A slice of renowned rock band Led Zeppelin played Stateline Dec. 5, when Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience appeared at MontBleu Resort Casino on Saturday night.
The son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Jason has been playing drums himself since he was a small child. Growing up around Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and many other rock icons, the musician experienced success at an early age. At age 27, his band Air Race signed a contract with Atlantic Records, releasing an album and opening for major acts.
He has worked with a far-reaching range of musicians including Jeff Beck, Slash, David Gilmour, Ted Nugent, and many others. He filled his late father’s role in the 2007 Led Zeppelin Reunion in London, appearing with Page, Plant and bassist John Paul Jones. Bonham also has crossed over into film and television work, appearing with Mark Wahlberg in the film “Rock Star,” as well as on a VH1 feature called “Supergroup.”
One steady project of Bonham’s is keeping the Led Zeppelin vibe alive, to which end his band has been touring the country this year, with appearances from Florida to Hollywood.
Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin is one of rock’s greatest, with numerous well-known hits, including the iconic “Stairway to Heaven.” The band was a fixture on the international rock scene for more than a decade, becoming the fourth best-selling group in American history with 111.5 million certified sales (behind The Beatles, Garth Brooks and Elvis Presley). John Bonham’s death in 1980 led to the band’s breakup that year.
“It’s been about a year since we last went out with the band and I’m excited to bring the Led Zeppelin Experience back out on the road with a new energy and a diverse set list,” Bonham said in a statement about this year’s tours. “This time around we are doing more album work and including a lot of songs that Led Zeppelin never played live.”
Lake Tahoe fans got a taste of the Zeppelin experience in September, when Bonham joined Sammy Hagar and the Circle for a fiery performance at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena. The band covered four Led Zeppelin songs – “Whole Lotta Love,” “Good Times Bad Times,” “Rock and Roll” and the Zep version of “When the Levee Breaks.”
At one point, Bonham addressed the crowd: “I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. This song is dedicated to everyone here and it goes out to you with a whole lotta (pause.)”
And the packed crowd responded: “Love.”
