A Book Of Led Zeppelin

25th September 1980

Today in 1980 was the day that John Bonham died.

At the time, Led Zeppelin had begun rehearsing for their first tour of North America since 1977, which was planned to start on 17th October in Montreal, Canada. The rehearsals took place near Jimmy Page's home in Windsor, where the band was staying.

During that day, the 24th, Bonham had been on a 12 hour binge drinking session. He started at noon and carried on until midnight, when he fell unconscious, completely drunk. He wouldn't wake up again. It was later discovered that he'd drunk 40 units of vodka; the UK's recommended maximum intake of alcohol per day for men is 3-4 units; per week, only 14 is recommended. Fucking hell, it's amazing he lasted until midnight...

Bonham wasn't in a good frame of mind at the time, as Robert Plant describes their last drive to a rehearsal together.

"On the very last day of his life, as we drove to the rehearsal, he was not quite as happy as he could be. He said, "I've had it with playing drums. Everybody plays better than me." We were driving in the car and he pulled off the sun visor and threw it out the window as he was talking. He said, "I'll tell you what, when we get to the rehearsal, you play the drums and I'll sing." And that was our last rehearsal."

After falling unconscious on a sofa, he was put to bed, where he was meant to sleep off his drunkenness. He was lain on his side with pillows for support, presumably to prevent the inhalation of vomit that would soon kill him. On the morning of the 25th September John Paul Jones and Benji LeFevre (Zeppelin's tour manager at the time) discovered Bonham's body in the bed.

"Benje and I found him. It was like, "Let's go up and look at Bonzo, see how he is." We tried to wake him up... It was terrible. Then I had to tell the other two... I had to break the news to Jimmy and Robert. It made me feel very angry – at the waste of him... I can't say he was in good shape, because he wasn't. There were some good moments during the last rehearsals ... but then he started on the vodka." "I think he had been drinking because there were some problems in his personal life. But he died because of an accident. He was lying down the wrong way, which could have happened to anybody who drank a lot." - John Paul Jones

An ambulance was called immediately after Bonham was discovered, but it was too late for them to do anything. He was already dead. The police also arrived at the house, but nothing suspicious came up. He had simply died from inhalation of vomit in bed during his sleep, a typical rockstar's death, aged just 32 years old.

An inquest into his death was held at East Berkshire coroner's court on October 18th where it was officially determined that Bonham had died from inhalation of his own vomit during sleep, which led to pulmonary edema (fluid accumulation in the lungs, which can cause respiratory failure). The cause of death was put down as 'consumption of alcohol' and his death was recorded as 'accidental'.

John Bonham's family funeral service took place on October 10th 1980 at Rushock Parish Church in Worcestershire. Around 250 people attended, not just family and friends, but other musicians including Roy Wood, Denny Laine, Bev Bevan and Jeff Lynne. Paul McCartney left a wreath and tributes flooded in from fellow drummers including Carmine Appice, Phil Collins, Cozy Powell and Carl Palmer. After the family service, the funeral procession made its way to Worcester Crematorium where the final service was held.

Swan Song Records (Zeppelin's record label) issued a statement on December 4th 1980, addressing the many rumors regarding the bands uncertain future following Bonham's death. It said;

"We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were - Led Zeppelin,"

Rest in peace, John Bonham.