by Mick Bonham
We arrived at the venue and were ushered to the side of the stage. We watched a staggering show. The band was totally fantastic and as they came off, John congratulated all of them. We were then asked back stage to meet them. On arrival, John was so complimentary. He met with Stuart Copeland who was slightly in awe of him, and also with Andy Summers, both lovely chaps. They seemed overwhelmed that John Bonham of Led Zeppelin had come to watch them, and more importantly, thought they were great.
Everything was going well until John turned round to see Sting, who was sitting on a rocking chair and had a totally different attitude to that of his fellow band members. John mentioned to them that he was playing the Albert Hall in London for ‘Rock for Kampuchea’ with Paul McCartney and a bunch of guests and would they like to come down and get up for a jam. To this Sting said “Paul who?” and as John walked over to him Sting said, “Hey, don’t step on my blue suede shoes.”
Funny how you remember things – this memory has stuck with me. It’s also funny how you can switch from group adoration to family loyalty in one second. All of a sudden I went from ‘This guy is great’ to ‘This guy is a twat’. Paul who???? Oh please, he can’t be that much of a Muppet.
Things got a little bit heated, but all the time, John kept his cool. I remember thinking ‘whack him’, but John kept his cool and we left. In the car on the way home, I mouthed off about how disgusting I thought it was, and who the hell did he think he was in front of such greatness. (OK you’ve got to remember he was my brother and the best drummer in the best band and in the world to me). John turned round and said, “You know what, we were like that when we first made it – it’s only natural – the guy is going to go a hell of a long way – he’s got an incredible talent.”
Yeah, OK, but I still took all my Police posters off my wall in protest! Now however, I have to say, they rank in my top ten but I still have that twitch whenever I think of Sting on that day. Just shows how great their albums are to override that as I still play them regularly.
I’d like to meet him now to see what he’s like because from TV interviews, he seems to have grown into a lovely man. I hope so. Certainly his music is brilliant.
After John’s death, Michael and I became incredibly close, not that we weren’t already, but there was a sort of great need for each other. He’s been my rock and my greatest friend. He taught me a great deal about music and the fun times are too numerous to elaborate.
Suffice to say I loved my brothers – they coloured my personality and I’m extremely proud of both of them.
I guess it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved. Better to have never lost at all…
LAST WORD
“Bonzo was the main part of the band. He was the man who made whatever Page and I wrote basically work, by what he held back, by what he didn’t do to the tempos. I don’t think there’s anyone in the world who could replace him.”
– Robert Plant
Copyright
First published in 2005
by Southbank Publishing PO Box 394, Harpenden, Herts, Al5 1EQ
This ebook edition first published in 2015
All rights reserved
© Michael Bonham 2005
The right of Michael Bonham to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
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ISBN : 978-1-904915-44-7