The son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham finds joy in playing the legacy
“It’s about you, your love for my father, and your love for the music of Led Zeppelin,” Jason Bonham said from atop his drum riser early in the night at Lyric Theater in Baltimore on Friday (Dec 6th). Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening (JBLZE) pays homage to the music his father helped create, and the cultural phenomenon the band became.
Bonham sat behind a drum kit atop a lit riser, the kick drum adorned with John Bonham’s face. Lead singer James Dylan had the pipes to do the Zeppelin catalog justice. He particularly shined on “When the Levy Breaks,” showcasing a broad range of octaves.
Guitarist Jimmy Sakurai spent the evening shredding some of Zeppelin’s iconic licks with hypnotic passion. Sakurai commanded the stage during an extended solo on “Heartbreaker.” Bonham later told the crowd that JBLZE had never played the song live in 14 years of touring, until this run.
Another new addition to the setlist, which Bonham said he was “scared” to attempt, was “Achilles Last Stand.” No fear was necessary. He—and the four others on stage—nailed it.
It was with the attitude that, “The show belongs to the fans,” that Bonham was sparse with his Zeppelin stories, only bringing them up in the context of the night’s setlist. For instance, “In the Evening,” which started the show, was meant to be the opening number for the 1980 tour. It was John Bonham’s death that canceled the trek.
Of course, JBLZE saved those big, pop-culturally ubiquitous numbers for the end. There’s something truly special about watching Jason Bonham give “Stairway to Heaven” his all that makes you wonder what his father might have told him about that transcendent tune in the 14 years they shared on this earth.
It is with the younger drummer that the legacy of Led Zeppelin now rests. With Jimmy Page rumored to be aging out of his playing ability, and Robert Plant enjoying his latest endeavor as a folk rock musician with Alison Krauss, it’s unlikely the two Zeppelin OGs will share music again. And watching Jason Bonham on stage, he’s made it clear he feels he found his purpose, proclaiming to the Led faithful, “We’ll grow old together, share holidays and Led Zeppelin music.”
Unfortunately, no “Moby Dick” this time around. In previous years, the younger Bonham could be seen “sharing” the famous drum solo with the elder Bonham via technology as if both were in the same room together. A true father-son moment.
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