Hahaha, I just forget to check that predictive text hasn’t altered what I have written! Yes, I did mean Hagley.
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I think it was on Western Road but may be wrong, it was a long time ago. John Bonham was a nice bloke, after he moved from Hagley, he bought a place near Shenstone (near Kidderminster) and he was often seen having a drink in The Plough, he liked his Bathams!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvOm2oZRQIk
Good watch
Hi Mick. I hope you're keeping well mate.
I went to Hagley Middle School when Jason Bonham was there. John used to drive a beaten up old Bedford van and drop him off every morning. He came to the school once and did a session after Jason had done a demo in front of the whole school.
He was always really good about signing autographs for us kids. He didn't live in Western Rd but it was a road off of it called Newfield Rd. He then moved to Old Hyde Farm in Cutnall Green where his wife still lives nearby. His local was The Chequers which is still there and was the last pub he ever drank in on the day of his death although he actually died at Jimmy Page's house.
I spend a lot of time in Bewdley as my partner lives there. A bloke I know who's a musician who went to Jason's wedding at Stone Manor played on stage at the reception as they all did a bit. This bloke who goes in a local pub there got given Bonham's drum kit by Robert Plant. We frequently see Robert Plant in The Great Western when he's local which is right by the Severn Valley Bridge as you head in to Bewdley.
Bonham was voted number 1 drummer of all time in a Rolling Stone Magazine poll of the greatest rock drummers of all time btw.
Drummers often get the Mickey taken out of them-as "Spinal Tap" shows😀-but, in truth, it is the rhythm section of drummer, rhythm guitar and bass player that make a good live band great, drive the band and allow the lead guitar player or singer their flamboyance. I play guitar myself and am, very belatedly, now trying to learn key board, but when I look at the co-ordination needed to become a half decent drummer forget it!
Tbh, sacrilege as it is, whilst there are certain Led Zep songs I like and many I can appreciate I was never a great fan as I found them too "overblown" despite all their obvious talents as musicians. Whilst I too have heard stories of John Bonhan's down to earth character, not all the ones I have heard about Robert Plant from those I know who have met him have been so complimentary.