Many of us listeners’ opinions on a drummer go no further than whether or not the beat is movable. We can usually only tell a difference when a drummer is so far off the mark that the rhythm is unintelligible. Fellow drummers, however, can spot the smallest of inconsistencies. They know when a drummer is worth their salt. There are many renowned rock drummers, but few are as infamous as Tommy Lee. He and his Mötley Crüe bandmates caused quite the stir in their heyday–so much so that it might have distracted from their music a tad. Nevertheless, you can’t accuse Lee of not caring about his sound. He knows who to take notes from. There is one drummer in particular that Lee feels has influenced him the most: John Bonham.
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Why Tommy Lee Was Inspired by John Bonham
Led Zeppelin’s Bonham influenced many musicians–Lee included. Zeppelin, in general, is a once-in-a-generation rock band, but they earned that prestige thanks to the strengths of the every member. Much is made about the vocals of Robert Plant or the guitar shredding of Jimmy Page, but Bonham was equally as talented.
Moreover, Bonham was the drummer in Lee’s eyes. Lee once spoke about Bonham’s influence, calling him “the hands-down guy”.
“The hands-down guy is John Bonham, and you can probably hear it in my playing,” Lee once said. “That guy, most people will talk about how heavy his foot was and how laid back his snare drum was, but not a lot of people talk about his cymbal placement. He doesn’t really play a ton of cymbals, but when he does, he always seems to pick that right moment.”
“He had this amazing ability to pick and choose when those moments were when he wanted that power and that big sound,” he added.
Music isn’t created in a vacuum. Conscious effort or not, every song is a response to what came before it. It’s always enjoyable when a musician is aware of their inspirations and isn’t afraid to pay homage. It’s a reminder that even musicians gush over their favorite artists.
Bonham’s Influence
Prior to his death at 32 years old, Bonham created quite a legacy. As Lee noted in the quote above, Bonham’s playing was singular and hard to replicate. His contribution to the band was so important that Led Zeppelin decided to disband shortly after his death.
“I wanted to take all the trappings away,” Plant once said. “Because I’d lost my best mate.”
A band as unique as Zeppelin couldn’t have just any drummer. They lost the driving rhythm maker of the group and weren’t able to continue on and guarantee the same caliber of music making. If that doesn’t speak to Bonham’s talent, we don’t know what will.
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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