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Geoff Nicholls

"He created rolling barrages of tribal intensity": When British rock drumming ruled the world

Denmark, Sep 7, 1968: John Bonham during The New Yardbirds' first ever live appearance, just one month before they officially became Led Zeppelin (Image credit: Jorgen Angel/Redferns)

DRUMS WEEK 2025: Nothing exists in isolation or appears out of thin air and this is true of the British drummers who changed rock to hard rock, leading eventually to heavy metal.

Bill Ward, John Bonham and Ian Paice, with their bands Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple gave birth to perhaps the most widespread, consistently popular and ever-evolving musical phenomenon, now passing its half century with no sign of a slow-down.

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