Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin

“On this day in 1976, I was in the studios in Montreux Casino with John Bonham and engineer John Timperley to record Bonzo’s Montreux. I had recently acquired an innovative piece of equipment, the Eventide Clock Works Harmonizer and I discovered one setting where you could arrive at a steel drum sound. -- Jimmy Page

Bonzo's Montreux

'Bonzo's Montreux' is a 1982 instrumental song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. The song was composed by John Bonham, and recorded at Mountain Studios, Montreux, Switzerland on 12 September 1976, and mixed at Sol Studio, Cookham, Berkshire, in January 1982. It appeared as the seventh track on Led Zeppelin's 1982 album Coda, released on 19 November 1982. 'Bonzo's Montreux' is a percussion instrumental which served as a showcase for drummer John Bonham's talents. It was an evolution of Bonham's original instrumental for Led Zeppelin entitled 'Pat's Delight', named after Bonham's wife, and later 'Moby Dick', which involved percussive audio effects, a gong, timpani, drumsticks, and using his hands on the drum kit itself.

Overview

'Bonzo's Montreux' was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland during Led Zeppelin's enforced tax break from the United Kingdom. Bonham wanted to update his percussive sound by adding electronic effects. Dubbed the John Bonham Drum Orchestra, he assembled together Ludwig tymps, toms, and snares, with producer Jimmy Page treating the sound with effects such as the use of a Harmonizer. The Harmonizer created a steel drum-like sound. 'Bonzo's Montreux' also appeared on the 1990 Led Zeppelin box set as a medley with 'Moby Dick'.

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  • It Sounds like a badly tuned pan or empty grapefruit or orange juice tins.

    At this rate there is nothing to worry about.

    Real Pan is NOT in danger. 

  • Time and tide wait for no man. ~ Old English Proverb  One cannot stop innovation.

    • Andre: Ah waiting for the TIME and TIDE when you and SALMON take that E-PAN and GO TO THE STUDIO and RECORD some GLOBAL PAN MUSIC WITH IT.

      But, boy, at my age -- neither TIME nor TIDE eh waiting for me ... so allyuh better HURRY UP!!!

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