John Bonham: the first drummer Phil Collins ever “gave a standing ovation to”
Phil Collins is not the typical influential drummer. A collected, cerebral individual who has long had a close association with the world of pop, despite his celebrated prog efforts with Genesis, they have not been enough to escape the connection to 1980s yuppiedom and blue-eyed soul. These areas are far removed from the beer-guzzling madness that characterises some of the instrument’s most lauded names.
There is no doubt that Collins is a master of rhythm. Whether it be solo efforts such as the iconic thuds of ‘In The Air Tonight’, his Philip Bailey collaboration ‘Easy Lover’, or the Genesis groove ‘Watcher of the Skies’, he has committed many technically brilliant moments to record that have seen him be confirmed as one of the best drummers out there.
While Collins’ pop hits are his most well-known releases, regarding his drumming, he has always had a serious connection to hard rock. Although he has a clean-cut image, the likes of the late Foo Fighters maestro Taylor Hawkins, Rush’s Neil Peart and even Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater have discussed his brilliance and named him as an influence.
It goes the other way, too. It might not be immediately clear, but scratching beneath the scores of chart-topping singles and legions of non-rock-loving fans, Collins comes very much from the rock tradition as a drummer. Of course, many of his early cuts with Genesis readily confirm this, but even the powerful, atmospheric smacks of ‘In The Air Tonight’ contain a distinct stony essence.
As he developed his ear amid the rock explosion of the 1960s and became the drummer for Genesis in 1970, one man who stood out to him as a hero was Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. A bearded force of nature who fused hard rock might with an adept jazz kick, his knack for producing driving but intensely intelligent grooves resonated deeply with Collins. Although his career would take a completely different shape from Bonham’s as the years wore on, he has always counted him as one of his ultimate influences.
When collaborating with iTunes to promote his 2010 covers record, Going Back, Collins lifted the lid on his style by compiling a list of his favourite songs of all time. As was to be expected, it featured many soul and funk tunes. It also contained Led Zeppelin’s ice-cool ‘When The Levee Breaks’ from 1971’s fourth album, the cover of Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy marked out by Bonham’s mammoth effects-drenched groove.
Reflecting on the genius of Bonham, Collins revealed that he first caught him playing in his pre-Led Zeppelin outfit, Band of Joy, which blew him away even then. He was so impressed that he revealed he was the percussionist that made him get out of his seat.
Collins explained: “Now, when I was growing up – obviously, growing up as a drummer – there were quite a few drummers that caught my fancy over the years. Ringo to Charlie Watts to Ginger Baker to Keith Moon. But one of the finest, I think, drummers I’ve ever heard, and the first drummer I ever gave a standing ovation to was John Bonham.”
To Collins, ‘When The Levee Breaks’ is the ultimate Bonham moment. The groove, sound and attitude define the late drummer. Although attitude is certainly not a word often used to describe his work, the Led Zeppelin man’s certainly impacted him. Without this track, there might not have been ‘In The Air Tonight’ as we know it and no iconic Cadbury advert. Even his beard in the Genesis days now makes much more sense.
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