Died on this date:

John Henry "Bonzo" Bonham

 Led Zeppelin Drummer

May 31, 1948-Sept. 25, 1980

(Age 32)

There isn't a rock drummer alive who when asked to name the top 5 drummers of all time doesn't put John Bonham on the list.  It's impossible to discuss Bonham's contributions to rock drumming without using the words God, Monster or Thunderous.  When you listened to Bonham play you had one of two reactions.  I'm going to woodshed my ass off to be half the drummer this guy is.  Or.  Fuck it, I quit.  Bonzo's style was so distinctive and so integral to the Led Zeppelin sound that upon his death Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and everybody else in the world knew it was all over.  The band packed it in.

Bonzo died the quintessential rock star death.  Choking on his own vomit after a Herculean night of drinking.

Fortunately, his memory and music live on.

Ladies and Gentlemen...
John Henry Bonham.