Bonzo's Montreux
"Bonzo's Montreux" is a drum solo by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. It was recorded in September 1976 at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, with electronic effects added by Jimmy Page.[1] Page used the then-new Eventide Harmonizer to create a steel drum sound, which Bonham apparently liked; the final "gliss-phrases" were developed during mixing with the Harmonizer's keyboard controller.[2][3] The track was released on the 1982 compilation album, Coda.[4]
| "Bonzo's Montreux" | |
|---|---|
| Instrumental by Led Zeppelin | |
| from the album Coda | |
| Released | 19 November 1982 |
| Recorded | 12 September 1976 |
| Studio | Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland |
| Genre | Instrumental rock |
| Length | 4:15 |
| Label | Swan Song |
| Composer(s) | John Bonham |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Page |
"Bonzo's Montreux" was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts, however, Bonham performed parts of the composition during "Moby Dick" in 1977.[1]
Reception
In a contemporary review of Coda, Kurt Loder of Rolling Stone gave the track a positive review, praising Bonham's "drum orchestra" and the electronic effects added by Page.[4] Loder further described the track as being "true to the spirit of Sandy Nelson, and thus vestigially nifty at the very least."[4]
References
- Dave Lewis (1994). Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press& Schirmer Trade Books. ISBN 978-0-7119-3528-0.
- On This Day... 12 September 1976... John Bonham: Tour de Force on Jimmy Page website (archived)
- Bird, Chris (December 2, 2020). "Jimmy Page: "Whole Lotta Love was so fresh and it still is. If somebody plays that riff it brings a smile to people's faces"". Total Guitar. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
- Loder, Kurt (20 January 1983). "Coda". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
