Most of it was nuts, but I was determined to be a drummer as soon as I left school.
John BonhamRead
I've always been obsessed with drums. They fascinate me. Any other instrument - nothing. I play acoustic guitar a bit. But it's always been drums first and foremost. I don't reckon on this Jack-of-all-trades thing. I thing that felling is a lot more important than technique. It's all very well doing a triple paradiddle - but who's going to know you've done it? If you play technically you sound like everybody else. It's being original that counts.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of passion and originality in music over mere technical skill.
In this quote, John Bonham expresses his deep obsession and fascination with drums, stating that no other instrument compares to his love for them. He believes that while technical proficiency is valuable, it is the emotional connection and originality in music that truly matters; being able to express oneself uniquely is more significant than simply mastering complex techniques that may lead to sounding like everyone else.
In practice
At a music workshop, inspiring young musicians to pursue their passion without worrying about technical perfection.
Most of it was nuts, but I was determined to be a drummer as soon as I left school.
I've seen myself on those lists of the 100 best guitarists, and if they think that I'm that good, thank them. Thank God for them. But I don't think so.
One of the nice things about a favorite pop song is that it's an unconditional truce on judgment and musical snobbery. You like the song because you just do, and there need not be any further criticism.
When one knows at an early age that their gift, talent and direction is musical, one tends to focus on that and let nothing interfere or impede the forward motion toward the end of that rainbow. And after 50-something years of rockin' out, you still realise there is no end to that distant rainbow until one's last sunset.
Michael Bloomfield came in after rock n roll started, and he was a great guitarist. He idolized me - I know that. What else can I say ? he was a young, excitable man. To him, drugs were plentiful, and that was no good. I talked to him like he was a son of mine. He was a great and he was gonna be greater. But he was part of the "in-crowd" and so he never got there
The main focus for me is not trying to find duet partners. It's about just making great songs. I want most of my album to be in my voice because it's my point of view.
You know how you either grow up in a Michael Jackson house or a Prince house? For me it was Michael Jackson. I could never decide whether I wanted to be Michael Jackson or marry him.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.