think.
Joe Morello, my dad was really into him and Little Richard's drummer.
Somebody asked me the other day, 'What do you love the most about the show?' I said, 'The conversations that I have with my father in my head while I'm playing.' If I do something pretty good... I mean, I'm playing the gig and I'm saying in my head, 'Hey, check that one out, dad.'
Every drummer I've ever spoken to or read an interview with - my dad is always in their top three. I'm honored to share his name and represent him all these years after he's gone.
My daughter is going to college and I'm very proud of her and my son is pursuing his own career in rap.
South Florida was definitely not a bad place for my kids to grow up.
To be able to play 'In The Air Tonight' was one of my bucket list things I didn't think I was ever gonna be able to say I did.
When I do the Led Zeppelin Experience I feel sort of responsible and it's a more nerve-wracking gig.
I feel that it was my destiny to play with Led Zeppelin, and of course I had the chance and I did it to my best ability.
When your Dad was the creator of 'Moby Dick' you kind of steer clear of getting compared in a solo-ing aspect.
Growing up my heroes were American motocross riders. I didn't want to be a drummer; I wanted to be a motocross rider.
At some point I got sick of people calling me Bonzo junior. But now that I'm older and wiser, I'm just honored to be mentioned in the same breath.
Everyone knows these stories about a wild and crazy guy called Bonzo, but at home he was just like any other father; always hollering at me for not doing my homework.
He might have been in Led Zeppelin, but to me he was just dad.
I've always wanted to do an album with half the people I've worked with. People like Robert Plant, Paul Rodgers, Jeff Beck and Slash.
I've been working on some original songs with the band that does the Led Zeppelin experience. We're going to start writing as an original band and see what comes out of it. It'll be kind of Zeppelin-esque because of the way the guys play - but there's nothing wrong with that.
But I would say my favorite Zeppelin song to play is 'Kashmir.' I have a great time playing that one.
I think to myself, How would things be for me if my dad was still alive? Would we get along? Would we argue? You know, we never got to the falling-out stage with each other.
As far as being a drummer, to me it's a positive that he's my father. To be mentioned alongside him... I mean, you Google his name and mine comes up, too - wow! Not too shabby.
I heard heart wrenching stories about fans who had tickets for the 1980 show in Montreal, the first concert that didn't happen, when my dad died. They'd be in tears. It was hard to deal with sometimes.
One of the reasons I do the Led-Zeppelin Experience is because I really didn't get the chance, while he was alive, to understand how great my father was. I never got the chance to tell him.
Led Zeppelin was Led Zeppelin when John Bonham was on drums. It's timeless.
I don't think I've ever met a drummer who didn't tell me that my dad was an influence. He's a tough act to follow.
I love the fact that young people are into rock 'n' roll music.
Dad's influence naturally came into me, rather than trying to emulate every detail. His way of teaching me was to be sparse, and to be explosive when it needed to be.
Dad's the master, I'm the student.
I'm playing my father's music and I'm a fan of Led Zeppelin. The response has been beyond what I ever imagined it would be. Unreal. Everyone seems to understand the story I'm telling.
As I've gotten older, as I've gotten familiar with all different types of music, stuff that I didn't like when I was younger I actually kind of like now.
Well, when you grow up in a family situation like in England, you're whole - we call it pub culture, and it is, really. You grow up, you literally come home from work, everyone goes to the pub at 6:30, you drink till 10:30, go home and go to bed. That was our entire life - all my aunts and uncles, and my grandfather drank 'til he was 85.
You know, I went through the whole blond hair bit. And dad took me to see The Police when I was 13. And I was like, this is a cool band, dad. See this is a cool band. And I felt bad for years because then a year later... I never had a chance to tell him how great I think was. After he passed away, I would go and listen to his music.
It's beyond my wildest dreams to come out, represent my family, my father and the music of Led Zeppelin.
I think that my performances with Led Zeppelin got better with each performance and I think that our performances as Led Zeppelin Experience have also gotten better with each show.
It's imperative that I continue putting together the best shows and take it to the next level. I'm talking to people about holograms, and my dream is to do the hologram drum solo with dad next to me.
I am notoriously hard on myself in terms of working on new material and while I am critical of my performance on the Led Zeppelin material, I am way more critical of my own stuff. I'm pretty hard on myself.
I did not want to go onstage and play Led Zeppelin songs; there has to be more than that. I wanted to create a complete experience of what Led Zeppelin means to me, growing up around them and being part of it all my life.
Performing my father's songs at the Led Zeppelin O2 reunion concert in 2007 was an honor that I will forever remember as one of the most bittersweet, yet greatest nights of my life.
I don't mind talking about dad and stuff, because that's part of my life, you know? For me to pretend to be like him, and do the same things he used to do is over. I can see past it now. It took me thirty-eight years and sobriety to realize who Jason Bonham is.
I know I live in the shadow of the greatest drummer in the world, so it's nice to have a bit of sunshine now and again.
I've had about 40 cars in my lifetime, maybe more, from Lamborghinis and McLarens to Bentleys and Rolls-Royces, but I always lost so much money.
I've loved Range Rovers. That goes back to when I was a kid. My dad had the first ever Range Rover that was ever made - the first wave back in the '70s - and he had one every year from that moment, and mom has continued to do that. From the moment they started Range Rovers, they've been in my family.
I'm a huge fan of Ayrton Senna and the color scheme of the old McLarens.
My first four cars, I flipped - not sold them, literally rolled them or flipped them.
Led Zeppelin sounded like nobody else. That spoke to the individuality of the band and the direction Jimmy Page wanted to pursue.
I don't think there are any easy Led Zeppelin songs.
I've searched all of my life for approval from my dad who is not around. So if I can get approval by his fans or from peers and critics, it helps me.
A song like 'When The Levee Breaks' has a very simple pattern, but it's hard to give it that feel that my dad gave it.
My biggest 'Spinal Tap' moment was a stupid one as well. When we were rehearsing for the Zeppelin O2 gig, I was having an argument with my drum pedals. I actually took them outside, and drove over them several times with the car. Shouting at them and telling them they'll never work again.