‘To be honest, it was hard’: Jason Bonham’s disappointment over Led Zeppelin’s refusal to reunite

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Jason Bonham has moved on, taking part in a trio of studio recordings with Black Country Communion. But that doesn’t mean the drummer doesn’t still feel the emotional pull of his time with Led Zeppelin.

For Bonham, son of the band’s late legendary original drummer John Bonham, his has been a life lived in and around the band.

Of course, the younger Bonham’s appearance with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin in 2007, during a highly anticipated reunion at London’s O2 Arena, is the subject of a new concert film. (He also appeared at the recent news conference announcing the project, with John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.)

Before that, though, Bonham had sat in during a memorable performance at Madison Square Garden in honor of the 40th anniversary of Atlantic Records.

[SOMETHING ELSE! REWIND: Black Country Communion’s new ‘Afterglow’ release is perfectly named, unfortunately. It seems they are splitting up — a damn shame, as the group is still at the very peak of its powers.]

There was also an impromptu jam during Bonham’s wedding reception, and of course his appearance as a youngster of just eight alongside his dad during Led Zeppelin’s concert film The Song Remains the Same.

Bonham later toured with his own tribute band, called the Led Zeppelin Experience.

“Much as I knew it was a one-time thing, my mother said to me before hand, “Are you sure you’re going to be OK walking away from this?” I said, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” And, to be honest, it was hard,” Bonham tells Mojo. “When you sit in that seat, it’s the greatest feeling.”

Even today, after years spent away from Led Zeppelin and another round of denials that a reunion is being considered, the drummer still holds out hope that they might one day take the stage again. Certainly, doing that recent news event to promote the new Led Zeppelin concert film stoked the fires, as well.

“I’d be a fool if I said, no,” Bonham tells Mojo. “At the New York press conference, there were three questions in a row, asking ‘Are you gonna do something again?’ … I can see why they’re asking. Because when you watch the film, we all look like we are having such a great time, it’s no wonder people want to know if we’re going to do it again.”

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Something Else!