Tuesday marks the anniversary of the passing of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, who died on September 25, 1980.
The Zep legend died after a day of heavy drinking before, during and after rehearsals for the band’s planned US tour. With a verdict of accidental death, a coroner's inquest revealed that in the twenty-four hours before he died, Bonham had consumed forty shots of vodka which resulted in him choking on his own vomit, causing asphyxiation.
While promoting his autobiography, “Iron Man,” last year, Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi spoke about Bonham.
“He was quite a wild character,” said Iommi. “And it was good fun, he was good fun…unless we went out and he was driving – then that was bad fun. He used to get really pissed drunk and drive back and, in them days, police weren’t so hot.”
Iommi then went on to share a story about one of the pair’s wild adventures – see the video for more.
Bonham’s son, Jason, will be featured in the new Led Zeppelin package, “Celebration Day,” which captures the band’s December 2007 reunion at London’s 02 Arena, with the drummer sitting in for his late father as the mostly-reunited band headline a tribute concert for dear friend and Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.
Directed by Dick Carruthers, the film of “Celebration Day” will see a worldwide theatrical release on 1,500 screens in over 40 territories on October 17. The theatrical screenings will follow premieres in London, Los Angeles, New York, and other major cities.
The package will then be available in multiple video and audio formats on November 19.
Check out a preview clip of “Black Dog” from the DVD here.
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