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Jason Bonham: The Disregard of Scrapbooking

SteveAJones

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SteveAJones

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As Zeptember turns to Rocktober and the imminent launch of Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience Tour it seems appropriate to start a new thread for the purpose of presenting a vast array of periodicals, photographs, videoclips, anecdotes, gig reviews etc. from Jason's three decades in rock music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwZXtPOl8o

Airraceshaftoflight.jpg

Airrace was the first group Jason Bonham joined, at age 17. They released one hard-driving rock album in 1984, Shaft Of Light.

Vocals: Keith Murrell

Guitars: Laurie Mansworth

Bass: Jim Reid,

Keyboards: Toby Sadler

Drums: Jason Bonham

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Promotional Video: Waiting For Your Love (1986)

Official music video for 'Waiting For Your Love' by Virginia Wolf. Produced by Roger Taylor of Queen and David Richards. Roger also makes a few appearances in the video. Written by Nick Bold. Also featuring Spike Edney on keyboards and Linda Taylor and Tessa Niles on backing vocals. Released on their self titled debut album in 1986, also released as a single that same year. Both their albums were re-released in 2003 on CD. One of the most underrated bands of all time, how they didn't become immensely huge is a mystery.

Promotional Video: Take A Chance (1986)

Take A Chance by Virginia Wolf. Produced by Roger Taylor of Queen and David Richards. Released as the B-side on the 'Waiting For Your Love' 7" single in 1986, and on Virginia Wolf's self titled debut album that same year. Released on CD for the first time in 2003. Written by Nick Bold and Chris Ousey.

Promotional Video: It's In Your Eyes (1986)

It's In Your Eyes by Virginia Wolf. Produced by Roger Taylor of Queen and David Richards. Released on Virginia Wolf's self titled debut album in 1986 and as a single that same year. Written by Nick Bold. Also featuring Andy Hamilton on saxophone and Spike Edney on keyboards. Yet another brilliant tune from a very underrated band

Virginia Wolf members:

Chris Ousey - Vocals

Nick Bold - Guitar

Jason Bonham - Drums

Jo Burt - Bass

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mstork

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As Zeptember turns to Rocktober and the imminent launch of Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience Tour it seems appropriate to start a new thread for the purpose of presenting a vast array of periodicals, photographs, videoclips, anecdotes, gig reviews etc. from Jason's three decades in rock music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwZXtPOl8o

Airraceshaftoflight.jpg

Airrace was the first group Jason Bonham joined, at age 17. They released one hard-driving rock album in 1984, Shaft Of Light.

Vocals: Keith Murrell

Guitars: Laurie Mansworth

Bass: Jim Reid,

Keyboards: Toby Sadler

Drums: Jason Bonham

Wow, thanks for posting that video Steve, very interesting. Jason has come a long way!

I've always wanted to see and/or hear the soundcheck of that show, everyone says it was so much better than the actual show...

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mstork

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Actually it's the rehearsals that are cited as better than the actual show - there was no soundcheck.

Really? I could have sworn I read somewhere, maybe it was Rolling Stone at the time of the show, that the soundcheck was "spectacular," they had supposedly done "I Can't Quit You Babe," in addition to the tunes they actually performed at the show. And I think I remember hearing it was just Page, Jones, and Jason, no Robert. If I can find anything on it of course I'll let you know...

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SteveAJones

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Really? I could have sworn I read somewhere, maybe it was Rolling Stone at the time of the show, that the soundcheck was "spectacular," they had supposedly done "I Can't Quit You Babe," in addition to the tunes they actually performed at the show. And I think I remember hearing it was just Page, Jones, and Jason, no Robert. If I can find anything on it of course I'll let you know...

I'm filled with sufficient self-doubt now so I'll see what I can come up with too. This is why I try never to post from memory.

Edited to add:

Ok, there was a soundcheck but it was held the day prior to the gig.

Earlier in the month Page, Jones, and Jason Bonham rehearsed fifteen to twenty numbers at Nomis Studio in London.

Jimmy arrived in NYC on Wednesday, May 11th and was booked into a hotel which he left only twice, each time for rehearsals. Robert arrived later the same day. Jason's home video shows some of their first rehearsals on that date. Additional rehearsals were held the next day, Thursday, May 12th.

They held a soundcheck and final rehearsals on Friday the 13th. The gig was Saturday, May 14th so the soundcheck was actually held the day prior to the show as opposed to the day of.

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mstork

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I'm filled with sufficient self-doubt now so I'll see what I can come up with too. This is why I try never to post from memory.

Edited to add:

Ok, there was a soundcheck but it was held the day prior to the gig.

Earlier in the month Page, Jones, and Jason Bonham rehearsed fifteen to twenty numbers at Nomis Studio in London.

Jimmy arrived in NYC on Wednesday, May 11th and was booked into a hotel which he left only twice, each time for rehearsals. Robert arrived later the same day. Jason's home video shows some of their first rehearsals on that date. Additional rehearsals were held the next day, Thursday, May 12th.

They held a soundcheck and final rehearsals on Friday the 13th. The gig was Saturday, May 14th so the soundcheck was actually held the day prior to the show as opposed to the day of.

I just remembered another source for this story. I heard an on-air interview with Jon Anderson of Yes on the Scott Muni show on WNEW in New York before the show. Anderson said he was in the Garden for the soundcheck and he said they sounded awesome. I remember him praising the integrity of continuing with Bonzo's son...

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Bonham - The Disregard of Timekeeping

disregard2.jpg

disregard3.jpg

Released September 12, 1989

It shouldn't be surprising that the debut album by a band fronted by Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, would bear a resemblance to the music of Dad's band. But The Disregard of Timekeeping doesn't so much sound like a Led Zeppelin album as it does like one of the solo albums by former Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. That is to say, it is altogether more conventional and controlled -- more pop, in a word -- than Zeppelin, which could be quite adventurous at times. Here, Bonham-the-group sets up majestic guitar/keyboard riff patterns; Daniel MacMaster, in a familiar tenor screech, repeats simple chorus hooks; and Bonham-the-drummer pounds away in the familiar hard, woody sound of his father. The result is palatable, but without the famous name it would be hard to distinguish from the army of other Zep imitators.

~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

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Chicago Sun-Times (January 16, 1990) (Chicago, IL)

THE BEAT GOES ON - JASON BONHAM IS A CHIP OFF THE OLD LED ZEPPELIN

Author: David Silverman, Entertainment writer.

The clock radio went off one morning and I woke up to Jason Bonham screaming in our ears. Locked in a studio with WLUP`s morning deity, Jonathon Brandmeier, Bohnam was pounding a snare and wailing at the top of his lungs- completely out of control.

Two hours later he was slumped in a seat in The Tribune`s lobby, pondering the crushed ice at the bottom of a Styrofoam cup and looking exhausted, like he`d just been tossed from a moving train: mottled hair, rumpled shirt and dazed expression.

``I left Moscow yesterday,`` he grumbled. ``Where the hell am I? Here, have a watch.`` Reaching into the pocket of his bomber jacket, he produced what looked to be an $8 plastic timepiece and tosses it at a reporter. ``It`s a promotional device to make you friendly,`` he said in a mocking tone. ``Now your supposed to love the album, write good things and not ask me any questions about my dad.``

The last topic was the first on anyone`s mind. Set aside the fact that Bonham had just returned from the Moscow Music Peace Festival and that his group`s debut album, ``The Disregard of

Timekeeping,`` had just been released. This is the son of one of the greatest rock drummers ever, Led Zeppelin`s John Bonham. ``When I was 4, he gave me a little Ludwig drum kit,`` Bonham said, bringing up the forbidden subject before a question could be asked. ``But it wasn`t like he was charting the future. If he`d been an accountant he might have given me a calculator, or crayons if he was an artist. ``What I did with them was my own business. He encouraged that.``

What Bonham did was to follow in his father`s footsteps.

Now, pounding out the rhythm for his own group, Bonham, the 23-year-old drummer has earned the endorsement of his father`s former bandmates, record company and, most importantly, the audience that made Led Zeppelin the first hard-rock godheads. ``I think the people turned on to us originally because of the name,`` Bonham said unabashedly. ``There`s really nothing wrong with that. What was I supposed to do, change it to Reagan? ``There`s even an element of Zeppelin in our music,`` he continued, echoing early reviews of ``The Disregard of Timekeeping.``

``But if you consider that most every group from heavy metal to the Beastie Boys in the last 10 years has stolen what my dad did, I don`t feel so bad. He taught me. It`s the music I heard in the house all the time when I was growing up. I`ve got the birthright.``

Bonham might carry the birthright, but he also carries the burden. When his father died in his sleep after a drinking binge in 1980, it came as no surprise to most. Hard rock and hard living had been synonymous with Led Zeppelin.

Almost a decade later, the son is seeking to divorce the image from the music. Through his involvement with David Lewis and the Make a Difference Foundation, sponsors of the Moscow festival, Bonham spends part of his time preaching substance responsibility. ``Alcohol killed my father,`` Bonham said. ``He went out and got drunk, came home and choked on his vomit in his sleep. There`s no escaping that and I`ve never tried to hide from it.

``We`re not saying don`t drink. What we`re saying is know what you`re getting into. Know your limits and don`t exceed them. It`s pretty simple and pretty safe. I`m taking advantage of music to help spread that.``

Bonham`s move toward music and away from his first love, motorcross racing (he was second in the British 15-and-unders for two years) came in 1987, at Atlantic Records` 40th anniversary party. Bonham, joining Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant, performed together for the first time since the band was dissolved. Bonham was recording with Page at the time, laying tracks for the ``Outrider`` album, and the Atlantic brass was impressed enough to offer him his own deal.

After the Atlantic reunion, Bonham kept a hectic schedule, working with Page during the week then heading to rehearse with the newly recruited members of Bonham-guitarist Ian Hatton, bassist Jim Smithson and vocalist Danny McMaster. After appearing on tour with Page, Bonham the band became the sole focus and the future.

``It was a fantastic break for me, to play with Jimmy and Robert,`` Bonham said. ``It gave me the chance to get my face out there for the little kids to see that the music can live on. But they`ve also got to know that it`s Jason Bonham out there, not just John Bonham`s son.``

Bonham opens Friday for the Cult at the Aragon Ballroom.

Scan courtesy Steve A. Jones Archive

Chicago Sun-Times (January 16, 1990) (Chicago, IL)

PLUS ENTERTAINMENT

Jason Bonham, leader of the band Bonham, acknowledges some of his music tends to sound a lot like his dad's old band - Led Zeppelin. But that's only natural, he figures. He has remained close to Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant since the 1980 death of his father, drummer John Bonham. "They're like family," Bonham told the Dallas Morning News. "They're two of the greatest guys in the world, and I love them very much." Bonham stood in for his father in a Zeppelin reunion performance in 1988. "It was very frightening but very heartwarming for me to play with Led Zeppelin," he said.

Scan courtesy Steve A. Jones Archive

Metro Times (January 1990) (Detroit, MI)

199001MetroTimesDetroitMI.jpg

Scan courtesy Steve A. Jones Archive

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