John Bonham

John Bonham was given three Ludwig Green Sparkle drumkits in the spring of 1970. In addition to using this drumkit on stage from 1970 until the end of the 1973 European tour, it was his favorite kit to use in the studio, recording Led Zeppelin III, Houses Of The Holy and Physical Graffiti.

An image of Bonham playing the Ludwig Green Sparkle kit in the background here.

This drumkit was delivered from Ludwig in March 1973 containing various-sized toms plus an additional bass drum. On the three nights that The Song Remains The Same was filmed, the 16" x 20" and 16" x 22" floor toms were rotated in use. Bonham was one of the first to play this new line from Ludwig and was the only amber-tinted kit of the first run.

A shot of Bonham on the Ludwig Amber Vistalite kit.

John Bonham used the Ludwig Stainless Steel drumkit beginning on the 1977 US Tour until Led Zeppelin's last show on July 07, 1980. It was also used in the recording of Led Zeppelin's last studio album In Through The Out Door.

John Bonham playing his Ludwig Vistalite Black & White Candy Stripe swirl drum kit used during his time with Led Zeppelin was originally given to music critic Chris Welch by Bonzo himself. It is one of the only kits outside of the Bonham estate.

John Bonham received the Ludwig Thermo Gloss Natural Maple drumkit after getting his official endorsement from Ludwig. Carmine Appice, drummer for Vanilla Fudge, personally rang up the Ludwig factory after John Bonham had expressed an interest in getting a drumkit like Appice's. The original kit that Ludwig sent to Bonham was had a double kick drum. Jimmy Page told him to take one kick drum out because his drumming was so loud with the extra kicker that he would need more amplifiers and monitors to hear himself play. Bonham played the maple kit at the beginning of Led Zeppelin's first US Tour in December 1968. This was the drumkit used to to record Led Zeppelin II and was used until the end of the Spring 1970 US Tour.

In this photo you can see his drum kit include Natal Congas.

In this photo depicting Bonham's drum kit, you can see a Ludwig Timpani.