Exactly it's an unorthodox feel if you play it with a metronome yeah I know what you mean you have to this space in between there you have to play it with the record to get it down like he had it or is closed
Yep. It's the same as guitar players. You can have all of the pedals you want, but you ain't gonna sound just like a certain guitar player because you just ain't him, lol.
@@shivasix9136 That's your point.. My point is Bonham is way better and he deserve a god's badge. Portnoy couldn't play "Fool in the Rain" middle section .. But Bonham could play all DT songs.
MrChuckwagon55 his son Jason can play....better. you see more passion in Jason's playing..go check out when he's in your area. I saw led Zeppelin back in 70s... Chicago. he played well....but you can see he was wasted as the others and audience were too.
I understand Bonham is an icon, but saying that may lead people to think that you don't listen to music at all and that you're spinning three records all the time.
And now, Mr. Portnoy....we listen to you as an influence. I'm 63. Been playing since the 60's. I enjoy listening to the drummers you mentioned, but I absolutely enjoy listening and watching you play the drum kit.
Why? Drummers pick up and like other drummers because of their style, seriously if you yourself are a drummer u should know.. ;) it's all about feel and vibrations :)
He was just so damn satisfying to listen to. He knew when to hit the snare and when not to. His feel is unmatched and his chops are insane. His little nuances I’m the mix keep him very interesting to listen to. The most tasteful drummer of all time
What made John Bonham special for me is not so much the stuff you hear but what you feel when he played. He always nailed the perfect way to glue the band together to creat a groove. The space in between his notes were as crucial as the sound he created. He understood that a drummer controls the way a band feels. No band ever felt like Led Zeppelin.
Hard to describe that brilliant unique sound and groove of Bonham.. It's like he had a mystic ability were you could hear his soul transmutated into the physical realm through the drums lol He is GOAT hands down.
It is wonderful to hear someone as fantastically gifted as Mike clearly is, still in love and even awe of his influences and childhood heroes. Top bloke
Bonham’s genius was that he composed with the music. Most drummers are not musicians, they just know rhythm. But different melodies have different emotional feel, he actually tried to complement all the instruments (and vocals) instead of just laying a rhythm for the bass.
What Bonham did was MAKE the Song...The Ocean, When the Levee Breaks, Living Loving Maid, Whole Lotta Love, Achillies Last Stand, Nobody's Fault But Mine and way more...Any other drummer would not have made those songs what they are..He influenced the song, made it better.. Other drummers play in the song but you could replace them and most wouldn't be noticed. Bonham completed the song and with him gone, Page, Plant and Jones could never make music again like they did when he was here. Truly Magic!!
Nicely written but you've forgot to mention the one all four LZ members are proud of the most - Kashmir - whilst recording at the Headley Grange, that great driving tempo from JB started the idea for this song. JP then came with the riff which was later expanded further. JPJ added orchestration and the Mellotron parts and of course RP created amazing lyrics whilst travelling in Morocco. An amazing example of creativity when four legends meet and create musical art which will live forever...
Fool in the rain has me so captivated that I actually tried to learn the groove. I now have my own version, thank you very much, and I'm not even a drummer. But when there is a drum set that makes itself available, there I am, trying to replicate the magic that is John Bonham.
If you ever set a metronome to Bonham or even Baker, or try to quantize their beats digitally, you notice there is space BEFORE and AFTER their hits--depending what they were doing. It's not just the order, but the timing decisions Bonham made that made him "Sound good".
totally. that is what I think is off with Jason. he's too precise. sometimes being a little behind is better, sometimes ahead is better. back and forth, makes a whole different vibe, that's the art of drums, not the notes, the perfect/imperfect placement that makes it groove...
On top of his brilliant and radiant drumming technique, Mike is such a trully passionate and devoted music fan. And he's so generous about it too. No ego, whatsoever. The value and joy of music always comes first with him. I got nothing but upmost respect for him. A real living and breathing inspiration.
John Henry bonham. The drummer that tops all drummers. Sad to say, I was on my way to buy 2 tickits for the upcoming LED ZEPPELIN CONCERT ,I TOOK THE DAY OFF, JAZZED AS IV EVER BEEN, SONG COMES ON RADIO , (ALL OF MY LOVE) WOW HOW COOL, NOT REALY FIRST VERSE AND A FADE ,THIS MORNNING IN ENGLAND THE DRUMMER FOR LED ZEPPELIN ,JOHN HENRY BONHAM ,DYED THIS MORNING IN HIS SLEEP! R I P JOHN, AND OH YEAH THANK YOU!
He died a month after I was born :( and it honestly still bothers me he died so young, I became a big fan around 14, those old cassettes at Wmart with the old man carrying the sticks on his back just stood out to me, so I bought it and I was never the same again lol.
Portnoy is one of the best drummers ever. I consider him a great artist and a great person as well. I loved DT's music, but now it's not the same: in fact i'm still folowing Portnoy in his other projects, cause I, as a drummer myself, take my insipiration directly from his style. Keep up the good work Mike, and screw those deaf people that are only envious about you!
I disagree a bit with Portnoy. Bonham's signature sound was partly due to the drums- the 3 ply Ludwigs, their unique sizes and the LM402 snare. In my opinion, Bonham's playing is modeled after jazz and big band swing drummers. He'll always the best rock drummer of all time.
MyDyerMaker True. But I still think he's right when he says Bonham was Bonham. Sure he tuned and miced things certain ways, which all helps, but in the end, Bonham's sound is nigh inimitable.
Bonham and John Paul Jones were actually a funk rhythm section. Funk rhythm paired with hardrock/blues leads is one one of the things that made Zeppelin sound so unique.
+monokhem Agreed. Not only did Bonzo play with a VERY heavy groove, but then when he needed to, could be a speed demon, as well, while still not losing his power and groove, which is very difficult to do. That's where Bonzo was/is without equal, IMO.
"When the Levee Breaks" was recorded at a different tempo, then slowed down, explaining the "sludgy" sound, particularly on the harmonica and guitar solos. Because this song was heavily produced in the studio, it was difficult to recreate live; the band only played it a few times in the early stages of their 1975 U.S. Tour, before dropping it for good. However, the song was revived for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1995.[4] "When the Levee Breaks" was the only song on the album that was not re-mixed after a supposedly disastrous mixing job in the U.S. (the rest of the tracks were mixed again in England). The mixing done on this song was kept in its original form. In the May 2008 issue of Uncut Magazine, Page elaborated upon the effects at the end of the song: Interviewer: How was the swirly effect at the end of "When the Levee Breaks" achieved? I always imagine you sitting there with a joystick ... Page: It's sort of like that, isn't it? It's interesting: On "Levee Breaks" you've got backwards harmonica, backwards echo, phasing, and there's also flanging; and at the end, you get this super-dense sound, in layers, that's all built around the drum track. And you've got Robert, constant in the middle, and everything starts to spiral around him. It's all done with panning.[9]
I really like how HUMBLE this guy is.. He pays tribute and is VERY good.. but he downplays his abilities when talking about the Great John Bonham.. Well done Sir..
I think that it's interesting that in the recording of When The Levy Breaks the echo beat was from the recording process, he only hit the drum once. But we as drummers that follow him, even if we know this, it doesn't change that we know how to include that echo beat with our foot, it's the only way you can do it. So it will always be a little different than the recording, but it still captures that feel really well.
So glad that Mike pulled out When the Levee Breaks as a signature groove.....although it's widely acknowledged that the big open sound on that original recording was all about some of the mics being placed away from the kit, outside in the hallway. One helluva groove though. Easy to play. Impossible to make it sound like Bonham, no matter where the mics are :-)
Yes its the way that he played but, When the levy breaks was recorded with microphones in stairways that captured natural reverb and delays that made that iconic sound so unique
i really respect drumming style's & all Drummer's. & drum's at the moment i'm trying the best i can to help my 10 year old niece, of course it's never easy because i don't have all the answer's for every drumming style's but Drum's Rock like Def Leppard & the 80's. i will always have a long journey yet. to still get 2 were i have to go & of course. i may never get 2 level 1000%. but that's not what matter's. what doe's matter is. i try my best everyday. to help my 10 year old niece of course i don't have. all the answer's that i should have. because i'm not level 11,06% as good as some of these people like this guy or Baard Kolstad. but i'm just going to do what i know. the best way i know. because i find just being my self is all i know. & of course sometime's it's a little bit hard with a disability. when teaching my 10 year old niece of course 10 year old kid's. just what one thing to happen is. to become fast & good in one day, but it doesn't work that way it take's time. for me i was lucky because i hear drum's in my head all the time everyday. & sometime's my heard hurt's because all i ever hear are drum's banging my brain's even when i'm not playing the drum set. with groove's 24/7 so i don't know if anyone ever feel's the same way even in the street drumming & singing. but it get's a little bit way to much sometime's. But what an extreme Lesson that i'm watching greattings from Australia Victoria Wodonga.
'Fool in the Rain' - I spent months in the early 80s trying to swing that simple groove the way he did and it was maddening. He had a way of making something simple so much more intricate.
Thanks Mike great groove and timing. Also everything you hit had its own different volume you seem to put different weight into every aspect of your drumming makes it sound very dynamic
So my son decided to learn Dazed and Confused for my birthday present. Gotta say I always thought that was one of Bonham’s best. And so glad he learned it!
Probably one of the best drum tracks ever written. The drums in dazed and confused are the definition of cool. The tone quality is out of this world as well.
I was lucky as hell to have seen him and Led Zeppelin play Seattle twice and both times I was amazed at Bonzo's power when he hit the drums......I think his power started somewhere in his bone marrow and ended at his fingertips.....I always think as if I feel the beats like him and sometimes I sound like him, but not always ! He had what I call drum soul, and it was his feel of what the sound should be for each song. Thats why every one of their songs were so great and usually a different style or sound for each one. The closest to him now would be Aronoff now for my ear, but he needs to stay with one band and slow own for the music.......Long live BONZO ! No. 1 drummer or me !
In my teens when Zep came on the scene in the US. After hearing them, listening to them it go to the point where I KNEW when Bonham was playing. Wheteher it was a new album a 45 or whatever, his touch, feel and groove were SO distinctive it was like, "Oh Zep must a come out with something new cuz I haven't heard this tune before." And I mean hearing a snippet of a tune without hearing Plant's distinctive voice. Bonham had his own voice and man it was SPECIAL! Miss him and wonder what he would have played over these many years? Thank you Mr Portnoy for showing such respect and playing him so well..
The thing I believe separates Bonham from the rest was his dynamic agility. His hands were amazing, and he made his set sound so apart from everyone else - the way he tuned it.
+sam jose Everyone (non drummers) thinks he was just bashing as hard as he could..What they do not understand is the swing pulse/dynamic subtleties inherent in his playing.The greatest due to his originality/creativity in my opinion.
Love Portnoy and Bonham and I am a huge Rock drumming fan. I would love someone to demonstrate what Ronnie Tutt plays during his monstrous solos of the 1970's or his playing on Elvis live at Madison Square Garden. Drum & Bass Guru.
I didn't like Mike Portnoy until now, based on things he said in other interviews. However, this interview makes up for it. I love how humble he is here, and how willing his is to give props to past great drummers. That's so refreshing.
Thank you for Bonzo's tribute-as a kid my dad would take me to every Stan Kenton concert around Philly-always love the drums But when I heard John for the first time My World was rocked
When Bonham hit hard it sounded like he was hitting them with a pair of lead pipes- but his grace notes were as gentle as a butterfly landing with sore feet... Just one reason he was so great... there are 999,999 more, but I can't actually name them all...
One of the things that's always puzzled me is why are there SO many critics on board a thread like this....ESPECIALLY when the host prefaces the whole demo with his own confession of not being able to sound like Bonham. Not good enough I guess. I also have noticed all these years on youTube that no ONE of these "critics" has EVER posted something of their own that even REMOTELY backs up their silly critique. Why not just listen and not be a dick to someone like Portnoy who is light years ahead of you?
Exactly! These critics also never ever have the balls to make their own You Tube to prove how much better they are. It's because they're complete FRAUDS
There’s something really sincere and organic about that era of music.. Technology was nowhere near where it is today and all musicians had to really really work to get their tone and as a result they Developed a unique sound and style
They had to record the drum track in a stairwell at that Scottish castle because it was so loud - especially the kick (which I can only imagine with the size alone, power and soul notwithstanding) - but I have somehow always paid more attention to the snare and hi-hat cymbal in this track as I tend to pulse with the kick and feel it with my heart and hear the snare and hi-hat with my ears. If that makes sense. I'm sure to my fellow Bonhamites and Portnoydians that it makes perfect sense (and yes I just made up those two terms - feel free to steal 😉). Long live the King indeed and Prince Portnoy as well! 🙌 amazing video!!
The reason why When The Levee breaks sounds o beefy is that the drums were set in a stairway hall in Page`s house recorded with one mic placed on the top of the stairway.
Paweł Morrison When the Levee Breaks was NOT recording in Jimmy Page's house at all ! Bonham sound was partly responsible for the sound of the drums on that song - his tuning style, his heavy hitting & his feel ! Led Zeppelin's untitled album, which featured When the Levee Breaks was recorded in an entrance hallway open space at Headley Grange - Zeppelin put mics under the staircase, overhead on a upper area of the 2nd floor, in a chimney & in a small bathroom ! That is where the sound came from ! Compression was only used very in a very limited fashion - Bonham hit the drums & cymbals so hard - there was "trigger compression" set up - in other words - the compression would only kick in - if something was hit too loud !
JohnBindon Yeah, but as Jimmy Page said, the mic placement was key to the sound of that track, in that spooky old house and a reason why the drum sound is unique from every other Led Zep Track. The slap back echo of the big old room enhances the sound, and fits the tempo of the song. Its really subtle, but thats why no one can get that same sound easily. I think Mike did a stand up job of the actual drum part, and his snare sounds fantastic. But to get that authentic big sound, needs some big reverb I think, and a 26" BD :-)
Mr Portnoy's influence is certain one of worthy. I think you are a great drummer and that you have certainly learnt well from the master... Looking forward to seeing you live very soon in Montreal.
Bonham was and is my favorite drummer. There are many reason why Bonzo was great. Portnoy nails it when he said it was just John and that's the end of it. Bonzo had a special way he felt and played his music and it was unique and mesmerizing. That band was so strong that Bonham would be playing 4/4 and the band would be playing a different time signature and it synced up to make beautiful grooving music. Zep is the greatest band of all time. RIP John Bonham
Mike you are really stating it as it is... when we attempt to replicate art, drumming or whatever might be the form, we can only perform close to the original and never identically the same. This is what makes art so special. There can be many versions of one's work and indeed all interestingly artistic; nothing can ever do the magic of the original and it will stay there timeless becoming a study case.
+George Karapiperis You're right. Even when you do see clones of someone it's still not quite as good as sounding like the original because it's not individualized. When you learn a new instrument, you'll get something out of every thing you cover/play and eventually develop your own style once you get good.
+George Karapiperis Well said. I'm sure Bonham had his own influences in mind when creating his own classic parts. So true that everything evolves out of what came before.
He's all about feel. I talk about his kick drum all the time, but not for the big sound but for the feel he has with his kick foot and his snare ghost notes together. The example of Leavy is played even more straight than bonham did with the kick foot. That swing is what made it so cool He's awesome
I don't think is better, or worst .. I think it has a different sound that I actually appreciate and enjoy. The tuning also of Mike Mangini has more punch and is way more clean than Portnoy . But definitely Portnoy was more appealing to watch, has more charisma
Rahim Saadi mangini is faster, has a incredible independence of arms and legs, ambidexterity, huge knowledge, great dynamics, and he's just perfect for a progressive band like DT.. porntoy? has to play RLRLKK in every song and needs to spit on john amp, really? you say mangini has no feelings, apparently you haven't never heard mangini playing in a clinic or something like that. just listen the solo he did in luna park dvd, just from 0:25 to 0:30 he did an amazing and musical fill. but deaf people like you will never recognize an artist, because you want portnoy and his color beard back :'(
Yea, because there is new Dream Theater, that nails old dream theater, you nailed it! ;) Give me some examples, why Mangini doesn't fit Portnoys place? Well, I just can say that Mangini is more talented for sure, he keeps the tempo, no rushing like portnoy, Mangini doesn't stel the whole show and be a clown, Mangini nails portnoys fils that portnoy have played over 20 years, Mangini got new stuff, new moves etc. SO, why Mike Mangini Doesn't Fit Dream Theater? Give me even one reason!
***** Thoose are the real facts, thank you! They are bad losers, they can't admit that there's just much better drummer than Portnoy, and that guy is named Mike Mangini.
***** i never said that Portnoy was the only person who wrote all the songs. you guys are making that false allegation. I never said anything like that most of them was composed by Petrucci. But both of you should really understand the difference between a musician and a music teacher. I would say that jimmy(the rev) of avenged sevenfold is better in musicianship than Mangini. you guys should listen to yourselves first before making any false allegations against something that i haven't said. you guys proved yourselves to be a true wannabe again. bravo. keep it up
***** And if we look closer, MM plays 100x more amazing 4 limb polyrhythms and talking about odd time polyrhythms and Mangini plays more odd time signatures than Portnoy, Mangini's drum solo contains numerous odd time signatures and chances etc... (I can play 4 limb odd polyrhythms too, I'm on the way practicing them, because I get it that how it is even possible to learn and play those 4 limb polyrhythms, where every limb (hand/foot) has it's own motion). So Mangini nails Portnoy in his main thing also, lol...
John Bonham was the numbre one drummer that influenced me growing up in the 70s and 80s..im 55 years old now..i am now influenced every bit as much by Mike Portnoy !! I think Mike Portnoy is one of the greatest drummers to ever pick up a set of sticks !! I want to think Mike for spending his entire life perfecting his kraft and always be willing to pass a lifetime of knowlege on to us..THANKYOU MIKE PORTNOY.
Nice! Didn't know Portnoy has a Bonzo symbol tattoo. Portnoy should tell old Ginger Baker to stop dissing Bonham and Moon. As obviously, the legacy and influence of Bonham in particular --is unmeasurable in the drum world.
Yeah, I saw a video interview with Baker where he said that he would never play a certain type of lick. It was exactly like what he played on "White Room". "When the Levee Breaks" is an all time classic. I still play it when I'm feeling righteous. It's probably one of the best drum intros from the past 100 years.
I think the subtle aspect that is missing is Bonham's approach to where 1 fell in music. Drummers have different interpretations of when the first beat of the measure should fall and how to make it sound like like 1 fell just a hair before/after/ or exactly at 1. Bonham often dragged the beat ever so slightly and purposely. I think this subtlety contributed to his band's darker and druggier sound. There isn't a ton of urgency in a typical led zeppelin song (generally speaking). The mark of a good drummer is playing what's appropriate/effective for the song. In that regard Bonham was a great drummer for his band.
love your humility Mike.its great you let us know that maybe some simple groove or beat may be an influence to all musicians some day and we should keep searching for it.It is THE HOLY GRAIL
..Wasn't When the Levee Breaks recorded in a house with the drums actually being down a stairwell? I get that he sounds the way he does because he's a monster, but recording definitely plays a part as well. Room acoustics and anything post production can change everything.
Yeah, Page set his drums up in s stairwell in Headley Grange. They used the Stones mobile recording truck. Bonzo was Bonzo, but Page produced the band extremely well. Esp. Bonzo; Jimmy knew how special he was. Page is really underrated as a producer. I think this why their music has stood up to time. In your face is still in your face, no matter what year it is!
If you can find any live audio from them playing Levee you'll find that Bonzo still plays heavier and deeper than anyone who tried to replicate his sound
You can change the sound and augment it to make it beefier or less so, but if the original playing sucks, you still can't make it sound good. The old saying goes, you can't polish a turd. John Henry Bonham gave the beats and the sound like no other. He didn't need the studio stuff but it was like polishing a jewel ...
+waqqodonkey Yes , all of them were unbelievably talented. They truly complimented each other for sure. The stars definitely aligned getting this foursome together. Robert's amazing voice with Jimmy's guitar mastery and don't anyone forget about o'l John Paul's bass prowess.
Jonesy's prowess was with more than a bass. Dude can play anything and arranged most of Zep's tunes. Yes, he was really playing those recorders on the Stairway intro. He's a musical genius.
Strong work Mike. I like your perspective. I always felt part of Bonham's style also was his actual sticks, they were so long and thick he called them trees. I also like to think, you know how some martial arts will say "don't imagine striking your target where it is, but strike it a foot behind it." I always feel that's how Bonham drummed.
Why do people compare drummers against each other? You cant factor styles into that comparison. I've been playing close to 40 years now and I've given up trying to jump over or under a bar someone else has set.I play for me now and I play my way.....
Jason ytube is full of the worlds greatest this or that, it gets peoples attention, drums is no different, drumming behind a kit is a very personal thing to do no two drummers are the same, its a great club to be in all drummers are very special people why? because drumming and performing on the kit is where a drummer wants to be, the centre of the universe is the drummer seat ,I have played for almost 60years still enjoy every minute.
