What happened to Led Zeppelin after John Bonham's death.
Содержание
"Led Zeppelin." - one of the most legendary rock bands in history. Despite the fact that it broke up many decades ago, it is still talked about as a great one. And it's hard to argue with that. Over a long and colourful career, the four British rockers gave the world gorgeous albums and timeless hits, the most famous of which was the iconic "Stairway to Heaven.". 300 million copies worldwide, seven Billboard 200 chart topping albums, number one at the top of the "100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists." and other honours and awards.
So what caused this amazing team to split up for good? After studying some moments of Zeppelin's biography, it becomes clear: the collapse was inevitable.
John Bonham's death and the end of the story
"Led Zeppelin." ceased to exist a few months after the drummer's death John Bonham. The band subsequently reunited several times - notably on the Live Aid в 1985 of the year and another charity event at 2007 year. Then Bonham's place at the drum kit was taken by his son Jason. The legendary drummer passed away 25 September 1980 at the age of 32 years old. This tragedy put an end not only to the band's North American tour, but to its history as a whole.
At the end of the European tour the band started rehearsing, because. "Zeppelin." was going to be riding around with the concerts across North America. 24 September 1980. Bonham was driven to a studio in the Berkshires where Zeppelin were rehearsing. Assistant Rex King recalled how on the way John asked to stop "for breakfast": he ate a ham roll and had a drink four shot glasses vodka. At that time Bonham had a huge drinking problem: the band had been under a lot of stress over the last few years, and then there was the tour. The drummer's only salvation was drinking.
Throughout the day, John consumed alcohol, and when the rehearsal was over, the musicians went to Jimmy Page's house. By midnight, Bonham passed out and was put to bed. When the Zeppelin bassist the next day. John Paul Jones went to wake him up, he found his mate dead.
"I couldn't believe it, but I had to let the others know," he later recalled.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Bonham died due to vomiting. On the eve of the tragedy, the rocker had been drinking 40 shots of vodka for 12 hours. That in itself is a lethal dose. The North American tour was immediately cancelled. 4 December 1980 the remaining members of Zeppelin have issued a statement:
"We didn't just lose a band member. We lost our friend. We made a decision: the band cannot continue to exist."
It was the end.
What came before?
In the summer. 1979 year "Led Zeppelin." have released their latest studio album "In Through The Out Door". No one knew then what lay ahead of them. But the colours over the band were thickening by the day. Despite the fact that Zeppelin were one of the most popular rock bands of the time, they were accompanied by big troubles: the death of their young son. Robert Plante в 1977 year, expulsion from the UK because of tax problems, personal troublesas well as huge burden. Not surprisingly. Jimmy Page addicted to illicit drugs, while John Bonham became addicted to alcohol.
In the summer of the same 1979 years the band played two massive concerts in Nebworth - the last two concerts in their home country. A year later, the team went on tour, performing at venues in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. However, when they arrived in Nuremberghealth problems had taken their toll on John. The show started as usual - covers were played "Train Kept A-Rollin'." и "Nobody's Fault But Mine". When it was the third song's turn, it was clear that Bonham was not ready to perform. Before performing "Black Dog."Jimmy Page addressed the crowd:
"Today a member of our group is not feeling well - a little stomach problem. But we will try to do our best for you!"
Bonham tried to play, but his rhythms became chaotic. And before Plant began his performance. "In The Evening", John fainted. He fell from his chair, and the vocalist nervously rushed to alert the audience:
"We've just had a small technical problem. We'd appreciate it if you could wait a little longer..."
Alas, that night the show had already did not continue. Some fans have subsequently stated that. Bonham was drunk. Nevertheless, the tour ended successfully in Berlin's Eissporthalle 7 July. It was last round John Bonham and Led Zeppelin.
Possible history of the group
After the fact. John Bonham is gone, and "Led Zeppelin." broke up, the fans started hypothesisewhat it would look like group's futurebe John. alive. And many agreed that the end of the Zeppelin story. was inevitable.
First of all, the blame for this would be Page's addiction: the substances distanced the guitarist from the band and prevented Zeppelin from fully developing. If Bonham and had he lived, he would have had to recover from his alcohol addiction. And, accordingly, a course of rehabilitation would have been prescribed Paigeou. Only in such a case - in the case complete cleansing - the band had a bright and bright future. But, as we know, Page resisted getting rid of his addiction. Would he have agreed to such a condition then? Far from it not a fact.
Another hypothesis suggests that in the end the participants "Zeppelin." would tire of the group and start looking for themselves on the side.
However, of all the hypotheses, only one is true: if John Bonham had stayed alive and the band had existed at least until the 90s, we would have more musical heritage.
The split could have happened much earlier
Even after Bonham's death, it became clear that the split "Zeppelin." could have happened much earlier, back in the 1974 year. This was revealed by their manager Peter Grant:
"In 1974 they were recording at Headley Grange and suddenly John Paul Jones turned up and said he was leaving the band. I said: "What are you going to do, John, if you leave the band?" He replied, "I'm going to be choirmaster at Winchester Cathedral. I'm fed up with all the touring!" He was very annoyed - I think he was just homesick. Anyway, it was never discussed again."
В 1977 year Robert Plante lost a son. This again darkened the atmosphere. Peter Grant recalled:
"It was the most dangerous moment - they came very close to a split. Of course, Robert went through an incredible thing... I still have no idea how he even coped when his son died. At the time, I think he wanted to get away from everything. And I really understood that..."
Jimmy Page interview
Decades after the incident. Jimmy Page gave an interview in which he explained why the Led Zeppelin story finally ended after Bonham's death:
"We weren't so much playing for money as for the call of our hearts... Each member of Led Zeppelin was important to the sum total of what we were. There was nothing left for us. We couldn't take another guy, put him behind the drums and say, "You gotta do it like this, you know?" That wouldn't have been fair..."
Page continued: "Yes, we had attempts to reunite. But it just wasn't the same... Before the 2007 show we had a lot of preparation: we rehearsed as much as we could to make Jason feel part of the band!"
In the interview. 2012 years Bonham's son Jason shared an emotional moment from those rehearsals:
"Robert said: "I don't want to do this, we can't even reunite with you. It doesn't matter how good you are on the drums, Jason. I love you very much, like a son, but John was the drummer of Led Zeppelin: he was part of me, Jimmy, John... We all had something special in common. And to be honest, it's hard for me to think about performing again, making magic without him... He was a very, very close friend of mine that I miss every day..."
One last thing
Care John Bonham left a huge hole in rock 'n' roll history. He was one of the best drummers of all time, and more importantly, he was part of not a group, but a families "Led Zeppelin. And there is nothing surprising in the fact that after his death the history of this band came to an end. On the contrary, it would have been strange if they had continued to perform: without Bonham, it would not have been the same Zeppelin. But it is not for us to decide whether they should have continued to exist as a band or not. One thing is for sure: if Bonham hadn't left then, we would all be a little richer today in terms of good music.