What was John Bonham's Net Worth?
John Bonham was an iconic English musician and songwriter with a net worth equal to $10 million at the time of his death in 1980, adjusted for inflation. Best known for his role as the drummer for Led Zeppelin, his hard-hitting style earned him recognition as one of the greatest rock drummers in history. Bonham also played for Screaming Lord Sutch, Jimmy Stevens, and Wings. His untimely death in 1980 at the age of 32 led to Led Zeppelin's dissolution.
In September 1980, Led Zeppelin's four members began rehearsing for their first North American tour since 1977, set to start in Montreal. Rehearsals took place near Jimmy Page's Windsor home. During the journey to rehearsal, Bonham stopped for breakfast, consuming four quadruple vodkas (sixteen shots). He continued drinking heavily upon arrival. After rehearsals ended late in the evening at Page's house, Bonham was found deceased the next morning by John Paul Jones and Benje LeFevre, having tragically passed due to aspiration of vomit while asleep. Bonham was only 32 years old.
Early Life
Born on May 31, 1948, in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, John Bonham was inspired early on by drumming legends like Max Roach, Buddy Rich, and Gene Krupa. By the age of five, he was already drumming using household items. At ten, his mother gifted him a snare drum, and by fifteen, he had a Premier Percussion drum kit from his father. Bonham attended Lodge Farm Secondary Modern School for his formal education.
Career Beginnings
After leaving school in 1964, Bonham worked as an apprentice carpenter while performing with local bands, such as Terry Webb and the Spiders, the Nicky James Movement, and the Senators. He later joined the band A Way of Life and the blues group Crawling King Snakes, where he met future Led Zeppelin bandmate Robert Plant. When Plant formed Band of Joy, Bonham joined as the drummer.
Led Zeppelin
In 1968, following the breakup of the Yardbirds, guitarist Jimmy Page decided to form a new band, recruiting Plant, who suggested Bonham as the drummer, and John Paul Jones as the bassist. This formation became Led Zeppelin. Established as a progenitor of hard rock, Led Zeppelin released eight studio albums from 1969 to 1979, all achieving significant success on charts in the UK and the US. Their hit songs include "Good Times Bad Times," "Ramble On," "Whole Lotta Love," "Stairway to Heaven," and "Kashmir."
Bonham's fast, intense drumming style quickly earned him acclaim. His famous drum solo, "Moby Dick," featured on the 1969 album "Led Zeppelin II," became a concert staple often lasting over 20 minutes. His drumming style is also notable on tracks like "Immigrant Song," "When the Levee Breaks," "The Ocean," and "Achilles Last Stand." In Led Zeppelin's later albums, his drumming incorporated funk and Latin influences, evident in songs like "Royal Orleans" and "Fool in the Rain."
Other Music Contributions
Beyond Led Zeppelin, Bonham lent his talents to other artists. In 1969, he appeared on the Family Dogg's debut album "A Way of Life," alongside contributions from Page and Jones. He played on Screaming Lord Sutch's debut album "Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends" in 1970 and contributed to Lulu's single "Everybody Clap" in 1971. Bonham also played on Jimmy Stevens' album "Don't Freak Me Out" in 1972 and drummed for Paul McCartney and Wings, as well as singer-songwriter Roy Wood.
Personal Life and Death
John Bonham married Pat Phillips, with whom he had a daughter Zoë, a singer-songwriter, and a son Jason Bonham, who followed in his footsteps as a drummer.
In September 1980, Bonham drank heavily during rehearsals for Led Zeppelin's upcoming North American tour. Consuming approximately 40 shots of vodka within 24 hours, he fell asleep and was later found unresponsive. An inquest revealed he had died of pulmonary aspiration. The band honored Bonham by disbanding.
Legacy
John Bonham's influence extends far and wide. Hailed as one of the greatest rock drummers, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Led Zeppelin in 1995 and named the greatest drummer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2016. Honored with a blue plaque and a bronze statue in his hometown of Redditch, his extraordinary talent inspires drummers like Chad Smith, Tommy Lee, Dave Grohl, John Dolmayan, Shinya, and Brad Wilk.
