We were both into motocross. My dad would wake me up at 6:30 on weekends, brew some coffee and make some sandwiches for us. Then we'd spend the day racing together. I know he had this reputation as being wild and irresponsible, but I never saw any of that.
Jason Bonham
Songwriting is a difficult thing, but it's not so bad when you remove the barriers you put up yourself.
The thing with Led Zeppelin songs is that they were never the same. They were very fluid and tight but loose.
Joe Morello, my dad was really into him and Little Richard's drummer.
I loved 'Rain' and its take on the Beatles. The way they used a timeline and news reel to create a mood, and crafted set changes throughout, it was stunning.
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.
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.
The fan support throughout the years, and the new generation, has made Zeppelin larger than life.
Led Zeppelin was Led Zeppelin when John Bonham was on drums. It's timeless.
I've been clean and sober for 17 years. I am a control freak and must have a plan for everything I do now. I am also self-contained and happy.
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.'
I'm hugely affected by what people think. It could be a million people saying, 'Great.' And then one person writes, 'What the hell is this kid doing?' and starts slagging me off, for some reason, and then I have to join in the blog and sign in under a different name and go,'Why don't you like him?'
Everyone knows who Bonzo is - you can just go pick up those books and read these fisherman's-tale stories. But at home he was a regular dad who would ground me and embarrass me in front of my friends. He was in Led Zeppelin and he would still embarrass me!
If you had asked me in 2005, when I had just joined Foreigner, that I would leave the band in 2007 to play with Led Zeppelin, I would have said you're nuts.
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.
After my dad passed away, I had this bizarre goal. I wanted to play drums for Led Zeppelin. I just wanted to be able to say, 'Dad, I did it.'
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.
Dad was pretty solid. He had great grooves and there was occasional moments of sheer brilliance with fills and things, but in general, the sheer brilliance is the simplicity, how much groove, how much feel he had, all the subtleties that we miss.
My dad provided me with a great way of life, and he was very charitable man.
Led Zeppelin sounded like nobody else. That spoke to the individuality of the band and the direction Jimmy Page wanted to pursue.
When I turned 17, I had a bike malfunction at a race, and in my head, I went, 'You know what? I'm done. I'm going to go play drums.' I still ride my bikes for fun, but that was the turning point.
I'd like to eventually be known as someone who emerged as a songwriter.
When my father began playing for Led Zeppelin our family was living in a 14-foot trailer.
When I do the Led Zeppelin Experience I feel sort of responsible and it's a more nerve-wracking gig.
If you listen to five nights of Led Zeppelin back to back they are all different.
Most of my mannerisms come from my Mum, who is quite a funny, witty, chatty person. My Dad was very shy.
It is hard to have your own identity when you dad is John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, but I accept and love the fact of who my dad is.
I don't think there are any easy Led Zeppelin songs.
I remember when I went to see Led Zeppelin live in 1979 at Knebworth, there were certain songs that stood out to me and will stay with me forever.
Led Zeppelin is part of my life, a huge part, that I enjoy immensely. But I don't want people to think this is all that I do. There is a creative side to my brain that needs to be fed, too.
My daughter wasn't into that type of rock music and kind of played it off. But then these teenage boys started coming around, and Led Zeppelin, I don't know, it became reinvented. Now she's very proud of her grandfather.
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.
He was a very quiet and shy person but that drum kit gave him that voice. 'Bonzo' was the guy in Zeppelin. John was my dad.
I always say dad was a lot more funky than people think.
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.'
I've never been a huge fan of drum solos.
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.
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.
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.
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.
