Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham sitting behind his kit during a concert in Wales in 1972.

Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham remains one of the best drummers of all time. His secret tricks made his drums sound larger than life, and Bonzo’s performances helped define the sound of classic rock. One of Bonham’s best tracks was “Whole Lotta Love,” and the tricks that created his unique sound was someone else’s idea.

Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham sitting behind his kit during a concert in Wales in 1972.
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham | Debi Doss/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

2 decisions impacted John Bonham’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ drumming — miking his kit and putting it on a riser 

Bonham was an innovator before he ever found widespread recognition in Led Zeppelin. His teenage decision to use a bicycle chain on his bass drum pedal revolutionized drumming in a major way. His stick grip, drum size, and positioning on his stool were also unique for rock drummers. 

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