Whether he was destroying hotel rooms, bags of illicit substances, marriage vows, or his drum kit—both literally, by setting it on fire and metaphorically with his virtuosic pounding—Led Zeppelin’s explosive drummer was a wild man with a very dark side.
1. He Was The Band’s Beating Heart
The Beatles may have sweetly asked the world to “Please Please Me” as they ushered in the era of stadium concerts, but Led Zeppelin took the idea and corrupted it—big time. Not only did the legendary rockers sing about getting squeezed “till the juice runs down my leg” but they also turned their massive tours into debauched, decadent, and dangerous road shows.
It was almost as if the band was propelled by an ominous thundering heartbeat…a heartbeat that rumbled from deep inside one man.
2. He Was Trouble From The Get-Go
John Bonham wasn’t just given the nickname “The Beast”—he earned it, and we’re sure his mother would agree. After putting her through 26(!) hours of labor, Bonham was born on May 31, 1948, near Birmingham, England. Too bad his mother’s stress was only just beginning. Shortly after Bonham was born, his tiny heart stopped beating…
3. He Was A Fighter
To add to Bonham’s mother’s terror, the doctor on duty was missing. As the moments ticked by, a quick-thinking nurse hauled in another doctor who was able to revive baby Bonham. After the situation had calmed down, the nurse confessed that it was a miracle that the baby had survived. And so, Bonham’s days of causing pulse-pounding mayhem had officially begun…
Gijsbert Hanekroot, Getty Images
4. He Was A Handful
By the age of five, Bonham was driving his mother nuts. He would camp out in the kitchen pounding on pots and tins with knives and forks. She must have seen something, though, because when he was 10, she got him a snare drum. For his 15th birthday, his father gritted his teeth and bought Bonham a real drum kit.
Bonham’s headmaster also saw something. In the boy’s report card, he wrote that Bonham would “either end up a dustman or a millionaire”. Hmm…
Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music, Getty Images
5. He Ran On Pure Adrenaline
Neither the rigid British class system nor certain headmasters could quash Bonham's drumming dreams. By day, the mighty percussionist would do backbreaking physical labor at the family construction company and at night he would pound away till dawn with various local bands.
By 1964, when he was only 17, the magic was already starting to happen—in both his musical career and his love life…
6. He Found Friends And Lovers
Bonham may have lived in the suburbs, but in the 60s, even they were pulsating with a rich music scene. By now the wild-haired Bonham had not only earned the nickname Bonzo, but also a reputation as an outstanding drummer. It was at a local dance that he met a pretty blonde named Pat who would soon be his wife—when both were still teens, btw.
However, the sparks really started to fly when fate shoved Bonzo into the path of three other extremely talented musicians and their insane manager Peter Grant…
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
7. He Galvanized The Group
It’s pretty mindblowing how four dudes—Bonzo, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones—just jamming together for the first time in a room below a London record shop in 1968, would go on to birth hard rock, revolutionize the music industry, and become the center of a swirling storm of substance-fueled madness devouring everything in its path.
And guess who was at the heart of it all? As bassist Jones recalled, "As soon as I heard John Bonham play, I knew this was going to be great”. Unfortunately, his genius came with a dark side.
8. He Let The Bad Times Roll
The year 1969 was a time of upheaval for many, including journalist Ellen Sander, who covered Led Zeppelin’s tour supporting their first album. At the tour’s end, she went backstage and the band members, led by Bonzo, lunged at her while shrieking and ripping her clothes off in a frenzy. “I was terrified,” Sander said.
To make matters worse, the situation started spiraling out of control…
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9. He Was Unhinged
The backstage nightmare continued for Sander: “All of a sudden there were all these hands on me, and all these big guys,” she recalled. When she saw the band’s manager Peter Grant, a hulking former wrestler, heading toward her, she thought, “Him too? Oh no”. Thankfully, instead of piling on, Grant ripped Bonzo off of Sander, allowing her to escape.
The gracious (and very, um, pre-“Me Too”) Sander said, “They didn’t hurt me, except for my feelings”. Sadly, Bonzo was just getting warmed up…
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10. He Was Chaotic
As savage as the backstage incident was, Bonzo’s booze-fueled debauchery got even worse. There is a famous photo of the Beatles laughing as they fish out of the window of the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle. Cute, right? If there was a similar photo of Led Zeppelin a few years later at the same spot…well, let’s just say that it would be for mature audiences only.
11. He Was At The Heart Of A Very Fishy Tale
What happened at the Edgewater on that fateful day, should definitely stay at the Edgewater. Alas, the incident became infamous as one of the most depraved acts in the history of rock. As friend of the band Vanessa Gilbert recalled, she was getting high and looking out at the water when Bonzo popped out on his balcony and yelled, “You guys gotta come and see this!”
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12. He Crossed The Line
When Gilbert got to Bonzo’s room, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She said he proudly pulled back his shower curtain to display at least eight mud sharks swimming on top of each other. The band’s manager was lying on the bed with a bottle. It was a bizarre scene—but it was going to get a lot worse.
13. He Got Pretty Gross
The details that follow are a much-disputed part of Zeppelin lore, but as Gilbert tells it, “They were taking a mud shark and rubbing it on one of these girls”. In some versions, they did a lot more than that. Ahem. Then, as Gilbert said, “After that, everything [in the hotel room] started going out the window … even the ashtrays”.
All of this pandemonium caused Bonham to have a meltdown…
14. If Only He Understood Consequences
Throwing the contents of Bonham’s hotel room into Elliott Bay was hard work because everything was screwed down, but he was nothing if not persistent. What happened next shouldn't be surprising: As Gilbert recalled, “After a couple of hours of this, Bonzo realizes it’s his room and he turns into a big... baby. He wants to go to sleep and now he doesn’t have a bed to sleep in because it’s floating in the ocean”.
John Bonham rocked out like no other—but it was only a matter of time before he went too far.
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15. He Was A Powerful Player
Now we’re not looking for easter eggs here, but isn’t it fishy that Bonzo changed the name of his epic drum solo from “Pat’s Delight” (after his wife) to “Moby Dick” when it was released as a track on Led Zeppelin II, just a few months after the mud shark incident? Regardless, many folks consider it one of the greatest drum solos of all time.
Say what you will about marathon drum solos, there was a sly reason that Bonham’s bandmates enjoyed it when he played “Moby Dick”…
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16. His Playing Was Pulse-Quickening
During the band’s live shows, Bonzo would sometimes make “Moby Dick” last up to 30 minutes, which allowed his band some me time (Wink, wink). According to legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres, she was “sashaying backstage with [Jimmy] and Robert while Bonzo thrashed away on ‘Moby Dick’... It was like being wrapped up in a thunderous hurricane of expanding, contracting holy sound. Aaahhhhhh”.
Gijsbert Hanekroot, Getty Images
17. He Was Starting To Feel The Strain
As wild as Bonham’s life sounds, long stadium tours can be a total grind. To add to his frustration, the band’s success meant that they couldn’t leave their hotels without causing chaos. Bonham’s bandmate John Paul Jones said, “He really hated being away, and he hated flying. So that was another thing that made him drink”.
Yes, Bonham’s self-medicating was becoming a big problem.
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18. He Was Flying High
Who needs diazepam when you can cure your fear of flying with a private jet? Obviously, the band didn’t get one for that purpose, but some armchair shrink thought that letting Bonzo sit in the cockpit would be a good idea because a) it is all about control and b) he loved cars and fast driving.
Booze, aircraft, and a madman…what could go wrong?
David Warner Ellis, Getty Images
19. He Was Fast And Less Furious
Time to call Mothers Against Drunk Pilots. As bassist Jones remembers it, Bonzo “suddenly realized flying was a bit like driving his car”. BTW, in the band’s first successful year, car freak Bonham bought 26! “They let him do a few moves…the plane lurched. John came out of the cockpit with a big smile on his face and he said, ‘That’s the fastest thing I’ve ever driven’.”
And when John Bonham ginned, that was rarely a good thing...
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20. He Was Upgraded
As Taylor Swift knows, having your own private jet can make touring a lot more pleasant—and for the latter half of the 1973 tour, the band upgraded to the much larger Starship. It featured a bar, a 9-meter (30-foot) couch, and a bedroom with a white fur bedspread.
But the first time the band used the plane, Bonzo (of course) caused a ruckus.
21. His Fashion Sense Was Sinister
Knowing Bonzo, he was likely still blitzed when he boarded The Starship looking dapper in his Clockwork Orange-inspired bowler hat. (Side note: One night Robert Plant referenced the film when he introduced Bonzo to the audience as “The man who made Led Zeppelin a legend: Mr. Ultraviolence”).
Shortly after takeoff, when Bonzo ambled back to use the plane’s lavatory, something went very awry…
22. He Had Toilet Trouble
As Bonzo entered the loo, there was a huge woosh, and all of a sudden, his hat was sucked down the toilet. Apparently, the crew had forgotten to fasten the cap on the chute that the toilets emptied from. It would almost have been funny if the sudden loss of cabin pressure wasn’t so dangerous—perfect for a nervous flier!
23. He Was Under Pressure
Things were different in the good ol’ days. The crew was unable to fix the problem and everyone on board was starting to feel the lack of air pressure. However, instead of landing immediately, they decided to keep going and just keep the plane really low. They flew from Dallas to New Orleans at 8,000 feet instead of the usual 30,000!
As Robert Plant recalled, “So, John had lost his hat, but then we all lost our minds”.
24. He Liked The Finer Things
Anyone who flies private should really have a classy car to match—or a dozen. One time while in LA, Bonham and his manager Peter Grant, decided to stop into a Rolls Royce dealership. As scruffy Bonham, who probably didn’t look like the brand’s typical clientele, was admiring a Silver Shadow, a salesperson hurried over and said, “Sonny, don’t put your hands on it unless you can pay for it”. Ouch.
Don’t worry, Bonham had the perfect comeback…
SG2012, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
25. He Got His Revenge
Bonham, who was likely not used to being treated that way, decided to have a little fun. “How much is it then?” After the dealer told him the price of the car, Bonham said to his manager, “Quick, give me 85 grand,” and Grant pulled out a paper bag full of cash. With a flourish, Bonham dumped it on the table and was the proud owner of a glorious new Rolls.
Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music, Getty Images
26. He Went Off The Rails
So, Bonzo hated planes, loved automobiles, and wreaked havoc on one train ride in particular. During the band’s 1971 Japan tour, Bonzo took his typical sloppy horseplay a few notches too far. When bandmate Jimmy Page and his girlfriend went to the dining car, Bonzo found the girlfriend’s purse and…well, there's no other way to say this.
He took a big dump in it.
27. He Was A Brute
Could the Beast’s behavior get any worse? Well, yes, yes it could—all while he was still in Japan, too. At the Tokyo Hilton, brutish Bonzo, who likely had superhuman strength from pounding away for three hours most nights, picked up a room service cart and threw it at a record company executive while the poor guy was having a shower!
Well, fasten your seatbelts, because it gets way worse…
28. He Sought Scary Souvenirs
So far you may not have pegged Bonzo as a refined man, but one evening while in Japan, he and the band’s manager Richard Cole decided to seek out some cultural artifacts. The lads snagged some super-sharp samurai swords, as one does, and proceeded to slice and dice their rooms beyond recognition—but this was just the warm-up.
Richard E. Aaron, Getty Images
29. He Was A Villain
In what could have been a scene from A Clockwork Orange, the two boozers bounded down the hall, swords in hand, and chopped their way into bassist John Paul Jones’s room. If he hadn’t been so out of it, he probably would have had a heart attack. Jones was so inebriated that he didn’t wake up when they dragged him out to the hallway…
30. He Had An Appetite For Destruction
Bonzo and Cole then sliced Jones’s room to smithereens all while Jones slept soundly in the hotel hall. The next morning, a shocked housekeeper got an earful of curses when she tried to wake the dazed and confused Jones who at first didn’t realize that he wasn’t even in his room.
To no one’s surprise, the Tokyo Hilton banned Zeppelin for life.
31. He Was Not Feeling The Puppy Love
You might say Bonzo was an artist of destruction, with every new hotel room as his blank canvas. At one of the exclusive and secluded Chateau Marmont bungalows in LA, he and manager Cole went on a particularly abominable spree with an X-rated entertainer named Dahlia the Dog Act. It’s time to brace yourself—this is definitely not for the faint of heart…
32. His Manager Orchestrated A Different Type Of Show
Not to get too dramatic, but hopefully, you haven’t eaten recently… The band’s manager Cole arranged for Dalia the Dog Act to come to the bungalow and perform for him and Bonzo. When it wasn't up to his expectations Cole, eager to see a show, went so far as to fry up some bacon and use it to lure the dog into, um, action.
Bruce Alan Bennett, Shutterstock
33. He Put On His Own Show
The show they came for wasn't happening, so Cole stepped in and proceeded to get busy with Dahlia. Then, while he was doing it, he urged Bonzo to step in and take over. Let’s just say no bacon was needed, and during the act, Bonzo, who usually tried to stay loyal to his wife, asked Cole for some feedback.
As Cole was cheering him on from the sidelines, things got even more bizarre.
34. He Was NOT Expecting That
The Chateau Marmont has hosted a lot of wild behavior, but this must have been a first: Grant, the other manager, burst into the room while Bonzo was mid-coitus and dumped a gigantic, industrial-sized can of baked beans all over the entwined lovers. To wash it all down, he proceeded to pop a bottle of champagne and spray it all over the pair.
Gary Minnaert (Minnaert)), Wikimedia Commons
35. He Was An Actual Beast
You would think nothing could top the baked beans (and frank) incident, but something much darker happened aboard The Starship. To fortify himself for the flight, Bonzo consumed a whole bottle of booze and passed out. When he awoke, he stumbled out of the bathroom wearing only a robe.
Then he grabbed at a flight attendant who happened to be walking past him…
36. He Caused Another Air Nightmare
Yes, consent was a foreign term in those days. As Bonzo pawed at the flight attendant, she tried to laugh it off, but the Beast was strong and determined. He bent her over, pulled up her dress, and threw open his robe. He then announced his intention to the crowded plane.
All of a sudden, the vibe turned very sour.
37. He Went Too Far
The petrified flight attendant let out a piercing scream and Cole and Grant came running. They ripped Bonzo off the woman and put her in the care of guitarist Page, who gently tried to console her for the next 10 minutes. To make matters so, so much worse, this happened in front of a bunch of journalists who were traveling with the band.
38. He Had A Softer Side
Bonham was a man of stark contrasts, which becomes clear when you compare his boozy rock god lifestyle of sold-out shows and screaming fans to his calm and happy home life. He used some of his mountains of cash to buy and fix up an idyllic farm in Worcestershire for his growing family—Pat, daughter Zoe, and son Jason. He even started breeding cattle!
That said, keeping his two very different worlds in balance was becoming an increasingly insurmountable task.
39. He Was Not Too Big To Fail
By the mid-70s, the band had become a big, bad monster. Everywhere they went they were breaking attendance records, grabbing headlines, and leaving legions of terrorized hotel staff in their wake. One newspaper called Zep’s fans “the most violent, unruly crowds ever to inflict themselves upon a concert hall".
The pressure was reaching a fever pitch—and Bonham was starting to show signs of strain.
40. He Was A Hot Mess
The show must go on…especially when unprecedented stadium-fulls of sweaty fans are clamoring to hear “Stairway to Heaven”. By 1975, Bonzo would be pounding away on drums with a bag of coke in full view between his legs. Black Sabbath rocker Tony Iommi said, “I saw John a few times when he’d throw up and then do a line and have another drink”.
Little did the band know that their rock and roll circus tent was a heartbeat away from unraveling…
41. He Had Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems
In the mid-70s, Britain’s Labour Party got serious about taxing the rich (Yes, you’re still reading about Led Zeppelin). How serious? Well, the taxman wanted to snatch 83 to 98% on investment income from top earners. This sent the band into tax exile, which meant Bonham couldn’t enjoy as much family time at his beloved farm. It also caused much more than accounting drama…
42. His Bandmates Were Suffering
Adding to the stress of the tax exile, lead singer Robert Plant’s wife almost perished in a car accident while the couple were on vacation in Greece. The injured pair flew to the UK for treatment, but their accountants suggested they delay the plane’s landing until after midnight to avoid wasting one of their precious few days allowed in England.
Oh, and while Jimmy Page was in exile in LA, he developed a nasty smack habit that he shared with Bonzo. Would the band ever be able to get their mojo back?
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
43. He Was Tottering On The Brink
If interventions were common then, Bonzo might still be with us. Musician Glenn Hughes said, “Towards the end, he drank so viciously…The guy was miserable, and it doesn’t matter how much f-ing money you’ve got…alcoholism will take you out”. Manager Phil Carlo said, “I don’t think it would have lasted much longer. The music was nowhere near as good as it had been”.
Atlantic Records, Wikimedia Commons
44. He Was Ready To Blow
Forget about ridiculous tour riders, during the band’s 1977 tour, which would be their last, Bonzo’s outbursts were becoming so disturbingly violent that journalists covering the band were given the following instructions: “Do not make any sort of eye contact with John Bonham. This is for your own safety”.
It would almost be funny—if it wasn’t so frightening.
Evening Standard, Getty Images
45. He Was Donezo
Pounding the drums almost nightly was no longer providing an outlet for his frustration at being away from his family. And he was regularly provoking fights with anyone and everyone to the point where his bandmates kept secret hotel rooms where they could hide from his out-of-control rampages.
When they made plans to go out, someone would whisper, “Shh, don’t tell Bonzo”.
46. He Went Over The Edge
Many celebs are surrounded by yes-men, but when you’re a coked-out star with anger issues who also has constant backup in the form of burly bodyguards and roadies, you start to feel invincible. One fateful night in Oakland, Bonham witnessed a security guard smack the hand of band manager Peter Grant’s young son. Then havoc broke loose…
47. He Got His Hands Dirty
An epic brawl broke out and the guard who reprimanded the boy was put inside a trailer and beaten to the point of requiring hospitalization. After the dust settled, the authorities apprehended Bonham, Grant, and two other Led Zeppelin crew. The band’s reputation was in tatters. To make matters worse, two days after the massive melee, Robert Plant’s five-year-old son succumbed to a stomach virus.
It was clearly time for everyone to take a step back.
Robert Knight Archive, Getty Images
48. He Was Ready For The Next Chapter
Bruised but not beaten, in 1980, the band decided to go on their first North American tour since 1977. During rehearsals, the band stayed at Jimmy Page’s house just outside of London. However, on the morning of September 25, 1980, when Bonzo still hadn’t emerged from his room, the band realized something was very wrong.
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49. He Was Set To Self-Destruct
When bassist Jones and the tour manager went to rouse Bonham that afternoon, he was unresponsive. At the young age of 32, Bonham was gone. An inquest revealed that after consuming about 40 shots, Bonham had choked on his vomit. As he had recently kicked illicit substances, the only other substance in his system was medication for depression and anxiety.
50. He Was Irreplaceable
The beating heart that had once propelled the band to their share of good times and bad times had gone silent. The band members knew what they had to do. Just a couple of months after Bonham’s passing, Led Zeppelin announced that without their “dear friend,” they could not continue as they were.
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