Bonzo's Montreux
Encyclopedia
"Bonzo's Montreux" is a song by English
rock
group
Led Zeppelin
. The song is a solo by drummer John Bonham
, recorded in September 1976 at Mountain Studios
in Montreux
, Switzerland
. Jimmy Page
added the electronic effects afterwards.
The song was left unreleased until 1982, when it was included posthumously on the album Coda
following Bonham's death in 1980.
The song was also included on both of the band's boxed sets, released in the early 1990s. It was presented in a medley with Bonham's solo on "Moby Dick" on the first boxed set
in 1990, and as an individual track on the second boxed set
in 1993.
Although the version of Coda included on the career-spanning boxed set The Complete Studio Recordings featured the new songs that were released on the boxed set series, the "Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux" medley (released on the first boxed set, in 1990) was omitted.
This is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where it is possible to hear the squeak of John Bonham's bass drum pedal in the recording studio
, the others being "Since I've Been Loving You
" from 1970's Led Zeppelin III
, "The Ocean" from 1973's Houses of the Holy
, and "Ten Years Gone
" from 1975's Physical Graffiti
.
"Bonzo's Montreux" was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts
, however, Bonham would perform parts of the song during "Over the Top" in 1977.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. The song is a solo by drummer John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
, recorded in September 1976 at Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios
Mountain Studios is a recording studio previously located in Montreux, now located in Attalens, Switzerland. It was owned by the rock band Queen from 1979 until 1993...
in Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
added the electronic effects afterwards.
The song was left unreleased until 1982, when it was included posthumously on the album Coda
Coda (album)
-Sales chart performance:AlbumSinglesNo commercial or promotional singles were issued, although three tracks received independent radio airplay...
following Bonham's death in 1980.
The song was also included on both of the band's boxed sets, released in the early 1990s. It was presented in a medley with Bonham's solo on "Moby Dick" on the first boxed set
Led Zeppelin (box set)
The Compact Disc edition contains the same track listing and order as the vinyl release, with disc one comprising sides one, two and three; disc two being sides four, five, and six; disc three being sides seven, eight, and nine; and disc four being final three.-Sales chart performance:-Sales...
in 1990, and as an individual track on the second boxed set
Led Zeppelin Box Set, Vol. 2
-Sales chart performance:-Sales certifications:-Release history:-Personnel:Led Zeppelin*John Bonham – drums, percussion*John Paul Jones – bass guitar, keyboards, mandolin...
in 1993.
Although the version of Coda included on the career-spanning boxed set The Complete Studio Recordings featured the new songs that were released on the boxed set series, the "Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux" medley (released on the first boxed set, in 1990) was omitted.
This is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where it is possible to hear the squeak of John Bonham's bass drum pedal in the recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, the others being "Since I've Been Loving You
Since I've Been Loving You
"Since I've Been Loving You" is a blues-rock song in C minor by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on the 1970 album Led Zeppelin III.-Overview:...
" from 1970's Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded between January and July 1970 and released on 5 October 1970 by Atlantic Records. Composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur, this work represented a maturing of the band's...
, "The Ocean" from 1973's Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy
Houses of the Holy is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released by Atlantic Records on 28 March 1973. The album title is a dedication by the band to their fans who appeared at venues they dubbed "Houses of the Holy". It was the second Led Zeppelin album to not...
, and "Ten Years Gone
Ten Years Gone
"Ten Years Gone" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.-Overview:Originally intended to be an instrumental piece, Jimmy Page used some 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section. Robert Plant later added lyrics, which are dedicated to an old...
" from 1975's Physical Graffiti
Physical Graffiti
Physical Graffiti is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 24 February 1975 as a double album. Recording sessions for the album were initially disrupted when bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones considered leaving the band...
.
"Bonzo's Montreux" was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts
Led Zeppelin concerts
From September 1968 through the summer of 1980, English rock group Led Zeppelin were one of the world's most popular live music attractions, performing hundreds of sold-out concerts around the world.-History:...
, however, Bonham would perform parts of the song during "Over the Top" in 1977.
Personnel
- John BonhamJohn BonhamJohn Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
- electronic treatments
Sources
- Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
- Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7