|
The Four Elements of Led Zeppelin's World Gaioz (Gia) Mamaladze
September 25 is the day Bonzo died...
1980 became a tragic year in the history of modern music. Many rock stars have died, but the last months of 1980 were exceptionally tragic. Two eras ended suddenly.
John Lennon was murdered — ending the dream of a Beatles reunion. Shortly before that, John Henry Bonham, nicknamed Bonzo, the drummer of Led Zeppelin, died — and the era of Led Zeppelin ended.
We know bands that changed members and continued. We know stories of rivalry, scandals and lawsuits. But Led Zeppelin was a unity of four exceptional individuals, four brilliant creators, four reformers of music. Four true stars and friends — Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham, together with their producer Peter Grant, who was a brilliant man and a true friend.
That is why replacing Bonzo was impossible.
Drummers are often not taken seriously. Some think drums are just an addition, that music can exist without them. This is absolutely not true.
From ancient, prehistoric times, the drum has stood at the very origin of music. The drum creates rhythm, just as the universe has a rhythm. Music itself is a kind of rhythm of the universe.
Imagine Georgian folk music, especially dance music, without the doli... How much the rhythms of the doli fill the music.
Besides, Bonzo was not just a drummer, he was an organic part of the band, one of the four elements of its life. Just as the world was once considered to be created from four elements, so Led Zeppelin was created from four elements.
After his death, researchers noticed that Bonzo's playing was slightly ahead of the overall rhythm. Some think this resembles the mastery of African shamans. In my opinion, this means Bonzo was also the leader of Led Zeppelin's musical rhythm — he was leading the magical music.
According to Classic Rock magazine, Bonzo is recognized as the world's best drummer. Keith Moon, Nick Mason, Charlie Watts, Ian Paice, Ringo Starr — all great, but Bonzo was named number one.
Bonzo loved nature, his wife and children, family warmth, working on his land, doing repairs with his own hands. He loved motorcycles, cars... He loved music, friends... He was irreplaceable. That's why when the old Zeppelins gathered years later, they put Jason Bonham — Bonzo's son — on drums. No one else could be imagined there.
On September 25, 1980, Bonzo drank a lot. They were with Jimmy Page at Clewer, in Windsor. In the morning Jimmy discovered that Bonzo had died. It was an accident. He was only 32.
Everyone expected Led Zeppelin to take a new drummer. But Led Zeppelin was a harmony of four elements and Bonzo was irreplaceable.
On December 4, 1980, his devastated friends announced to the whole world:
"We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were." — Led Zeppelin".
The era of the band ended with the tragic death of John Bonham. But the era of Led Zeppelin's music will continue endlessly, as long as there is a person with taste, as long as there is Earth...
...And maybe even after, when a new civilization in cosmos finds the records of Led Zeppelin.
Now let's listen to his greatness — Moby Dick:
Inspired by @Led Zeppelin
Gaioz (Gia) Mamaladze — From the upcoming book: "The Rhythms That Make God's Heart Beat" |
|
