As we know, Bonzo wasn’t a studio musician to the extent of what Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were, but although his discography outside Led Zeppelin is not as prolific, there are a number of projects he laid drums on.
These sessions were mostly with friends, and to an extent, of much lower profile than any Led Zeppelin recording - with the exception of a song for Paul McCartney and Wings.
Let’s check out the John Bonham recording sessions outside Led Zeppelin:
1969 - A Way of Life, by The Family Dogg.
This session was together with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Apparently, Elton John played on the title track - back in the day when he was also a musician for hire.
1970: Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends, by Screaming Lord Sutch.
Produced by Jimmy Page, it also features Jeff Beck and Noel Redding from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Although Bonham didn’t play on all the songs, he did play on the first one, and right from the get-go, you get the almighty Bonzo sound (those bass drum triplets!).
1971: Everybody's Got To Clap, by Lulu.
Written by Bee Gees’ Maurice Gibb and Billy Lawrie, this song not only features Gibbs on guitar and backing vocals, it also features Cream’s Jack Bruce on bass.
1972: Don't Freak Me Out, by Jimmy Stevens.
Produced by Maurice Gibb, Bonham plays on 2 songs of this album, including the title track. These sessions feature not only Gibbs, but also Peter Frampton on all songs.
1979: Keep Your Hands on the Wheel, by Roy Wood.
Electric Light Orchestra’s Roy Wood called up a bunch of friends for his third album, On the Road Again. You can tell it's Bonzo from the first bar he plays.
1979: Rockestra Theme, by Paul McCartney & Wings.
Taken from their Back to the Egg album, this song is everything you’d expect when you see the lineup: Paul and Linda McCartney (obviously), David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Ray Cooper, and the list goes on.
If you wanted Bonham’s rolling thunder, you got it:
There weren’t that many, but they were fantastic and meaningful, with the signature sound of the God of Thunder.
