Bonzo's Montreux

"Bonzo's Montreux"
Instrumental by Led Zeppelin
from the album Coda
Released19 November 1982 (1982-11-19)
Recorded12 September 1976
StudioMountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland
GenreInstrumental rock
Length4:15
LabelSwan Song
Composer(s)John Bonham
Producer(s)Jimmy Page

"Bonzo's Montreux" is a drum solo by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. It was recorded in September 1976 at Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, with electronic effects added by Jimmy Page.[1] Page used the then-new Eventide Harmonizer to create a steel drum sound, which Bonham apparently liked; the final "gliss-phrases" were developed during mixing with the Harmonizer's keyboard controller.[2][3] The track was released on the 1982 compilation album, Coda.[4]

"Bonzo's Montreux" was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts, however, Bonham performed parts of the composition during "Moby Dick" in 1977.[1]

Reception

In a contemporary review of Coda, Kurt Loder of Rolling Stone gave the track a positive review, praising Bonham's "drum orchestra" and the electronic effects added by Page.[4] Loder further described the track as being "true to the spirit of Sandy Nelson, and thus vestigially nifty at the very least."[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Dave Lewis (1994). Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press& Schirmer Trade Books. ISBN 978-0-7119-3528-0.
  2. ^ On This Day... 12 September 1976... John Bonham: Tour de Force on Jimmy Page website (archived)
  3. ^ Bird, Chris (December 2, 2020). "Jimmy Page: "Whole Lotta Love was so fresh and it still is. If somebody plays that riff it brings a smile to people's faces"". Total Guitar. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Loder, Kurt (20 January 1983). "Coda". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 July 2017.