John Bonham Drum Outtakes

[j. brian mulloy]

Esteemed Members of the Board

I came across what I think is a pretty cool website. You'll see the guy who 'posted' this is quite straightforward and makes no claims to it's authenticity but lets you judge for yourself. Me, I think it's legitimate and this is the real John Bonham. He also says he will not keep it out there for long.

The site is www.disndat.info/bonham

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did listening to a few short tracks of one of the tightest drummers of his era.

Cheers
Brian

[M.D. Holloway]

Brian:
if it ain't Bonham, it's close enough! Track 22 is my fav Bonham riff - thats his shuffle for "Fool in the Rain", tough to have only one hand doing the ride with the syncupated (sp) kick. Once you get it, you have that chop forever but it is counter-intuative.

Bonham was great with the foot - some folks say Moon and Pert had a better kick but Bonham does a great job mixing poly riffs and delivering a "just off center" meter alnog with some delays that make them interesting and bothersome to replicate.

Thanks for the sight!

[Sonic dB]

Yeah...that really does sound like Bonham...not just the playing (which is freaking incredible)...but the micing technique is pure Zeppelin/Page/Andy Johns/esqe. though I do not think that Johns engineered this particular LP, In Through the Outdoor.

You can also hear the backing track playing very faintly...maybe he was in an iso booth...

Thanks for the GREAT link

[Sonic dB]

They generally record some scratch tracks with the entire band playing with baffles, iso booths to isolate tracks.... micing has to be precise to prevent phase cancellation. Individual instruments are then overdubbed, replacing those that were already recorded...some of the original tracks stay of course...

"they" meaning rock bands...particularily back in the day. These days things are much more sterile, much more controlled by the dub and built from scratch up... it shows, as cutting live first always shows more energy.

The sound quality of these particular outtakes is outstanding...

The background sounds of music may very well be the playback going through Bonham's headphones, which would indicate that these were overdubs...hence the excellent sound quality.

(have to get out my sampling software and steal that kick and snare!)

[Sonic dB]

[id10t]

wget -r -l 2 http://www.disndat.info/bonham/

[azasadny]

Thanks! That sure sounds like John Bonham to me!!

[klaucke]

On the track #22, you can definatively hear the song "Fool in the Rain" in the background at the end of the song. I agree, sounds like Bonham.

[j. brian mulloy]

Wow !!

I am both surprised & pleased at the response to this post. I must admit to you guys, your knowledge of production & musicianship far exceeds mine, but having said that, I find it gratifying that you took the time & effort to have a listen to one of my favourites. And oh BTW, a musician friend of mine feels that Bonham's technique on the snare was something else; as for me, I was just digging on his stuff.

Cheers
Brian

[rcecale]

Track 2 sounds like The Imigrant Song.

Randy

[Sonic dB]

Yes it does... it is actually "Carouselambra" though.

I did a little research on these and found this thread at Tape Ops website. Some other guys posted rhythm tracks from "Whole Lotta Love", "Ramble On" and "Heartbreaker" check it out:


http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=26961&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=75&sid=a6c28beea29dd348a7b0133b63200b72

[rcecale]

Sonic,

Perhaps it's just a "style" thing. Obviously all musicians have their own unique style, and the great one's are constantly developing their own. But it just seems like once you can "master" another guys "style, it makes it much easier to learn their chops.
When I used to play my bass pretty heavily, it always helped to study a guys licks. Once you get it down, a lot of thier stuff follows the same patterns. Geezer Butler was one in particular. He used a lot of the same stuff on songs like Paranoid as he did on the later stuff he did with them.
Maybe I'm just stating the obvious here, just thought I'd point it out.

Randy

[Superman]

In my sometimes not-so-humble opinion, John Bonham was in a class of one. In the hierarchy of history's great rock and roll drummers, there are some masters. And high above them all, is Bonzo. He wasn't the fast gun, though he did have a pretty quick foot and busy hands. But he dominated pretty much every song he played, and showed the world how rock/blues drums are to be played. 'nuff said.

I recently saw some footage of a late Bonzo/Zep concert. It would have been shortly before his death. Page and Plant both looked sober. Jones was his usual genius. At any rate, I was blown away by this band....again. Plant had a look in his eye that said "Master of the Universe." Page had his part under control, totally. Bonzo was punishing a set of drums. I have not been a huge fan of the song Kashmire, but I certainly am now. I don't think I ever saw Plant sing better. Mesmerizing.

[M.D. Holloway]

technically, Neil Pert and Billy Cobham have it down cold, if you really want to hear a few good drummers who put a "feel" in their riffs, check out Hal Blaine (circa 1960's), Buddy Rich and even Terry Bozio. They weren't the best technically speaking but provided a "feel" for every piece they drove.

[Oh Haha]

US Drag by Missing Persons is one of the most challenging songs I have ever tried to duplicate on drums. It is on Spring Session M from the early 80's. Terry Bozzio did some amazing work with that band.
Danny Seraphine from Chicago was a big influence for me when growing up.
The things he did were very unique. I hear his style in my playing even though I leaned more to harder rock later in my playing years.
Alright, alright, I was in a "Hair Band" in the 80's. We were cool then.

Wayne

[Sonic dB]

Superman...that might be the Knebworth concert back in 79...was it outside and cold looking? That was their last show together...

OT: I met Robert once in a pub and actually had a drink with him and chatted for awhile.

Great guy, very charming with a ton of charisma.


Ohha.... I love the stuff that Seraphine did with early Chicago. He added so much to their music and is underappreciated overall for his contribution.

[M.D. Holloway]

Sonic dB: had a similar experience with Terry Bozio - in between sets, he bellied up and had a few waters. We got to BS'n, I asked him what his influeneces were and he said Gene Krupa (sp) and Drum Corps. I told him my Mom forced me to be a drummer and made me practiced for at least an hour everyday - he cracked up and said his Mom made/forced him to practice as well! We concluded that it was a strange form of abuse but we were better becuase of it.
I'm going home and duct taping sticks to my sons hands!

[Oh Haha]

This is too funny. My little guy is already banging on anything and everything. It would be cool if he has some musical talent.
I used to spend hours in the basement with my drumkit, jamming to the hits of the day. I hated my rudiments and practicing from my books but I did it. I didn't even discover Led Zeppelin until I was in high school.
I was more into the jazz and big band stuff my Dad had around.

[drummer323]

Know this forum is a little old but had to reply. I've been playing drums for 31 years! Played with lots'o'people. Last Group I was with we did the 60's stuff. The band before that the lead vocalist is on tour with Leann Rimes in Fl. she had a killer voice. I would really like to find a guitarist/bassist and do some Rush style music. He was my influence and I played his stuff back in the 70's and 80's when I was about 17. I was classically trained, had a chance to go to PIT in Ca. but went to Fl. and became a beach bum by day drumer by night!!!! Drummed for Teddy Pendergrass's former band at 19. I hung out with Moon dog who played for Joe Walsh about a month ago. Man is that dude a nut!!!! Send me a p/m and we'll talk music.

[azasadny]

I've played the drums since I was 7 or so. I was in band (orchestra and jazz) along with marching band (bass, snare, triples), then spent a few years in drum and bugle corps. Now, I'm playing drums at church and with friends. I bought a 1979 Slingerland 12pc set on eBay about 6 years ago and have been playing at home. Neither of my kids are interested in the drums, they both take piano lessons and my daughter is taking up the flute and my son wants to play the bass guitar. Oh well...