Dave Grohl explains what made John Bonham an “impressive” drummer
There’s no doubt that Dave Grohl is one of the greatest rock drummers the world has ever known. A titan of the kit, taking his cues from some of the best to do it, he blends a profound understanding of technique with invention and natural thunder, covering all the bases needed to certify himself as a rhythmic legend.
It seems that Grohl was always destined for a storied status. A self-professed everyman, he took to the drums when young, after being galvanised by the music of The Beatles and their drummer Ringo Starr. Developing his craft quickly, by the time he was 17, he had dropped out of school and signed on – after lying about his age – as the new drummer of the influential hardcore band Scream. This formative period would open the door to him becoming the drummer of the most consequential outfit of his generation, Nirvana.
After taking over the world with Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic, it wouldn’t take long for people to discuss Grohl as one of the greatest to pick up the sticks. During this heady period, many people drew a parallel between him and the finest rock drummers who had inspired him in his early years, such as Keith Moon, John Bonham and Neil Peart.
Notably, the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was the figure who inspired Grohl more than any when he was young, with him on record as stating that he is his favourite of all time. There are also several similarities between the two, with their thunderous power and dedication to serving the song with their grooves, two clear ones. The Foo Fighters leader is such a big fan of Bonham that he once even picked his ten finest performances.
Accordingly, Grohl has been effused about John Bonham’s game-changing work on many occasions. When he was at the peak of his fame with Nirvana in 1992, he explained to Juke what made the Zeppelin drummer such an “impressive” player. Indicating the long line of rhythmic heroes that Grohl emerged from, he was asked if he imagined himself as The Who’s Keith Moon when he was a kid just starting his journey. He responded that he didn’t; it was Bonham who showed him the light with his scintillating grooves.
Grohl said: “John Bonham, actually. He really knew how to put down a groove. When I started out, I used to think that playing hard and being a show-off made you a good drummer. But now I’ve learned that keeping the groove is more impressive than playing a hundred fills every 4 bars. John Bonham played drums hard but kept the groove.”
Watch John Bonham live below.
