Top 94 Quotes & Sayings by Jason Bonham - Page 2

After my dad passed away, I had this bizarre goal. I wanted to play drums for Led Zeppelin. I just wanted to be able to say, 'Dad, I did it.'

I'd like to eventually be known as someone who emerged as a songwriter.

Songwriting is a difficult thing, but it's not so bad when you remove the barriers you put up yourself.

I've been clean and sober for 17 years. I am a control freak and must have a plan for everything I do now. I am also self-contained and happy.

My first band, we wanted to be like Foreigner and Journey.

Dad was pretty solid. He had great grooves and there was occasional moments of sheer brilliance with fills and things, but in general, the sheer brilliance is the simplicity, how much groove, how much feel he had, all the subtleties that we miss.

I was really into motocross. I started racing when I was 10 years old and did very, very well. That was my dream, if anything, more than drumming.

I was into the Police. I dyed my hair white-blond and wanted to be Sting.

He was just dad to me. I never really looked at him as Mr. Supergroup, John Bonham.

He was a very quiet and shy person but that drum kit gave him that voice. 'Bonzo' was the guy in Zeppelin. John was my dad.

One of my dreams was always to play alongside my father but I never got the chance because we only had one drum kit at home.

My kids still think that, you know, other kids' parents are cooler than I am.

I loved 'Rain' and its take on the Beatles. The way they used a timeline and news reel to create a mood, and crafted set changes throughout, it was stunning.

My dad was a regular dad. At home, he wasn't Bonzo the animal. He was a very intellectual, quiet chap - not the beast we all know.

We all have to appreciate where we come from and how wonderful our parents were.

As a young kid I never saw myself as a drummer.

I'm English, so I can be very 'half empty.'

I'm hugely affected by what people think. It could be a million people saying, 'Great.' And then one person writes, 'What the hell is this kid doing?' and starts slagging me off, for some reason, and then I have to join in the blog and sign in under a different name and go,'Why don't you like him?'

Most of my mannerisms come from my Mum, who is quite a funny, witty, chatty person. My Dad was very shy.

Led Zeppelin is part of my life, a huge part, that I enjoy immensely. But I don't want people to think this is all that I do. There is a creative side to my brain that needs to be fed, too.

I remember when I went to see Led Zeppelin live in 1979 at Knebworth, there were certain songs that stood out to me and will stay with me forever.

I never imagined in my wildest dreams when I was 17 watching Van Halen at a Donington Park rock festival and seeing Sammy Hagar later on when I was in the United States playing that I would end up with a band of guys I bought albums of.

Everyone knows who Bonzo is - you can just go pick up those books and read these fisherman's-tale stories. But at home he was a regular dad who would ground me and embarrass me in front of my friends. He was in Led Zeppelin and he would still embarrass me!

The fan support throughout the years, and the new generation, has made Zeppelin larger than life.

There's always got to be one adult in the band, I think.

I have lots of memories of Zeppelin. And I know the joy it gives fans when I tell them stories. I see their faces light up.

I strive to be positive. I begin every day asking myself what I can do to make this a positive day.

When I turned 17, I had a bike malfunction at a race, and in my head, I went, 'You know what? I'm done. I'm going to go play drums.' I still ride my bikes for fun, but that was the turning point.

I think I misunderstood the following in the footsteps bit, in a few of my early drinking years. I'd take any form of being compared to Dad as flattery. So if I fell off a stool or smashed up a TV set just because I was drunk, and somebody in the bar went 'Hey, man, that was just like Bonzo!' I would be really happy.

When my father began playing for Led Zeppelin our family was living in a 14-foot trailer.

Are people going to be more critical because I'm a Bonham? The answer is yes.

I was thrilled to hear Mick Jones wanted me to be involved in celebrating 40 years of Foreigner. I spent three years as their drummer and had a great time.

The thing with Led Zeppelin songs is that they were never the same. They were very fluid and tight but loose.

You know at 14, when you lose your hero - your father - that's why I hold him on such a high pedestal.