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Jason Bonham Launches Led Zeppelin Experience Tour
Three years after picking up his late father’s drum sticks for Led Zeppelin’s London reunion concert, Jason Bonham, son of John, is taking the band’s music on the road as the Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. He refuses to name his bandmates -- “Some of them are  known people, and I wouldn’t want anyone to make a pre-judged idea of who these people are until they hear them on the first night,” he tells Rolling Stone -- but does admit he would rather be playing stadiums with the actual Led Zeppelin. “That one reunion concert was the highlight of my life, and I know that sounds kind of sad,” says Bonham.
Robert Plant, however, refused. “I’ve had many a talk with Robert over these last couple of years about why we didn’t carry on,” Bonham explains. “He said to me, ‘You were great all night and I love ya and your dad would be so proud of you, but Led Zeppelin was John. We had something very, very special and I’d like to keep that part of my life very, very special.’ I dug what he said, but at the same time I wanted us to go on.”
After that, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Bonham began rehearsing in private as a trio. “In 2008 we did twenty-one days of rehearsals,” says Bonham. “It was magical days for me, jamming just for the fun of it.” He won’t confirm or deny reports that Steven Tyler and Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy sat in with the group. “People have said that and I’m not calling them liars,” he says. “There were certainly other people involved that were famous and very good in their own way. We talked about touring, but I don’t think it was ever going to be called Led Zeppelin. No one person called it off. It was just a kind of ‘we agreed to disagree’ vibe.’ There was no uproar or anything.”
 When it became clear that no incarnation of Led Zeppelin would hit the road, Bonahm started to seriously consider longtime offers to create a tribute band. “This was a tough one for me, because I never imagined myself doing something like that,” he admits. “The people that put on the Beatles tribute show Rain approached me, and made me realize that I could do this while continuing to feed my own creativity and not feeling like a sell-out.” The tribute tour kicks off October 8th in Dawson Creek British Columbia. Bonham says the show will feature his five piece band, archival video and his personal memories of Led Zeppelin.
Bonham also plans to tour with Black Country Communion, a new band that features former Deep Purple bassist Glen Hughes and guitarist Joe Bonamassa. “I’d love to play Zeppelin songs like ‘Lemon Song’ and ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ with them,” says Bonham. “I’d also love to do the Deep Purple Tracks ‘Burn’ and ‘Highway star.’” All these plans will be put on hold, however, should Robert Plant ever change his mind. “I never say never,” says Bonham. “If they made the call I’d swim there if I had to.”
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Jason Bonham Plans Led Zeppelin Tour in tribute to his father
Jason Bonham is planning a lavish thirty date tour in tribute to Led Zeppelin and his iconic father.
 John Bonham remains one of rock's most influential drummers. His pounding style mixed the physicality of rock music with the dexterity of jazz, with his style being frequently copied but rarely bettered.
Sadly passing away in 1980, his death split Led Zeppelin with the grief stricken band unable to continue. Reforming in 2007 for a charity show, the rock icons as the drummer's son Jason Bonham to take over the drum stool.
Sparking widespread rumours of a full scale re-union, the plans were scotched by Robert Plant who claimed that he was tired of heavy touring and electric music in general.
Jason Bonham hasn't let that stop him, with the drummer planning a lavish new show. Combining the music of Led Zeppelin with a very personal tribute to his father, the tour should take place later this year. Show tickets go onsale soon.
Mixing home movies, rare photos and of course their classic music the new tour will include performances by an as yet un-named tribute band. "Looks like the cat is out of the bag," Jason Bonham told Blabbermouth.
"I have always loved playing the music of Led Zeppelin and after such a great night back in 2007 at the 02 Arena, I took an opportunity to (begin work on) a very special show."
A deeply personal view of Led Zeppelin's legacy, the show will use "old photos, home movies and videos would help take you on a journey into my life".
"There is still a lot of work to do on this project and I want to make sure it's done tastefully," Bonham told Blabbermouth. "Thanks for all the emails and good wishes and even the bad ones; it all helps, really, it does."
Jason Bonham's tour is set to take place later this year. Get Jason Bonham tickets.
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Jason Bonham Biography
 A lot of talented children have probably been asked by a parent to entertain family and friends, maybe in the living room, maybe sing a little, play an instrument. No big deal and a good way to get used to performing for others. But when Jason Bonham was a small child and got called in to entertain, the family friends he played his drums for could be anyone from Jimmy Page to some of the guys from the group Bad Company. That's what happens when your father is drummer John Bonham, one of the original members of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin.
At the age of only five, Jason Bonham could play the drums, at least a scaled-down set of them, with skill. When he was 17 he was a member of the band Air Race. The group signed a record contract with Atlantic, recorded one album, and opened for big names like Queen, Meat Loaf, Ted Nugent, and AC/DC. John Bonham died in 1980, but Jason, who has marked a few places in music history himself, has stepped in from time to time to help keep his father's memory alive. In 1988, Jason took his father's spot in the televised, first-ever Led Zeppelin reunion, which included Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. He went on to tour with Page and to record the album Outrider with him. ... read more
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