Biography
Growing up as the son of John Bonham, the renowned drummer for Led Zeppelin, young Jason Bonham often found himself performing on a miniature drum kit for an audience that might include Jimmy Page or members of Bad Company whenever relatives or acquaintances gathered. By the time he reached five years old, Jason had already mastered playing these scaled-down drums proficiently. At seventeen, he joined Air Race, a band that secured a deal with Atlantic Records, produced a single album, and served as opening act for Queen, Meat Loaf, Ted Nugent, and AC/DC. Following the 1980 passing of his father, Jason has contributed significantly to music on his own while periodically honoring John Bonham's legacy through performances. One such occasion came in 1988 during the initial Led Zeppelin reunion broadcast on television, where Jason filled his father's role alongside Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. He later joined Page on tour and participated in recording the album Outrider. Jason's first solo album, The Disregard of Timekeeping, arrived in 1990, with the single "Wait for You" achieving gold status. Two years afterward, he issued Mad Hatter, collaborating with vocalist Daniel MacMaster, guitarist Ian Hatton, and multi-instrumentalist John Smithson on bass and keyboards; the pop/rock collection featured songs including "Change of a Season," "The Storm," "Backdoor," and "Ride on a Dream." In 1993, Bonham contributed to a Muddy Waters tribute project alongside Paul Rodgers, Slash, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, and additional artists, resulting in a Grammy nomination for the effort. The following year saw him perform at Woodstock II with Rodgers and Slash, and he established Motherland, which released Peace 4 Me. When Led Zeppelin received induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, Jason once more took the stage with Jones, Page, and Plant in his father's stead. Between various studio sessions, Jason maintained his own outfit, the Jason Bonham Band, featuring John Smithson on bass and keyboards, guitarist Tony Catania, and vocalist Chas West; the group embarked on national tours that mixed classic Led Zeppelin material with original compositions. The year 1997 brought the release of When You See the Sun by the Jason Bonham Band under the Sony Records imprint, as well as In the Name of My Father: The Zepset Live from Electric Lady Land, whose selections particularly appealed to Led Zeppelin enthusiasts, with proceeds benefiting the John Bonham Memorial Motorcycle Camp for Kids.
Albums
Singles
