Bonham Gets the Led out!

Jason Bonham and band play the entire Physical Graffiti album at a special show in Napa!

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Jason Bonham takes Physical Graffiti on the road.

 Led Zeppelins' music takes center stage on a beautiful summers' evening in Napa Valley at the Meritage Resort Summer Sessions Concert Series. Jason Bonham, (son of the original Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham), and his band "JBLZE" gave the Led Zeppelin tee shirt wearing audience two hours of absolutely kickass Led Zeppelin music from the iconic Physical Graffiti album. They played the album in its entirety complete with introductions, and beautiful stories from Jason Bonham himself. Complete with lovely details from his childhood and what it was like for him, growing up with Led Zeppelin and other rockstars in his home daily through his years of growing up in the UK, as the son of a rockstar. One of his loveliest stories about such times, was when he told his dad and fellow band members that Tangerine was his favourite song. And before he knew it, all the members of his dads band, gathered round Jason as a nine year old on the couch in their front room and played Tangerine and other LZ tunes in their entirety for only him. Whilst telling the Napa audience this deliciously intimate story about his memory of the band playing a private concert just for him in his own living room, the excitement that he exuded was absolutley infectious! He then told us, he said to them, something like, "Do you guys realize who you are...you are fucking Led Zeppelin!!!!" With his continued exuberance!

For those unfamilar ....Jason Bonhams' father, John died in 1980 after consuming around 40 shots of vodka, then choking on his own vomit whilst asleep. Jason was 14 at the time of his fathers death. Jason had been playing the drums since he was five years old and since his fathers' death, he has performed with the surving members of Led Zeppelin on many occasions. Jason has also worked as a session musician, had his own bands and has played with many other superstars in the music biz, including Paul Rodgers amongst many others.

John Bonham has been known to be one of the greatest drummers of all time, alongside, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Karen Carpenter, Buddy Rich, Ringo Starr etc.

Jason Bonham had appeared drumming with his dad in the film, The Song Remains the Same. And in 1988 he played a pretty important show with the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin in New York City. And in December of 2007 Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham played their last show together for a one off tribute concert at the 02 Arena in London.

When Jason married Jan Charteris in 1990, at the reception he jammed with Plant, Page and Jones. Jason and Jan have two children and they are still married thirty five years later. He also mentioned her and how they met in this show. Apparently they now live in the USA.

The JBLZE band consists of Jason Bonham on drums, James Dylan (a vocalist he found through You Tube), on guitar Tony Catania, Dorian Heartsong on bass and mandolin, Alex Howland on keyboards and guitar, and Jimmy Sakurai on lead guitar.

On this night in Napa, the two hours of music performed, was from the Physical Graffiti album. And with the lovely addition of the family stories it was a positively fantastic experience for me and seemingly the entire audience. JBLZE got everyone on their feet dancing and trancing to the soundtrack of our youth! Seriously great show! I am so glad I was able to be there to cover it! It was especially medicinal for me, after being stuck inside for more than 14 days with a brutal case of Covid! It was the closest I will ever get, (along with many other attendees) to actually seeing Led Zeppelin live. If you shoud ever get the opportunity to get to a JBLZE show, I suggest you grab a ticket and go, it's well worth it! Two thumbs up from The Music Soup! And hey, remember, life is too short not to! 🤘🏽❤️🥁

I've posted a video and will be posting more videos of this show on my YouTube channel - please subscribe:

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