Taylor vs Bonham

MaTiaSMaY wrote:

Did I say that Roger was more creative than Bonzo?

Well, you implied it, grammatically. If you say Bonham was technically better, then say "but", the remainder of the sentence implies something that Roger does better than Bonham.

Alright folks, step aside, here's ol Lester Burnham to throw in his opinion.

(Hey Sir GH - 'Carouselambra' is one of my favorite songs from In Through The Out Door, a very underrated album. 'Fool In The Rain' edges it out slightly!)

My opinion is this: whatever Sir GH said.

Here's an excerpt from an interview with Roger in 1984 from Modern Drummer magazine in which he talks about Bonham:


RS: At the time, what drummers inspired you? Who were you listening to?

RT: I always liked John Bonham, although in England he wasn't that fashionable. But to me, he was the best rock drummer who ever lived. I'm sure lots of people tell you that when you interview them.

RS: More people say Bonham that any other drummer.

RT: Well, it's true. There's no-one able to touch him in the rock world. He was the innovator of a particular drum style. He had the best drum sound, and he was the fastest player. Simply stated, he was the best. Although he wasn't the easiest person to get on with, his influence was great. He'd do things with one bass pedal that other drummers couldn't do with three. He was also the most powerful drummer I'd ever seen. Led Zeppelin was actually more popular in America than they were in England, you know. You had to be a drummer to realise how good John Bonham actually was. The average person on the street couldn't really know the difference between John Bonham and the next flashy heavy metal merchant or whatever.

RS: Why is that?

RT: The average person can't understand the subtleties of drumming or just how difficult some of the things he used to do were.

RS: At the time, how much of an influence did he have on you and your drum style?

RT: A lot. I think there are a bunch of drummers in bands today who are nothing but poor Bonham copies. There are so many, and have nothing of their own style. It's just John Bonham's style, but unfortunately they can't come close to his sound.

RS: How do drummers make sure that, when they're heavily influenced by other drummers, they don't wind up as merely imitators?

RT: Well, that's up to individual, really. You have to develop your own style. If you're any good, you'll realise which bits work best for you. And I suppose the thing to do is develop them.

RS: What did you do to prevent becoming a John Bonham copy?

RT: Well, I didn't want to sound like him because I knew there was no point in sounding like someone else even back then in those days. This is true no matter how much you admire what they do. So I just tried to incorporate certain aspects of his style into my own.

RS: Anything in particular?

RT: Well, obviously the bass drum. I mean, he invented the whole school of playing the bass drum in a heavy manner. I learned so much just by listening to the first couple of Led Zeppelin albums.

Agreed Keith Moon was the best followed closely by Ginger Baker(watch Baker's solos during Cream Farewell Tour incredible!!)

it was so many of them in the 70`s.Like Roger always been one of my favorites and of course Bonham.But what about Cozy Powell? or Neil Peart? all exellent drummers.But of course this is a Queen forum,of course everyone agrees Roger Taylor is the man.

Bonham is really incredible.I watched my dvd from zeppelin and really:to me he is the most important figure in that group.He and jones are really a very strong core for that group.He is really unique.Zeppelin couldn't continue without him.That says enough.Other bands would just replace their drummer,with him it was impossible.He was fast,powerfull,...I'm a much bigger fan of queen than I am of zeppelin but I must say that bonham is one of the most talented people ever in rockmusic.It's unfair to compare roger taylor to him because roger is very different and not so a virtuoso like bonham.He'll admit this himself.(like he does in that interview.)He is also unique though.That is very important.He has a typical way of playing (also with his great backing vocals)and also great energie. Roger also has great charisma(bonham too).Being a fan doesn't mean you can't be critical.I also want to give others credits for their talents.And at the end everything is down to taste.If you don't like their compositions you will prefer others how good their technique may be.

Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote:

MaTiaSMaY wrote:

Did I say that Roger was more creative than Bonzo?

Well, you implied it, grammatically. If you say Bonham was technically better, then say "but", the remainder of the sentence implies something that Roger does better than Bonham.

But I didn't say it.

I just wanted to also emphasize something good about Roger.

What I tried to say was that Bonzo was technically better, but they're both very creative and I think Roger was a little more versatile...

MaTiaSMaY wrote:

Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote:

MaTiaSMaY wrote:

Did I say that Roger was more creative than Bonzo?

Well, you implied it, grammatically. If you say Bonham was technically better, then say "but", the remainder of the sentence implies something that Roger does better than Bonham.

But I didn't say it.

I just wanted to also emphasize something good about Roger.

What I tried to say was that Bonzo was technically better, but they're both very creative and I think Roger was a little more versatile...

Gotcha. ;)

Lester Burnham wrote:

(Hey Sir GH - 'Carouselambra' is one of my favorite songs from In Through The Out Door, a very underrated album. 'Fool In The Rain' edges it out slightly!)

Not for me... Carouselambra is the piece de resistance for me on ITTOD.

My opinion is this: whatever Sir GH said.

LOL!!!!!! Wow, I feel special. :P

As a drummer, I enjoy reading these kinda topics. But sometimes I get the feeling people are too afraid to say something bad about a Queen member, or say someone is better. Roger will for me will always be my favourite drummer and the main reason why I drum, but Bonham is arguably the greatest drummer ever. I'm not a huge Zeppelin fan by any stretch of the imagination, but you don't have to be to hear his class.

Although, all everyone seems to do is talk about old drummers like Bonham, Moon, Peart, Baker, Copeland etc, but what about drummers nowadays? With the exception of Dave Grohl who is obviously one of the best modern day drummers, some of my favourites are Taylor Hawkins, who reminds me alot of Rog in his style and look, and as much as I really am not into them, Joey Jordison from Slipknot is class (I'd love to see him play something other than the same old-same old speed crap), then there's even Maroon 5's drummer Ryan Dusick who is actually a really tight drummer. But my personal favourite at the moment has to be John Otto - a classicly trained jazz drummer playing heavy rock, he is simply class, his beats are just... I dunno, I love em.

GreatKingSam wrote:

Although, all everyone seems to do is talk about old drummers like Bonham, Moon, Peart, Baker, Copeland etc, but what about drummers nowadays? With the exception of Dave Grohl who is obviously one of the best modern day drummers, some of my favourites are Taylor Hawkins, who reminds me alot of Rog in his style and look, and as much as I really am not into them, Joey Jordison from Slipknot is class (I'd love to see him play something other than the same old-same old speed crap), then there's even Maroon 5's drummer Ryan Dusick who is actually a really tight drummer. But my personal favourite at the moment has to be John Otto - a classicly trained jazz drummer playing heavy rock, he is simply class, his beats are just... I dunno, I love em.

Good Point! There are some fantastic drummers out there now. Derrick McKenzie from Jamiroquai is vastly underrated. Joey Jordison, as already mentioned. The guy from system of a down whose name temporarily escapes me. There's alot of hard rocking going on here and now!

3* taylorgaga (Begg) wrote:

who the hell is bonham?

Bloody kids!

I've just bought the new Mojo, it's got a great Bonham feature, interviews with Robert The Plant, a Page of Jimmy and Pope John Paul Jones, as well as Dave Grohl.

Some good stuff. Really interesting to read about how he got into using his hands and how he learned, what got him into drumming etc etc

Thinking of drummers, the dude from Muse, Dom Howard, he's a solid little drummer too. I tell you what, she may not be the greatest or most flambuoyant drummer in the history of time, but I love Meg Whites sound. No matter how hard I try, Ball & Biscuit with my band never sounds anything deep and dark as the actual version.