Editing Jason Bonham

{{short description|English drummer}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Jason Bonham
| image             = Jason Bonham.png
| caption           = Bonham in 2021
| landscape         = yes
| alt               = 
| background        = solo_singer
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1966|07|15|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Dudley]], England
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| death_place       = 
| origin            = [[Liverpool]], England
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Drums
* vocals}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Hard rock]]
*[[blues rock]]
*[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
*[[glam metal]]}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
*Musician
*songwriter
}}
| years_active      = {{hlist|1970|1980–present}}
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Black Country Communion]]
* [[Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening]]
* [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]]
}}
| past_member_of    = {{flatlist|
* [[Bonham (band)|Bonham]]
* [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]]
* [[Steel Dragon]]
* [[Damnocracy]]
* Airrace
* [[Virginia Wolf]]
* Healing Sixes
* [[UFO (band)|UFO]]
* [[California Breed]]
* [[Led Zeppelin]]
}}
| associated_acts   = 
| website           = {{URL|jasonbonham.net}}
}}

'''Jason John Bonham''' (born 15 July 1966) is an English drummer. He is the son of [[Led Zeppelin]] drummer [[John Bonham]]. Since his father's death in September 1980, he has performed with the surviving three members of Led Zeppelin on several occasions, including the [[Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert]] at [[The O2 Arena|O<sub>2</sub> arena]] in [[London]] in December 2007. He has also done extensive work as a [[session musician]], led the group [[Bonham (band)|Bonham]] in the 1980s and '90s, and is a member of the supergroups [[Black Country Communion]] and [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]].

==Biography and musical career==

===Early years===
Bonham could play drums skillfully at the age of five,<ref name="About" /> and appeared with his father in the film ''[[The Song Remains the Same (film)|The Song Remains the Same]]'', drumming on a scaled-down kit.<ref>{{youTube|_srvXDJaDGQ|Cute Jason BONHAM and his father and mother}}</ref> At 15, he joined his first band, Airrace. In 1985, he joined [[Virginia Wolf]], making two albums and touring the US supporting [[The Firm (rock band)|the Firm]].<ref name="About">{{cite web | url=https://www.jasonbonham.net/about/ | title=About | publisher=Jason Bonham Official Site | date=2018 | access-date=7 April 2019}}</ref>

In 1988, Bonham joined Led Zeppelin guitarist [[Jimmy Page]] for his ''[[Outrider (album)|Outrider]]'' album and tour. In May of the same year, Bonham appeared with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin for a performance at [[Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary]] concert in New York City.<ref name="About" />

In 1989, Bonham appeared as a special guest at the [[Moscow Music Peace Festival]], performing the song "[[Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)|Rock and Roll]]" with many major rock stars of the day. That same year, he formed his own band, [[Bonham (band)|Bonham]], whose Zeppelin inspired first release ''[[The Disregard of Timekeeping]]'' had a hit single, "Wait for You" and the music video for the subsequent single "Guilty" did get some play; however, after a lukewarm reception for their 1992 release, ''[[Mad Hatter (album)|Mad Hatter]]'', the band was dissolved, and Bonham concentrated on session work and guest appearances.

On 28 April 1990, Bonham married Jan Charteris, in Stone, [[Worcestershire]]. His wedding reception included a jam with [[Jimmy Page]], [[Robert Plant]], and [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]. The Bonhams have two children: a son named Jager and a daughter, Jaz (born 1993).<ref name="About" />

Bonham drummed for [[Paul Rodgers]] on the [[Grammy]] nominated ''Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to [[Muddy Waters]]'' project. A year later with [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] and Paul Rodgers, he appeared at [[Woodstock '94|Woodstock II]] in 1994. Bonham reformed his band with a new lead vocalist, [[Marti Frederiksen]], replacing [[Daniel MacMaster]]. Renamed Motherland, they released the album ''Peace 4 Me'' later in 1994; however, his down-to-earth nature always showed—on one occasion making an encore drumming appearance for local Led Zeppelin tribute bands [[Fred Zeppelin]] and [[Led Zepagain]].

In 1995, Bonham and his sister Zoe represented their father when Led Zeppelin was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].

Bonham soon put together another solo project that culminated in ''[[In the Name of My Father - The Zepset]]'', which featured the songs of Led Zeppelin. Proceeds from the album went to charity. The album followed up with ''When You See the Sun''.

Following an album and tour with his aunt [[Deborah Bonham|Debbie Bonham]], Jason Bonham was invited to drum for [[hard rock]] group [[UFO (band)|UFO]].{{clarify|date=March 2022|reason=Did he accept or decline?}} In 2006, he recorded with [[Joe Bonamassa]].<ref name="About" />

Jason Bonham also appeared in the 2001 movie ''[[Rock Star (2001 film)|Rock Star]]''.<ref name="About" /> Bonham played drummer ''A.C.'', of the fictional band [[Steel Dragon]]. The film also featured performances by musicians such as [[Zakk Wylde]], [[Jeff Pilson]], [[Myles Kennedy]], [[Jeff Scott Soto]], [[Brian Vander Ark]], [[Blas Elias]], [[Nick Catanese]], and [[Michael Starr (singer)|Ralph Michael Saenz]] of [[Steel Panther]]. He also played on the film's soundtrack.

Bonham starred with [[Ted Nugent]], [[Evan Seinfeld]] ([[Biohazard (band)|Biohazard]]), [[Sebastian Bach]] ([[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]]), and [[Scott Ian]] ([[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]]) on the [[VH1]] reality television show, ''[[Supergroup (TV series)|Supergroup]]'', in May 2006. The musicians formed a band called [[Supergroup (TV series)#Band name|Damnocracy]] (after ditching the names FIST, God War, and Savage Animal) for the show, during which they lived in a mansion in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]] for twelve days and created music. Jason also played drums live with [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] from 2004 to 2007 and part of 2007 to 2008.

Bonham joined the supergroup [[Black Country Communion]] with guitarist and vocalist [[Joe Bonamassa]], vocalist and bassist [[Glenn Hughes (musician)|Glenn Hughes]] and keyboardist [[Derek Sherinian]], late in 2009 and stayed with them until they broke up in March 2013. He rejoined the group when they reformed in 2016.

[[File:JasonBonham2010b.jpg|alt=|thumb|Jason Bonham performing live in 2010]]

===Participation in Led Zeppelin reunions===
On 14 May 1988, the Atlantic Records label held its 40th Anniversary Celebration by staging a non-stop concert lasting almost 13 hours. A reformed Led Zeppelin, with Jason on drums, closed the event.

On Saturday 28 April 1990, Jason Bonham married Jan Charteris. Later, during the wedding reception at the Heath Hotel in Bewdley, England, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones joined Jason on stage and performed "Custard Pie", "It'll Be Me", "Rock and Roll", "Sick Again", and "Bring It On Home" for the wedding party.

{{Main|Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert}}
On 12 September 2007, it was announced that Jason Bonham would take over his father's role and play drums for Led Zeppelin at the [[Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert|Led Zeppelin reunion concert]]. This took place on 10 December 2007 at London's [[The O2 arena (London)|O<sub>2</sub> arena]] as part of an all-star tribute to [[Ahmet Ertegun]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=47048 |title=News Article |publisher=Metal Hammer |access-date=2011-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025235902/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=47048 |archive-date=25 October 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Elizabeth Goodman |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/12/led-zeppelin-to-play-ahmet-ertegun-tribute-concert-on-november-26-in-london/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915080743/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/09/12/led-zeppelin-to-play-ahmet-ertegun-tribute-concert-on-november-26-in-london/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 September 2007 |title=Led Zeppelin to Play Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert on November 26 in London |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=12 September 2007 |access-date=2011-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7135200.stm | work=BBC News | title=Led Zeppelin return to the stage | date=11 December 2007 | access-date=5 May 2010}}</ref>
His performance was described as "flawless" by music critics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/dec/11/zeppelin-thirty-years-after-last-concert-song/ |title=Zeppelin: Thirty years after last concert, 'Song Remains the Same' |work=[[Evansville Courier & Press]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=2011-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201050008/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/dec/11/zeppelin-thirty-years-after-last-concert-song/ |archive-date=2008-12-01}}</ref>

===Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening and other experiences===
[[File:Jason Bonham 2009.jpg|left|thumb|Jason Bonham performing at [[Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood)|The Roxy]], West Hollywood, California on 11 October 2009]]
In February 2009, Jason Bonham and James Dylan began working together in what would become Jason Bonham's ''Led Zeppelin Evening'', a live homage to his late father's band. During the autumn of 2010, Jason Bonham's ''Led Zeppelin Evening'' embarked on their first North American tour<ref name="jamesdylanofficial.com bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.jamesdylanofficial.com/bio.html |title=James Dylan Biography |publisher=James Dylan Official |date=2016 |access-date=15 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029063823/http://www.jamesdylanofficial.com/bio.html |archive-date=29 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and toured worldwide throughout 2011.

Bonham more recently played drums, along with sisters [[Ann Wilson|Ann]] and [[Nancy Wilson (rock musician)|Nancy Wilson]] of the group [[Heart (band)|Heart]] on vocals and guitar respectively, with successive additions of band, string and horn sections, and choirs (including the [[Joyce Garrett Youth Choir]])<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/led-zeppelin-get-all-star-tribute-at-kennedy-center-honors-203387/ | title=Led Zeppelin Get All-Star Tribute at Kennedy Center Honors | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=3 December 2012 | access-date=7 April 2019 | author=Serpick, Evan }}</ref> for a show-ending performance of "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" during the Led Zeppelin tribute at the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] hosted by [[Barack Obama]] in December 2012 with his late father's band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones in attendance.<ref>{{youTube|LFxOaDeJmXk|Heart – Stairway to Heaven (Live at Kennedy Center Honors)}}</ref> It was described as a "bring down the house" version.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidwismer/2012/12/27/hearts-ann-wilson-kills-led-zeppelins-stairway-to-heaven-at-kennedy-center-awards-see-it-here/#6ca879aa6c66 | title=Heart's Ann Wilson Kills Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' At Kennedy Center Honors | work=[[Forbes]] | date=27 Dec 2012 | access-date=7 April 2019 | first=David | last=Wismer}} Other players included [[Shane Fontayne]] with the lead guitar solo</ref>

In the Summer of 2013, [[Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening|Jason Bonham's ''Led Zeppelin Evening'']] joined forces with the band [[Heart (band)|Heart]] for "The Heartbreaker Tour" celebrating the music of Led Zeppelin.<ref name="jamesdylanofficial.com bio"/><ref>"Heart and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening wow crowd at Cruzan on opening night of tour," ''Sun-Sentinel, ''22 June 2013</ref>

Later that year, he teamed up again with [[Glenn Hughes (English singer)|Glenn Hughes]] to form a new rock band, which became [[California Breed]], adding the guitarist [[Andrew Watt (musician)|Andrew Watt]].

In 2014, Bonham joined [[Sammy Hagar]]'s [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]]. The band featured Led Zeppelin tracks along with songs from Hagar's various career projects, such as [[Montrose (band)|Montrose]], [[Van Halen]], and [[Chickenfoot (band)|Chickenfoot]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/watch-sammy-hagar-and-the-circle-tear-through-when-its-love-20150403#ixzz3WdpG7NMU|title=Watch Sammy Hagar and the Circle Tear Through 'When It's Love'|first=Andy|last=Greene|date=3 April 2015|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=7 April 2015|archive-date=7 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407011137/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/premieres/watch-sammy-hagar-and-the-circle-tear-through-when-its-love-20150403#ixzz3WdpG7NMU|url-status=dead}}</ref>

From early March to late May 2015, Jason Bonham's ''Led Zeppelin Evening'' toured extensively in [[North America]]. On 4 December 2015, the band began their North American Winter Tour in [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[California]].<ref name="jamesdylanofficial.com bio"/> In early May 2016, they embarked on a one-month / 22-date North American tour. Most recently, they embarked on another tour throughout the United States, with dates running through November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jasonbonham.net/#tour-section |title=Jason Bonham 2021 Tour|access-date=8 August 2021}}</ref> He also joined [[Kid Rock]] on his [[Bad Reputation Tour (Kid Rock tour)|Bad Reputation Tour]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/foreigner-grand-funk-railroad-and-jason-bonham-s-led-zeppelin-evening-announced-as-special-guests-for-kid-rock-tour|title=FOREIGNER, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD, And JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING Announced As Special Guests For KID ROCK Tour|website=Bravewords.com|date=24 January 2022 |access-date=28 March 2023}}</ref>

==Equipment==
===Drums===
Bonham has endorsed [[DW Drums]]. Prior to this, for many years he played a [[Ludwig Drums|Ludwig]] [[Vistalite Drums|Vistalite]] drumkit similar to his late father's.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Drum !! Depth !! Diameter
|-
| Bass || 14" || 26"
|-
| Snare || 6.5" || 14"
|-
| Rack Tom || 10" || 14"
|-
| Floor Tom 1 || 16" || 16"
|-
| Floor Tom 2 || 16" || 18"
|}

===Cymbals===
Endorses [[Paiste]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jasonbonham.net/|title=Jason Bonham &#124; Official Site|website=Jasonbonham.net|access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref> cymbals
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Cymbal !! Model !! Diameter
|-
| Crash || 2002 || 22"

|-
| Ride || 2002 || 24"
|-
| Thin Crash || Formula 602 || 22"
|-
| Hi-Hats || 2002 Sound-Edge || 15"
|-
| Gong ||   || 38"
|}

===Drumsticks===
Bonham has produced his own line of signature series drumstick with [[Pro-Mark]]. The SD531W is made of American [[Maple]] with acorn shaped, wooden tips. The taper is relatively short and the sticks have considerably large dimensions, being {{convert|16.75|in|cm|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|0.595|in|cm|abbr=on}} in diameter. The sticks also feature the symbol used by Bonham's father, [[John Bonham]], of the three interlocking rings – they are printed next to Jason's signature on the side of the stick.

===Other===
Bonham endorses [[Remo]] drum heads and [[Drum Workshop|DW]] drums & hardware. He uses [[Drum Workshop|DW]] 9000 Series Double Pedals.

==Discography==
* ''Shaft of Light'' by Airrace (1984)
* ''Virginia Wolf'' by [[Virginia Wolf]] (1986)
* ''Push'' by [[Virginia Wolf]] (1987)
* ''[[Outrider (album)|Outrider]]'' by [[Jimmy Page]] (1988)
* ''[[The Disregard of Timekeeping]]'' by Bonham (1989)
* ''[[Mad Hatter (album)|Mad Hatter]]'' by Bonham (1992)
* ''[[Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters]]'' by [[Paul Rodgers]] (1993)
* ''Peace for Me'' by Motherland (1994)
* ''[[In the Name of My Father – The Zepset – Live from Electric Ladyland|In the Name of My Father: The Zepset]]'' by Jason Bonham Band (1997)
* ''When You See the Sun'' by The Jason Bonham Band (1997)
* ''[[Born Again Savage]]'' by [[Steven Van Zandt|Little Steven]] (1999)
* ''[[Rock Star (2001 film)#Soundtrack|Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture]]'' as Steel Dragon (2001)
* ''Enormosound'' by Healing Sixes (2002)
* ''100% Live'' by [[The Quireboys]] (2002)
* ''[[You Are Here (UFO album)|You Are Here]]'' by [[UFO (band)|U.F.O.]] (2004)
* ''[[Extended Versions (Foreigner album)|Extended Versions]]'' by [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]] (2005)
* ''[[You & Me (Joe Bonamassa album)|You & Me]]'' by [[Joe Bonamassa]] (2006)
* ''[[No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner]]'' by Foreigner (2008)
* ''[[Can't Slow Down (Foreigner album)|Can't Slow Down]]'' by Foreigner (2009)
* ''[[Black Country Communion (album)|Black Country Communion]]'' by [[Black Country Communion]] (2010)
* ''[[Black Country Communion 2]]'' by [[Black Country Communion]] (2011)
* ''[[Celebration Day (film)#Album|Celebration Day]]'' by [[Led Zeppelin]] (2012)
* ''[[Afterglow (Black Country Communion album)|Afterglow]]'' by [[Black Country Communion]] (2012)
* ''[[California Breed (album)|California Breed]]'' by [[California Breed]] (2014)
* ''[[At Your Service (Live) (album)|At Your Service.]]'' by [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]] (2015)
* ''[[BCCIV]]'' by [[Black Country Communion]] (2017)
* ''[[Space Between (album)|Space Between]]'' by [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]] (2019)
* ''Crazy Times'' by [[Sammy Hagar and the Circle]] (2022)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|d=Q378072|v=no|voy=no|species=no|b=no|s=no|n=no|wikt=no|commons=Category:Jason Bonham|q=no}}
*{{official website}}
*{{IMDb name|0094495}}

{{Led Zeppelin}}
{{Black Country Communion}}
{{Foreigner}}
{{UFO}}
{{The Quireboys}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonham, Jason}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:English rock drummers]]
[[Category:English session musicians]]
[[Category:Epic Records artists]]
[[Category:Foreigner (band) members]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin]]
[[Category:People from Dudley]]
[[Category:UFO (band) members]]
[[Category:Black Country Communion members]]
[[Category:English heavy metal drummers]]
[[Category:English blues rock musicians]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English pop singers]]
[[Category:Musicians from the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Musicians from Liverpool]]
[[Category:The Quireboys members]]
[[Category:California Breed members]]
[[Category:Damnocracy members]]
[[Category:Bonham (band) members]]
[[Category:Sammy Hagar and the Circle members]]