Post by pledm on Sept 25, 2007 11:12:02 GMT -5
Rock genius Bonzo is never forgotten
By Mike Nolan
A tiny churchyard in a quiet Worcestershire hamlet has become a place of pilgrimage for thousands of fans of one of the world's best known rock bands.
Almost every day fans of Led Zeppelin make the peaceful journey to the pristeen parish churchyard at Rushock where drummer John Bonham's ashes are scattered.
In the midst of all the graves Bonham's cannot be missed. There are drum sticks galore, a couple of small bottles of vodka, a tumbler, of what may have been whisky at one time, key rings, cigarette lighters, coins, CD cases and even dice. All significant symbols of Bonham's eventful life.
Today even more devotees of Bonham, regarded by many music aficionados as the greatest drummer of all time, will pay their respects on the 27th anniversary of his death.
John Bonham, known as Bonzo to friends and his millions of fans, was the archetypal rock genius. He pushed the art of drumming to new boundaries but he had a self-destruct button.
The years of rock and roll excess caught up with him on September 25 1980. He was found dead at the home of the band's guitarist Jimmy Page having choked on his vomit after a drinking binge - he was just 32.
Led Zeppelin had disbanded before the end of the year, and have only played two gigs since - Live Aid in 1985 and the 40th anniversary of Atlantic records in 1988.
But now interest in the band has reached fever pitch with the announcement earlier this month that the three remaining members, plus Bonham's son Jason taking his father's place on drums, are to play a one-off tribute concert at the O2 Millennium Dome as a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, who signed them to Atlantic Records.
The website for November's show has been inundated with fans desperate to see their heroes with millions hoping to be successful in the ballot for the 18,000 places in an unprecented clamour for tickets At Rushock's delightful 17th parish church, church warden Vicky Jennings says there has been a steady stream of visitors to the grave from all over the world as the years have gone by.
"America, Canada, all over Europe. They have come from everywhere to see the grave," she says. "It is no trouble to us. They are always respectful.
We see cars pull up all the time. I remember once we even had some Japanese who had come up from London in a taxi."
The visitor book in the church pays testimony to this. It has entrants from all over America, Canada, Japan, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark, Australia to name but a few.
Most poignantly there are also entrants from his family including widow Pat.
On the 25th anniversary of his death she wrote: I miss you more each day my love will never die. Your loving wife Pat."
Mrs Bonham still lives in the house in nearby Cutnall Green, where the Bonhams made their home in the 1970s, and occasionally can be seen paying quiet homage at her late husband's shrine.
"She is a lovely woman," says Mrs Jennings, "Very private and a good neighbour."
Mrs Jennings also has a high regard for Jason Bonham.
"He was at this house many times when he was very young. He is about the same age as my daughter Polly and used to come in for a cup of tea. A nice boy, but we haven't seen him for many years now."
And as for the man himself, although it is 27 years, Mrs Jennings remembers him well.
"He used to drink in the Chequers in Cutnall Green and my husband saw him many times in there. He would talk to the locals and was popular. It is a great pity he died so young."
By Mike Nolan
A tiny churchyard in a quiet Worcestershire hamlet has become a place of pilgrimage for thousands of fans of one of the world's best known rock bands.
Almost every day fans of Led Zeppelin make the peaceful journey to the pristeen parish churchyard at Rushock where drummer John Bonham's ashes are scattered.
In the midst of all the graves Bonham's cannot be missed. There are drum sticks galore, a couple of small bottles of vodka, a tumbler, of what may have been whisky at one time, key rings, cigarette lighters, coins, CD cases and even dice. All significant symbols of Bonham's eventful life.
Today even more devotees of Bonham, regarded by many music aficionados as the greatest drummer of all time, will pay their respects on the 27th anniversary of his death.
John Bonham, known as Bonzo to friends and his millions of fans, was the archetypal rock genius. He pushed the art of drumming to new boundaries but he had a self-destruct button.
The years of rock and roll excess caught up with him on September 25 1980. He was found dead at the home of the band's guitarist Jimmy Page having choked on his vomit after a drinking binge - he was just 32.
Led Zeppelin had disbanded before the end of the year, and have only played two gigs since - Live Aid in 1985 and the 40th anniversary of Atlantic records in 1988.
But now interest in the band has reached fever pitch with the announcement earlier this month that the three remaining members, plus Bonham's son Jason taking his father's place on drums, are to play a one-off tribute concert at the O2 Millennium Dome as a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, who signed them to Atlantic Records.
The website for November's show has been inundated with fans desperate to see their heroes with millions hoping to be successful in the ballot for the 18,000 places in an unprecented clamour for tickets At Rushock's delightful 17th parish church, church warden Vicky Jennings says there has been a steady stream of visitors to the grave from all over the world as the years have gone by.
"America, Canada, all over Europe. They have come from everywhere to see the grave," she says. "It is no trouble to us. They are always respectful.
We see cars pull up all the time. I remember once we even had some Japanese who had come up from London in a taxi."
The visitor book in the church pays testimony to this. It has entrants from all over America, Canada, Japan, Germany, Slovakia, Poland, Denmark, Australia to name but a few.
Most poignantly there are also entrants from his family including widow Pat.
On the 25th anniversary of his death she wrote: I miss you more each day my love will never die. Your loving wife Pat."
Mrs Bonham still lives in the house in nearby Cutnall Green, where the Bonhams made their home in the 1970s, and occasionally can be seen paying quiet homage at her late husband's shrine.
"She is a lovely woman," says Mrs Jennings, "Very private and a good neighbour."
Mrs Jennings also has a high regard for Jason Bonham.
"He was at this house many times when he was very young. He is about the same age as my daughter Polly and used to come in for a cup of tea. A nice boy, but we haven't seen him for many years now."
And as for the man himself, although it is 27 years, Mrs Jennings remembers him well.
"He used to drink in the Chequers in Cutnall Green and my husband saw him many times in there. He would talk to the locals and was popular. It is a great pity he died so young."
