10 Best Rock Drummers Of All Time
2. John Bonham
Most drummers who are in the zone are known to get pretty wild behind the kit. The primal nature to percussion is something that emanates from John Bonham's style. While in Led Zeppelin, Bonzo's drums were known to blow out your speakers from the word go.
In the early days, Led Zeppelin's hard rock grooves were some of the greatest in the world, which came almost exclusively from Bonham's swinging style. Each song had a steady rhythm while also possessing an animalistic intensity that sounded like a lion had just been let loose. Whenever you put on a Zeppelin record each drum hit had an intensity that only Bonham had the strength to deliver.
Even live, Bonham would take his drums to epic proportions, where he would deliver drum solos with an invigorating caveman-esque power. Many times, Bonham would even forego sticks during these solos and instead pummeled each drum with his hands, which fueled the mystique of Bonham as the unhinged maniac behind the kit.
However, the fast rock lifestyle caught up with Bonham as he died of alcohol poisoning at 32. Zeppelin quickly announced their separation shortly thereafter, knowing they couldn't replace a legend. May the spirit of Bonzo live on in many rock bands to come.