Led Zeppelin Second Generation Group Members

Best Known As: One of the most influential managers in rock and roll. He was a manager for The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, and Bad Company, a record executive for Swan Song Records, and was responsible for improving pay and conditions for musicians in dealings with concert promoters.

The "fifth member of Led Zeppelin" and manager extraordinaire, Peter Grant who died of a heart-attack on November 21, 1995, leaves behind a legendary track record. Grant played a key role in the success of Zeppelin, whose tight-fisted style helped revolutionize the rock music industry.

His managing career began over 30 years ago, working with such artists as Chuck Berry, The Animals, Jeff Beck & later teaming up with Jimmy Page to manage the Yardbirds in 1967. When he flew to New York to meet with Atlantic Records in late-1968, he walked away with the highest advance ever paid to any group, at the time. Grant was loyal to the band and always acted with their best interest in mind.

Grant was born in the south London suburb of South Norwood, Surrey. He attended Charterhouse public school until leaving at the age of 13, when he became a sheet metal factory worker in Croydon. Grant however was soon attracted to the entertainment industry and became a stagehand for the Croydon Empire theatre until leaving in 1953. He worked briefly as an entertainment manager at a hotel in Jersey before working as a bouncer and doorman at London's famous 2 Is Coffee Bar, where many figures in the British music industry got their start such as Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Tommy Steele, and others. He was spotted by a professional wrestler called Paul Lincoln, who gave Grant the opportunity to wrestle on television as "Count Massimo". It kindled his enthusiasm for acting and Grant was hired by film studios as a bit part actor, stuntman, and body-double.

Between 1958 and 1963, Grant appeared on a number of movies including A Night to Remember (as a crew member on the Titanic), The Guns of Navarone (a British commando), Cleopatra (a palace guard), and television shows The Saint, Crackerjack, Dixon of Dock Green, and The Benny Hill Show. He was also Robert Morley's double on many of that actor's films. The money he made from these ventures was invested in his own entertainment transport business. As the acting roles dried up, Grant made more money taking groups such as The Shadows to gigs.

In 1963, Grant was hired by promoter Don Arden to act as tour manager for artists such as Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Brian Hyland, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and The Animals. By 1964, Grant had started to manage his own acts including The Nashville Teens, The Flintstones , an all-girl group called She Trinity , The New Vaudeville Band and the early years of Jeff Beck and Terry Reid. His management was established in the same 155 Oxford Street office used by his friend Mickie Most, who previously used to work with Grant at the 2 Is Coffee Bar. Both Most and Grant set up the highly successful RAK Records label which produced a string of Number 1 hits throughout the 1970s.

It was in late 1966 that Simon Napier-Bell asked Grant to take over management of The Yardbirds, who were constantly touring yet struggling financially. Producer Mickie Most had suggested to Napier-Bell that his friend Peter Grant would be an asset to The Yardbirds, but as it eventuated, his arrival was too late to save the band. The experience however did give him ideas, which were put to good use later with Led Zeppelin. Grant's no-nonsense approach to promoters and persuasive presence was influential in The Yardbirds making money from its concerts for the first time. He also travelled closely with The Yardbirds ensuring that all costs were kept to a minimum, that members were also paid on time, and demanded publicity and artistic control by the band.

Without Peter Grant, it would have been doubtful Led Zeppelin would have been as successful. He negotiated a sizable five-year record contract with Atlantic Records and his business philosophy would eventually pay off for the label. Grant strongly believed that bands could make more money and have more artistic merit by producing albums rather than churning out singles. Live performances were more important than television appearances – if you wanted to see Led Zeppelin you had to experience one of their performances. By promoting Led Zeppelin's concerts he ensured that ticket profits wound up in the hands of the band rather than in the hands of promoters and booking agents. Grant's famous dressing room scene in the film The Song Remains the Same where he demands an explanation from concert staff on the sale of illegal photos, was typical of his no-nonsense dealings with people who tried to profit at the band's expense.

Grant was also instrumental in setting up Led Zeppelin's publishing company Superhype , in 1969. In 1974, Grant was the driving force in establishing Swan Song Records which gave Led Zeppelin further financial and artistic control over its own products. He also managed Bad Company and Maggie Bell . In 1975, Grant turned down a lucrative offer to manage Queen. When Grant was once questioned on what was the single most important thing a manager could say, his response was "know when to say no". In 1977, Grant was asked by Colonel Tom Parker to manage a proposed tour of Europe by Elvis Presley. Just as the negotiations had just begun, Elvis unfortunately passed away on August 16, 1977.

Marital problems and the death of drummer John Bonham took its toll on Grant's health and after the official breakup of Led Zeppelin he virtually retired from the music business. In 1992, he appeared in the film Carry On Columbus as a cardinal. On the afternoon of November 21, 1995 while driving to his home, Horselungs Manor in Sussex, he suffered a fatal heart attack. His son Warren was by his side. Grant was buried on December 4, 1995 at St. Peter and St. Paul's churchyard, Hellingly , Sussex.

Jason Bonham:

Date of Birth: July 15, 1966

Birth Place: Dudley, Worcestershire, England

Best Known As: British drummer and son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.

For what turned out to be his first public appearance, Jason Bonham was dressed in a romper suit. He can be seen in the Led Zeppelin movie, The Song Remains The Same, playing a scaled-down drum kit for a very proud father, John Bonham, the legendary drummer of Led Zeppelin. Jason was five years old.

Jason recalls many such appearances. "Sometimes I would be woken up at 2 o'clock in the morning to come down and play that scaled-down kit. The audiences ranged from family mends to the biggest names in rock of that period. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, members of YES, Bad Company, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer would often drop by our house after shows in the area and a major party would follow. After being woken up for a few of these nocturnal performances, I was able to negotiate my first fee, a much needed day off school."

While Jason continued to play the drums at home, his first love became motor cross riding. John Bonham was an enthusiastic supporter of the sport in England and, at the age of 14, Jason was a factory rider for Kawasaki and was placed second in the British Junior National Championships, losing by 1 point. "I won the last race of the season and my competitor had to come in 5th or better to place ahead of me in the Championship. He was Iying 8th on the last lap and three people crashed right in front of him allowing him to secure that last vital point."

That year Jason made a decision to follow in his father's footsteps, and become the best drummer that he could be.

At the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary party in 1988, Jason joined Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones for an epic Led Zeppelin reunion. The atmosphere in a sold-out Madison Square Garden was electrifying and the performance was televised in no less that 60 countries. Later, Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones remarked, "It was uncanny, Jason had every nuance of his father's approach to the group's music, it was as though we'd played together for years."

Jimmy Page was the first to fully grasp Jason's potential and, immediately after retuming to London, asked Jason to record an album with him. The Page "Outrider" tour followed in 1988 and Jason's drum solo was acclaimed as a high point in the show.

In 1990, Jason's debut album, "The Disregard of Timekeeping" topped the rock airplay charts and the success of the single, "Wait for You", helped Bonham garner a gold record. The band toured extensively for 2 years, but the impact of such early success on it's young members, caused a great deal of internal friction. Jason decided to concentrate on session work and writing new music, and in 1993 recorded the Grammy nominated album, "Muddy Water Blues, A Tribute to Muddy Waters", with such musical luminaries as Paul Rodgers, Slash, Jeff Beck, Steve Miller, Ritchie Sambora, Buddy Guy, Brian Setzer, and Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour. Jason toured substantially with this project culminating in a superb performance with Slash and Paul Rodgers at Woodstock II in 1994.

In 1995, Jason returned to his first love and once again played with Page, Plant and Jones at Led Zeppelin's induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In March this year, Jason began touring with his new group, The Jason Bonham Band, this time incorporating his love of Supercross with his musical talents. As part of a national tour, Jason appeared at Supercross events in Dallas, Houston, and Tampa where the band presented "The ZepSet" to an overwhelming response.

The Jason Bonham Band has toured extensively across North America since forming their new line-up. Their current show features songs from "The ZepSet," a one-and-a half hour onslaught of Led Zeppelin's finest songs driven by a man who is focused on presenting his father's legacy the best way he can. "I grew up in a home filled with the spirit and music of Led Zeppelin. It's a joy for me to be able to play a substantial number of these songs at every date. I'm also very proud of our own music, songs from the Bonham albums, like "Wait For You" and "Change of a Season" always get a great reaction.

Several appearances on the syndicated radio show "Rockline" in 1997 featured amazing live performances. They were joined by Debbie Bonham, who also remained for some of the tour dates. Their great new CD of original material, "When You See the Sun" is in stores now and has received critical praise.

Discography of Jason Bonham:

The Disregard of Timekeeping (1989)

Mad Hatter (1992)

In The Name of My Father: The ZepSet (1997)

When You See the Sun (1997)

Filmography of Jason Bonham:

Rock Star (2001)

Deborah Bonham:

Birth Date: 7th Feb 1962

Birth Place: Redditch, Worcestershire

Best Known As:

Born 7th Feb 1962 in Redditch, Worcestershire, Debbie attended the Holy Trinity Convent School for girls in Kidderminster, Worcestershire. She left with O levels and A levels and studied business diploma in French and Spanish…

Her home was at The Old Hyde farm, Cutnall Green, Worcestershire, and lived with her father (his name was John Henry Bonham snr…but he was known as Jack), in the cottage at the back at The Old Hyde Farm. Her brother, the legendary drummer for Led Zeppelin, John Bonham, lived in the main building.

It was while she lived there that Debbie and nephew Jason Bonham started playing and recording their first ever demos.

After her brother John died in 1980, when Debbie was 17, she was invited to Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant’s house in a nearby town in Worcestershire. It was there she recorded her first proper demos.

Encouraged and advised by Robert, she sent out the demos anonymously and soon landed her first record deal with the major label Carrere Records, for whom she recorded the critically acclaimed album "For You and the Moon". The album reached the top 5 in the NME chart, was Simon Bates record of the week on Radio 1 and sold extremely well in Europe, being voted "Record of the Year" by Musik Mart, Germany. Unfortunately, due to record company complications, the record was never released outside Europe.

After the album, Deborah decided to take time out to write and pay her dues on stage touring up and down the UK and in other parts of Europe. There also followed a short period of recording for the Japanese Sam Corporation and Deborah visited Japan to do some preliminary promotional work with the press and radio, resulting in a number of interviews for magazines like Burrn and J Wave Radio. However, unhappy with the deal, she struck a new management agreement with the English label RPM records to release the single, "Perfect World" in 1995.

Deborah spent 1996 getting her new band together, rehearsing new songs for an album and playing selected gigs such as headlining at The Belfast Festival and a sell out show at the Bottom Line, Shepherd's Bush to excellent reviews, honing a new direction for the forthcoming album.

The beginning of 1997 saw two extremely successful trips to the US. Firstly, she performed live on LA's Rockline radio to three million listeners throughout North America and Canada, as a special guest of John's son, Jason Bonham. This was followed by a special appearance with Jason and his band at the Whiskey A Go Go in Los Angeles, where she was incredibly well received.

The success of the first trip led to another visit to the US with her band to open for Jason's shows in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and New York. Subsequently, another three month tour with Jason was secured.

Deborah’s new album, ‘The Old Hyde’ is a stunning array of bluesy rock and emotive ballads, all perfectly showcasing Deborah’s stunningly powerful voice to maximum effect, the title track being a ballad written about her brother’s John & Michael and her late father, and the house they built, where Deborah was raised.

Trivia

Deborah was specially invited by Eddie Van Halen to perform the Led Zeppelin classic "Rock & Roll", at Van Halen's tour launch show.

Deborah was specially invited by Alannah Myles to sing "Black Velvet" with her at "The World's Greatest Music Party" headlined by Diana Ross and Rod Stewart at the NEC Birmingham. This was filmed for International TV and was broadcast on BBC1 Christmas evening.

Live unplugged and interview on VH1 "Take it to the Bridge"

Live full band performance and interview on Ulster TV "Gerry Kelly Show" Live unplugged session GLR (Greater London Radio)

Interview and video "Live TV"

Interview, video, live performance BBC1

Special live performance with Jason Bonham, Rockline Radio Los Angeles (three million listeners North America and Canada).

Special live performance with Jason Bonham, Whiskey A Go Go - Los Angeles (sold out), subsequent shows live shows; Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, New York, May/June '97, House of Blues - Los Angles Sept. '97 (sold out) + subsequent live shows.