Celebration Day: John Bonham - A Celebration concert

We are hugely honoured and proud to be invited to headline a concert to celebrate the life and legacy of the late, great John Henry Bonham in his hometown of Redditch, today, Sept 22, in the year marking what would have been his 70th birthday.

We check into our hotel and refresh ourselves with our favourite
tipple before heading off to the venue.

Peter having already visited the birthplace of Bonham at 84 Birchfield Road, before attending St Michael Churchyard in Rushock, Worcestershire, to visit the final resting place of his idol. 

The venue is a huge Marquee just off the square where the magnificent statue to Bonzo stands.

We are greeted by the charming Ros, the organiser and her husband Dave who is kind enough to take us to visit the site of the vast bronze statue situated at Mercian Square in Redditch. The statue looks great in photo but even better when witness there in front of us. Truly impressive. We are fortunate enough to meet with the creator of the artwork in Mark Richards, we chatted over a beer about his work and future plans.

With scultor Mark Richards

We also had a chance to talk with people who have made the
pilgrimage from the far-flung corners of the world to be present today. There is a backstage area with hospitality where the bands can relax before the show. We chatted to Debbie Bonham, Johns sister, who will be singing later despite just recovering from a throat infection only last week.

Debbie reminded me that when we first met many years ago she commented on a resemblance to Planty and her recommendation that I should front a Zeppelin tribute band, prophetic words.

Nice to see Dave Lewis, an old friend who has given Letz Zep his

support over the years, the author of several books on Led Zeppelin and the editor of the website and magazine Tight But Loose, many consider him the voice of Led Zeppelin an the unofficial biographer.

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Peter Tulloch with Debbie Bonham

Me old mate Steve Way, also a huge Zep fan, but nice to meet    Bev Bevan, someone I have not had the pleasure of  meeting before. 

As we chatted Debbie was called to the stage for her 90 minute set. As soon as Deborah Bonham starts to sing we all know she has something special. She performed songs by artists like Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, and her own inspiration Maggie Bell.

Her set includes songs from Paul Rodgers but the highlight of the set is undoubtably the set closer; ‘A Little Help From My Friends’ with Johns wife Pat and daughter Zoe joining her onstage. Debbie is a fantastic singer and deserves recognition as such.

Letz Zep took to the stage a little later than planned, as the venue

was packed with people eager to hear the music of Led Zeppelin we opened by tearing straight into ‘Immigrant Song’ followed by ‘Black Dog’, a couple of tough opening songs, followed by ‘The Song Remains the Same’ and ‘The Rain Song’ which are really well received.

We leave the stage, and under a projection of John Bonham himself as Peter performs ‘Moby Dick’, Bonzos’ showcase number, to the delight of the audience. It the time left we play an emotional ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and finish the set with a rousing version of ‘Whole Lotta Love’ before taking a bow and exiting the stage to a video message from Jason Bonham who is on tour in the States.

38 years ago the world lost the greatest of drummers, the peerless John Bonham. Unsurpassed, his influence is a potent today as it ever was. Even after all these years, Bonham still ranks as the best drummer of all time

Tonight was a fantastic occasion, a place in history, nothing like this concert has happened before or will ever again. For Letz Zep to headline this event, and share the stage with Debbie Bonham, is the greatest of honours. A big thank you to all involved, and for those who supported and attended this special event.