Administrators sam_webmaster Posted June 15, 2017 Administrators Share Posted June 15, 2017 Redditch drumming legend John Bonham gets a blue plaque in Headless Cross PIONEERING musician and Led Zeppelin drumming legend John Bonham has been honoured with a blue plaque in his home town of Redditch. Thanks to nominations made by BBC local radio listeners a plaque was unveiled on Thursday (BBC Music Day), outside the home he was born in on Birchfield Road in Headless Cross. The plaque will commemorate John's unmistakable influence on drumming, which saw him draw from some of the coolest and hippest sources to create his own distinct, highly informed style. The plaque was unveiled by Bonham’s sister, singer Deborah Bonham. She was accompanied by former drummer with The Move and ELO, Bev Bevan, who was a good friend of John. The star, who passed away aged just 32 in 1980, is remembered as one of the greatest drummers in rock history. He sold more than 200 million albums with rock royalty Led Zeppelin. Jeremy Pollock, editor of BBC Hereford and Worcester said she was delighted Deborah Bonham could unveil the plaque on behalf of John's family. "His place in Worcestershire history is sealed – his family still lives here and have a strong connection to the patch. I couldn’t think of a better figure to honour, ” she said. A spokesman from the John Bonham Memorial Fund (JBMF), raising cash for a fitting memorial in Redditch town centre, said: “We’re over the moon that BBC Hereford and Worcester listeners voted for John to receive this honour of a blue plaque at his birthplace. "Next year, a memorial to John will be unveiled in the town centre, subject to us gaining planning consent from Redditch Borough Council hopefully within the next couple of months.” After the unveiling a crowd of around 30 people moved up to the Rocklands Members Club where local drummers Steve Barnes and Matt Hill performed a "drum-off" live on BBC HW, in front of Bev Bevan. Ben Russell http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/15350468.Led_Zeppelin_legend_John_Bonham_gets_prestigious_blue_plaque/ ----------- video: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
76229 Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 Good for BBC Hereford & Worcester. If I won the lottery I'd bung the authorities the cash to pay for that statue of Bonzo in Redditch town centre. Look forward to it eventually going up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Wow, that's really something. Nice to see Redditch taking the initiative to honor one of their own. I would have thought he was born in a local hospital. Who can identify anyone/everyone else in the photo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross62 Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 That is truly heartwarming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvlz2 Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Very cool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 7 hours ago, SteveAJones said: Wow, that's really something. Nice to see Redditch taking the initiative to honor one of their own. I would have thought he was born in a local hospital. Who can identify anyone/everyone else in the photo? I'd like to 'identify' the blonde on the left. In all seriousness, that's great to see, I'd love to get down there sometime to visit & to see his grave too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boleskinner Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 15 minutes ago, Mook said: I'd like to 'identify' the blonde on the left. What, the guy that looks like Noel Edmonds? ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 38 minutes ago, Boleskinner said: What, the guy that looks like Noel Edmonds? ;-) That's the one. The boy at the back with the Zeppelin t-shirt on looks like a Poundland Kyle Chandler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Around about fifty blue plaques went up to recognise "local music heroes" on BBC Music Day, Bonzo's was just one of them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/7f78803d-e6ae-469a-9e44-a243634a80db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Just now, JTM said: Around about fifty blue plaques went up to recognise "local music heroes" Bonzo's was just one of them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/7f78803d-e6ae-469a-9e44-a243634a80db Oops, double post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
76229 Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 Two more venues with Zep connections on that Blue plaque list. The Mayfair ballroom in Newcastle, site of the the first UK gig in October '68. And the Boston Gliderdrome, where Terry Reid was impressed by his support act Band of Joy earlier the same year. ETA - actually three connections, since Sandy Denny is on the list too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anniemouse Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 John Bonham and the venue where Led Zeppelin made their debut in the UK were among the list receiving Blue Plaques for their contribution to UK music. https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/7f78803d-e6ae-469a-9e44-a243634a80db Oops sorry I missed the original thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silverseas Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 On 6/16/2017 at 4:15 AM, Mook said: I'd like to 'identify' the blonde on the left. In all seriousness, that's great to see, I'd love to get down there sometime to visit & to see his grave too. Don't you mean gray hair? That broad has grey hair unless I'm color blind. I'd still slit her in half though. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 1 hour ago, Silverseas said: Don't you mean gray hair? That broad has grey hair unless I'm color blind. I'd still slit her in half though. lol. Aye, she looks blonde but has dyed it grey/purple, which is a bit trendy at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chillumpuffer Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 Good to see Plant taking an interest? I think the Noel Edmonds lookalike is Bev Bevan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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