John Bonham is, unsurprisingly, at the top of most drummers’ rankings.
John “Bonzo” Bonham was the rhythmic powerhouse behind hard-rock legends Led Zeppelin.
His thundering proto-metal grooves (Whole Lotta Love) and echoey, cacophonous breaks (When The Levee Breaks) created a tectonic shift in rock’n’roll, swiftly elevating him to near-mythical status among drummers.
Bonham’s heavy-handed fills and high-octane enthusiasm became the touchpaper for an army of metalheads even before his death in 1980, at the age of 32.
“Bonzo” confounded fans for years by convincing them that he was playing two bass drums when, in fact, his approach was simply aggressive, confusing, methodical, and LOUD.
He took Zeppelin’s compositions soaring with his incredible technique and large open tone. He is the embodiment of honest, emotive rock drumming straight from the heart.
When Bonham died in 1980 at the age of 32, Led Zeppelin decided to break up, issuing one of the most moving statements in music history:
“We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the 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
He’s a rock god and undeniably the greatest ever.