Late Led Zeppelin Drummer John Bonham Recalls Feeling 'Quite Strange' at Band's First-Ever Rehearsal in New Doc

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham and Jimmy Page.Photo:Sony Pictures

Sony Pictures

Led Zeppelinfans are treated to newly unearthed interviews with the late John Bonham in a new documentary about the band’s formation.

InBecoming Led Zeppelin, in theaters now, the drummer — whose sudden death at 32 in 1980 caused the group to disband — is heard through archival audio recordings from the rare interviews he gave during his lifetime.

The film covers everything from the childhoods of Bonham and his bandmates Jimmy Page,Robert Plantand John Paul Jones to the formation of Led Zeppelin in 1968 through the band’s performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall in January 1970. It also includes Bonham’s own recollections on meeting Page, now 81, and Jones, now 79, for the first time for what became Led Zeppelin’s first rehearsal.

“It was quite strange, really, meeting John Paul and Jimmy,” Bonham, who had already befriended and performed with Plant, now 76, says in the documentary. Plant persuaded Page to invite Bonham to play with the band, which Page originally founded as “the New Yardbirds” following the breakup of Page’s previous group the Yardbirds.

“Coming from where I come from, I sort of thought it was a bit of joke getting this sort of telegram,” Bonham says of the invitation. “There’s a chance of becoming one of the Yardbirds? It’s like a gift from heaven, wasn’t it?”

From left: Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones performing on Jan. 9, 1970.Mike Randolph/Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty

Mike Randolph/Paul Popper/Popperfoto via Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“You know, the best thing to do when you’re in a situation like that is not to say much and just sorta soldier along and suss it all out, sort of thing,” Bonham says in the film; he is also quoted as saying, “The first time we played together, you could tell it was going to be a good groove, not being so flashy about it [laughs], though I am.”

The ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ poster.Sony Pictures

Filmmakers MacMahon and McGourty tell PEOPLE that Bonham’s wife Pat and his sister Deborah provided archival footage and materials for the film to use. The surviving members contributed a significant number of personal possessions and archival material.

“There was definitely a sense they came in where — firstly, they turned up and you can tell a vibe when someone’s really ready to tell their story,” MacMahon says of the band, adding that Plant in particular brought “never heard before recordings” he and Bonham had made together.

Becoming Led Zeppelinis playing in theaters now.

source: people.com