Expert: Mike Caldwell - 10/1/2009

Question
What made Bonham so good at drums and why is he considered the greatest drummer in the world?

Answer
It might be best for a drummer to chime in (I was a guitarist), but based on the words of John Paul Jones, it was *not* his big heavy power drumming that made him so effective.  It was Bonzo's appreciation for the complex rhythms of soul and jazz that helped him be a special drummer - and percussionist.  His fills were well timed and not over-busy like Keith Moon (though I love Moon's style).  While he's probably not the best rock drummer ever (don't everybody get mad, but I usually give Neil Peart that honor), he's in my top 5.  There was a lot more to his style than that heavy boom-bash sound that made him famous in "When The Levee Breaks".  Listen to his work in the song "The Crunge", that stuff was his favorite.  He's great for many reasons!