Bonzo Can't be replaced

["Brock Heinzeroth" <heiney@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi FBO,

Before I really started
listening to LZ I was into Rush big time.  This was around 1980-81 and
I thought that Neil Peart was the best drummer I had ever heard, this
was because his playing was so complicated and involved.  Then I was big
fan of Cozy Powell when he was in Ozzy's band.  I thought he too was a
great drummer, still do think is among the best.  But when I really started
listening to LZ closely rather than casually I realized tha Bonham was the
best.  His playing style is hard to put into words, at least for me it is.
It's really all about what he didn't play.  The way he held back sometimes
and created that tension.  The power he played with at times, and then just
as quickly he could play very subtle and soft.  The way and times he chose
his fills.  He was always on the off-beat.  Am I explaining this correctly,
it's so hard to put into words.

For those of you who think that Bonham was just the drummer take a listen
to P/P and you'll see why he was as important to the LZ sound as each and
every remember was.  P/P have a good band and it's great to hear the old
songs
again, but there is something missing, it's Bonzo.  The songs lack that
special
feeling his drumming gives the Zep catalog.  Lee is a goog drummer and he
does
do the Zep songs some justice, but no one can replace Bonham not even Jason.
Even
Jason lacks that special unobtainable touch his father had.  It's really an
emotional feeling Bonzo had that can't be taught, it was a part of his being
and died with him.  That's why so many bands that try to "copy" the LZ sound
fail, that's not the only reason though.  These copycat bands just don't
understand what LZ was all about.  I still to this day have not heard a
better
drummer than Bonzo.  Just imagine how different LZ songs would be if he
wasn't
the drummer.  Just imagine how different LZ would be if any of the members
were
replaced with someone else.  I can imagine, because during the solo years
that's
what we got.  Zep songs without all the pieces of Zep.  Pretty unsatisfying.
Some might say I am blinded because I refuse to acknowledge that any other
bands could have similar talent.  Well, it's true.  Led Zeppelin was and is
the greatest
rock band so far.  They are number 1 and there are lots and lots of number
2's.

The above is just my opinion and if you take offense to my statements, too
bad.
Please don't send any whinny flames to me because I don't care if you
agree with me, and you will never change my opinion of the band or Bonzo.

Have a good one or two....

Brock