The Led Zeppelin song John Bonham loved performing the most.
Few drummers could dream of matching the powerhouse performances that John Bonham would dish out every time he took to the stage. The mercurial yet unconventional man behind the kit had a reputation for putting every last drop of energy into every single live show, a desire that helped make Led Zeppelin the most formidable live outfit on the planet.
While Led Zeppelin masterfully captured their magnificence on tape for their records, their live shows took it to another level. With a setlist as powerful and dynamic as theirs, Bonham was always in his element, ensuring that every performance was infused with the blood, sweat, and tears he poured into his craft. His energy and commitment elevated each live show, making them unforgettable experiences.
Like any other line of work, there were aspects of performing with Led Zeppelin that Bonham preferred over others. The tracks he enjoyed most were those that allowed him to truly shine as a drummer. Although he never took performing for granted, one song stood out as a particular favourite for Bonham, where he could fully showcase his skills and passion.
Bonham lived for the opportunity to play in front of audiences and treated every concert like it was his last, once noting, “Every gig is important to us. In this business, you can’t afford to become complacent. If you adopt that attitude, you’re dead.”
His bandmates shared this mindset in Led Zeppelin, which is why they were such an unstoppable machine when they stepped on stage. It didn’t matter whether it was at Knebworth or a tiny club show with 50 people in the crowd; they only knew how to go full throttle. Admittedly, Bonham never explicitly picked out a single song as his favourite Led Zeppelin song to play live, but he didn’t need to. The percussionist wasn’t one for really offering his opinion on much, rarely giving interviews, instead keeping himself focused on the music at hand.
However, Bonham was also one of the finest drum soloists of his time, often given the opportunity during performances to deliver extended solos, sometimes lasting up to 30 minutes. This suggests that he likely preferred these solo moments over playing traditional songs, as they allowed him to fully express his creativity and technical prowess.
