Happy Birthday John Bonham: Led Zeppelin Live At Royal Albert Hall 1970

The late great drummer John Bonham was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, England on this date in 1948. Known as “Bonzo,” he co-founded Led Zeppelin in 1968 with guitarist Jimmy Page, multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant. Led Zeppelin quickly became on the biggest acts in rock and retired after Bonham’s tragic death on September 25, 1980 at age 32.

Shortly after forming, the quartet gained a reputation for their fierce live performances. Bonham’s distinct style in which he could be the most powerful drummer in the world at one minute and play slow, low and in-the-pocket the next was at the heart of what made Led Zeppelin so great. As such, it’s no surprise Plant, Page and Jones didn’t go on without him outside of a handful of charity gigs in 1988, 1995 and 2007 that featured John’s son Jason on drums.

In 1970, Led Zeppelin were at the peak of their powers as a live band. The brash rockers celebrated Jimmy Page’s 26th birthday on January 9 with a stellar performance at Royal Albert Hall in London. Professionally-shot video of the nearly complete concert serves as this week’s Full Show Friday in honor of Bonham.

“Albert Hall was a massive gig for us, and we really wanted to do the best we could,” Page told Guitar World in 2003. “It was a magic venue. It was built in Victorian times, and you in there thinking about all the musical history that has preceded you. On top of that, it was something of a homecoming for John Paul Jones and I, because we had both grown up around there. So we were all really paying attention to what we were doing.”

The quartet opened with “We’re Gonna Groove” and then put their own spins on Willie Dixon’s “I Can’t Quit You Baby” and Jake Holmes’ “Dazed & Confused.” Page showed off his inventive guitar bowing during the jammed-out version of the latter. The 16-minute “Dazed & Confused” was followed by a similarly extended “White Summer” and the gorgeous “What Is And What Should Never Be.” Next up came an insane “How Many More Times” that spanned nearly 20 minutes and the Bonham showcase “Moby Dick.”

Led Zeppelin romped through “Whole Lotta Love” and “Communication Breakdown” next. The concert continued on with a triumphant “C’mon Everybody.” The footage ends with a raucous “Somethin’ Else” and the fitting “Bring It On Home.” Watch Led Zeppelin’s January 9, 1970 concert at Royal Albert Hall below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFkzZHIcgFs

Tracklist

• 1. We’re Gonna Groove (0:29)
• 2. I Can’t Quit You Baby (03:41)
• 3. Dazed and Confused (10:37)
• 4. White Summer (26:30)
• 5. What Is And What Should Never Be (38:40)
• 6. How Many More Times (44:25)
• 7. Moby Dick (01:03:44)
• 8. Whole Lotta Love (01:19:00)
• 9. Communication Breakdown (01:25:24)
• 10. C’mon Everybody (01:29:43)
• 11. Somethin’ Else/Bring It On Home (01:34:24)