What John Bonham really thought of Ginger Baker

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John Bohnam is the eponymous thunder of drums. With Led Zeppelin he changed the game for rock ‘n’ roll drummers, hurtling his sticks like Thor’s hammer and ensuring that the drumkit wasn’t something that merely tapped away in the background.

The likes of Neil Peart were inspired by the famed “big triplets” Bonham bashed out on his “giant bass drum”. Continuing to inspire younger sticksmiths today, Matt Helders of the Arctic Monkeys opined: “I’d have to say that John Bonham is my favourite drummer of all time. He’s somebody that I always come back to. The reason why I picked this record purely comes down to a fill he does at the end of the ‘Moby Dick’ solo — before the band comes back in. It gives me chills, and that’s no exaggeration. I can hardly even express what it does to me. It’s perfect, absolutely perfect.”

Alas, even heroes have a hero and the late Bonham is no different. One of the first favourites to turn his head was Gene Krupa and he remained obsessed with drumming ever since, exclaiming: “I’ve always been obsessed with drums. They fascinate me. Any other instrument – nothing.” However, despite putting drums towards the centre of the stage, the stuff Krupa was playing wasn’t quite ‘Moby Dick’ and Bonham had his eye on a hybrid.

“People hadn’t taken much notice of drums before Krupa,” Bonham explains in the book In Their Own Words. “And Ginger Baker was responsible for the same thing in rock.” Continuing, he added: “[Baker] was the first to come out with this ‘new’ attitude — that a drummer could be a forward musician in a rock band, and not something that was stuck in the background and forgotten about.”

If Baker had ever complimented anyone else in his vitriolic lifetime, then he too may have admitted that Krupa was in the welter of his influences, which is something Bonham seems to hint at when he explains: “I think Baker was really more into jazz than rock. He plays with a jazz influence. He’s always doing things in 5/4 and 3/4 tempos. […] Ginger’s thing as a drummer is that he was always himself.”

Another point on the biography of Bonham, A Thunder of Drums, sees a special mention of The Graham Bond Organisation as one of his favourite bands during his formative years as a sincere music lover, the drummer of which was, of course, the aforementioned uber-iconoclast, Ginger Baker. He explains that this early period was when he found Baker most appealing as he bristled through four-stroke ruff’s as though he was simply keeping time.

The duo later crossed over during their careers, operating simultaneously but in extremely different circumstances as Baker departed to Africa to team up with Fela Kuti and Bonham toured the world pioneering a new brand of rock. At the time, Baker (unsurprisingly) never took too kindly to the comparisons between them. In his memoir, Hellraiser: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Drummer, Baker writes: “John Bonham once made a statement that there were only two drummers in British rock ‘n’ roll; himself and Ginger Baker. My reaction to this was: ‘You cheeky little bastard!’”

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Tour news: Lilys, Fitz & The Tantrums, The Head & The Heart, Goose, more

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Here’s a roundup of recent tour news. Check the Tour Dates category for more.

LILYS

Shoegazey indie rock greats Lilys start their short West Coast tour this week, hitting San Francisco (1/19), Sacramento (1/20), Long Beach (1/21), Pioneertown (1/22) and Los Angeles (1/23). The band has been on a reissue campaign of late, and they refer to this tour as “5 nights/6 albums,” and should be pulling from across their ’90s output for their setlists. Their lineup for this tour includes band founder Kurt Heasley backed by Don Devore (Collapsing Scenery) on guitars and synths, Evan Weiss (Girls, Sparks) on bass, Chris Colley (School of Seven Bells) on percussion, Matty McDermott (Nymph) on “cosmic pedal steel,” and Alex Craig on guitar. Tickets for the whole tour are here.

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GEL (with SPACED and TAKING MEDS)

NJ’s Gel and Buffalo’s Spaced are two of the most promising new-ish hardcore bands around, so it’s very exciting that they’re playing some shows together this February in NJ, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. More info here. Gel also have dates with the great Taking Meds in February, and those happen in Philly, Syracuse, Holyoke, and Amityville. More info here.

MAN ON MAN

MAN ON MAN (M.O.M.), aka Roddy Bottum and Joey Holman, were supposed to start their tour on Wednesday at Brooklyn’s Saint Vitus, but with Omicron still raging, they’ve rescheduled the first part of the tour for April. The Brooklyn show is now happening on 4/12 at Saint Vitus, with stops in Richmond, DC, Durham, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, and New Orleans. Shows in Nashville and New Orleans will be announced soon. Before that, they’ll be on tour around SXSW, including shows in San Francisco, Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and more. All dates are here.

HAMILTON LEITHAUSER CAFE CARLYLE RESIDENCY

As he’s done before, Hamilton Leithauser is making good use of his wardrobe full of suits by playing a residency at NYC supper club Cafe Carlyle. There are 10 shows between March 15 and March 26 and tickets are on sale.

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GOOSE

Goose have a full tour schedule for the first half of 2022, including West Coast dates this month and February, and East Coast dates in March. They’ve also just announced a big NYC show happening June 25 at Radio City Music Hall. Head here for all dates and listen to their new song “Borne” below:

MUDHONEY / MEAT PUPPETS

Grunge and punk greats Mudhoney are currently working on their 11th studio album, and they’re hitting the road this spring, including dates with Meat Puppets.

OSEES

OSEES will be back on the road this fall for a North American tour that has them bringing along San Francisco creepy droners Bronze for the whole tour; post-punk trio Automatic will also join for the West Coast dates.

SLIPKNOT

Slipknot are gearing up for their anticipated seventh album, which Corey Taylor recently confirmed is coming in 2022, but first, they’ve announced their lengthy Knotfest Roadshow 2022 tour. The first leg includes support from fellow alternative metal bands In This Moment and Jinjer, while the second leg features hip hop legends Cypress Hill and industrial rap group Ho99o9.

CLUTCH / EYEHATEGOD / THE SWORD

Clutch will be on tour this spring, with the first leg (March 16 - April 10) with Eyehategod and Tigercub, and the second leg (April 27 - May 22) with The Sword and Nate Bergman. All dates are here.

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THAO

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down officially called it quits last year, but Thao continues as a solo artist, and she’s just announced a spring tour with her solo band.

AMBER MARK

Amber Mark has expanded her 2022 tour and has added two more Brooklyn shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 21 and 24. (The 5/20 MHOW show is sold out.) Head here for all dates.

WHEN WE WERE YOUNG FESTIVAL

The 2017 California festival When We Were Young has returned, and moved to Las Vegas, and has a very Hot Topic lineup that includes My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Avril Lavigne, Bright Eyes, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, Glassjaw, Manchester Orchestra, Thursday, Alkaline Trio, and many more.

JAWBREAKER

Jawbreaker will take Dear You on a 25th anniversary tour. (The 1995 LP turned 20 in 2020, the year all concerts were cancelled, and as the band says, “The last two years don’t count.”) The tour includes two-night stands in NYC, San Francisco, and Chicago, as well as individual nights in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and Denver, and Jawbreaker have lined up an amazing cast of openers, varying by date: the similarly named Jawbox (who also just announced their own headlining tour, including a 3-night residency in NYC), Built to Spill, Descendents, Smoking Popes, Face to Face, Best Coast, Team Dresch, The Linda Lindas, and Worriers.

JAWBOX

In addition to dates with Jawbreaker, the similarly named Jawbox will play a couple headlining shows in March, followed by more headlining shows in July.

THE HEAD AND THE HEART

The Head and The Heart have announced the “Every Shade of Blue Tour” that kicks off May 20 in St Petersburg, FL, and will have Shakey Graves, Dawes and Jade Bird joining at select shows along the way. The tour includes an NYC show at The Rooftop at Pier 17 on June 6 (w/ Jade Bird) and a Los Angeles show at The Greek on August 20 (with Dawes). All dates are here:

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FITZ & THE TANTRUMS / ST. PAUL & THE BROKEN BONES

Fitz & The Tantrums will be on a co-headlining tour this June with St. Paul & The Broken Bones, with Seratones on the first half and Devon Gilfillian on the latter half. Dates include NYC-area shows at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony Summer Stage on 6/11 and Canandaigua’s CMAC on 6/14. Head here for the full tour schedule.

FUTURE ISLANDS

Future Islands are set to kick off their 2022 on the road next month, with dates in Europe, the UK, Canada, and the US. They’ve just added some NYC shows.

ANIMALS AS LEADERS

Instrumental trio Animals as Leaders will be on tour this spring, playing two sets every night, including playing their new album Parrhesia in full. Stops include NYC’s Irving Plaza on April 10 and L.A.’s Theatre at Ace Hotel on April 22. All dates are here. Parrhesia is out March 25 and you can check out a track:

HIGHER POWER (OPENING FOR BOSTON MANOR)

UK grungy hardcore band Higher Power are gearing up for their anticipated new album, which will feature recent single “Fall From Grace,” and while most details on that are still TBA, they did just announce a return to North America. They’ll open Boston Manor’s April/May tour, which also includes Trash Boat.

THE CHURCH

The Church are one of the many great ’80s alternative bands lined up for L.A.’s Cruel World Festival in May. Ahead of that, the band will tour.

RENATA ZEIGUER

Brooklyn musician Renata Zeiguer has announced a new album, Picnic in the Dark, which will be out April 8 via Northern Spy, and she’ll be on tour with Summer Salt around the same time.

KING HANNAH

UK band King Hannah will release their debut album in February and will be in NYC and Austin for SXSW in March, and they’ve also just announced a proper North American tour to follow.

10 of the Biggest Reasons Rock + Metal Bands Broke Up

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Being in a band can be as grating as it is gratifying.

From lackluster record sales and other industry hurdles to unsatisfying creative choices and interpersonal conflicts, there’s only so much turmoil a group of people can take. Eventually, at least one member might just feel the need to end things and move on.

As the following 10 picks prove, not even the greatest acts are immune from such consequences. Whether due to conventional causes or something more atypical, staying together was simply not in the cards for them (well, at least for a time, as a few eventually reunited).

10 of the Biggest Reasons Rock + Metal Bands Broke Up

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These days, Delray Beach has no shortage of exciting new hotspots to add to the fun vibrancy of “Florida’s Village by the Sea.” Its latest addition, THRōW Social, is a cool place for adults to socialize, play elevated games (such as axe throwing and ping pong to name a few), and sip on refreshing cocktails that make you feel as if you’re actually away on vacation; a nice reprieve from the day-to-day hustle and bustle.

THRōW Social is the talk of the town, and because I very much enjoyed experiencing what it has to offer, I wanted to meet the mastermind behind this concept. Meet Ginger Flesher-Sonnier, a mathematician turned Owner and CEO of The Ginger Companies, pioneering experiential entertainment with brands Escape Room Live, Kick Axe Throwing, and most recently THRōW Social. To say that Flesher-Sonnier is impressive is an understatement. She is so laser focused with an eye for detail, it’s no wonder that her favorite life motto is “Don’t do anything halfway.”

Tell us a bit about your background before pioneering experiential entertainment concepts.

I was a high school math teacher (Honors Precalculus, Calculus, and AP Statistics), Department Chair and Mathletes coach for twenty years. I was also a puzzle fiend and closet interior designer for my friends and family. I raised one amazing daughter who graduated from the Brown University/RISD Dual Degree Program, who lives and works in NYC now. She is my biggest accomplishment!

At what point did you have the ‘ah-ha’ moment to take a leap of faith and completely pivot into the entrepreneurial world?

I was able to travel with my retired Green Beret husband to Europe on one of his contractor assignments and discovered these amazing things called Escape Rooms. They hit all my loves: puzzles, creating amazing, immersive spaces and fun experiences. I immediately thought about how I could improve on what I was seeing. None of the venues we visited–in Prague, Paris, Germany–had a woman’s touch or lobby space for private events. Many of them required folks to crawl on the ground or move furniture. I wanted to create a boutiques space perfect for birthdays & corporate events; 8-year-olds and 65-year-olds alike. And of course, with a full bar. Over the next few years, I designed fourteen rooms in three locations in the DC Metro area, including Georgetown and Old Town Alexandria.

How did the overall concept for THRōW come about?

I had also created an Axe Throwing brand, Kick Axe Throwing. The first was in NYC, then Philly and D.C., which had a cozy, Canadian Lodge theme, so I wanted to create something more on the feminine side that incorporated multiple activities, not just focusing on one. I love the Palm Beach vibe and decided to create that kind of ambiance.

Your first location is D.C. and now Delray Beach, two completely different places and vibes. So… why Delray?

Delray is the perfect place for this concept and we were lucky enough to find this space with the largest outdoor patio in Delray. It was an amazing bonus that it had a stage because one of the things I love most is live music.

Live music seems to play an important role for this venue. What genres can guests expect to hear at THRōW Social?

We are hosting mostly cover bands that can play a little bit of everything to cater to the crowd. Some of them have great followings and were my personal favorites before we even got the space. Having songs that people can sing along to & dance to are important to me.

Even before moving down to this area, your decor was inspired by “1960s retro Palm Beach life.” What is it that drew you to that aesthetic and particular time frame as you designed the space yourself?

I love the crisp aesthetic of the black-and-white cabana stripes softened with palm leaves and pink flamingos. I love the mental space you immerse yourself in when you are on vacation and wanted to recreate that feeling the moment you walk through the door. Of course, taking people to a time in the past that seemed so much simpler removes some of the modern day pressures that force you to stay in constant connection to your devices.

What does the flamingo represent?

Flocking beautiful, friendly Florida! It’s at once iconic and kitschy.

Your menu looks delicious with some fabulous cocktails to enjoy. How was the drink menu curated?

I love the fruity tropical cocktails! There is nothing like a Watermelon “Throjito” to get you in the relaxed mindset. All of our craft cocktails are kitschy and delicious, and our food has a Polynesian inspiration.

Opening during a pandemic must have been difficult. What has been your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge has been the supply chain issues for equipment and furnishings. It has been so difficult to get what you want and need, that compromises have had to been made at all levels and it continues. Hiring has not been easy either, but luckily we have an exciting brand that people love to be a part of.

What do you hope the future holds for your business? More locations?

We are definitely looking at more locations all along the coast of South Florida. No locations are specified as of yet.

What is the best advice you’ve received in business?

Delegate. It’s also the hardest to follow!

Lastly, what’s your favorite quote/life motto?

Work hard, play hard. Don’t do anything halfway.

Space Of Variations Reveals New Album Details

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Space Of Variations Reveals New Album “Imago” Details; Shares New Music Video “Someone Else”

Unstoppable Ukrainian ultra-modern metalcore unit Space Of Variations have made a name for themselves in the international scene, but now take it to the absolute next level with their upcoming in-your-face full-length, “Imago,” officially set for release on March 18, 2022 via Napalm Records.

“Imago” seamlessly mixes gut-punching hardcore riffs and catastrophic breakdowns with colorful electronics, brutalizing vocals and, at times, trance-like synth – exploring elements of djent, hip-hop and even hyperpop influence along the way. The album’s addictively erratic, emotive atmosphere echoes their spontaneous live performance; having previously toured with modern metal giants Jinjer, the four-piece relentlessly smashed European stages while captivating each listener with futuristic stylings reverberating the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Norma Jean and LANDMVRKS.

Today, the band steps up their game with hard-hitting first single “Someone Else” –

loaded with aggressive screams, charging transitions and synth elements that leave no room for rest, the track delivers a promising glimpse of what fans can expect from the new album. Keep an eye on this futuristic metal monster!

Space Of Variations on “Someone Else”:

“The ‘Someone Else’ video is a metaphor. It talks about individualism, talks about the originality of every one of us as human creations. Talks about how we all involved to social life. And how sometimes it feels like a pain. To play a role, and not being your real self is suffering. This video shows how a faceless crowd tries to destroy the individuality of a main character, tries to kill him, and tries to make him looks the same as they are.

“In this song, the character goes through stages of acceptance, realizing the facets of all the beautiful and terrible he has inside. Paradoxically, an internal puzzle becomes complete only through disassembling oneself. Acceptance of reality, no matter how good or bad it is, is sobering. This is IMAGO.

“Just keep your inner fire burning hot.”

Following their 2019 Napalm Records debut, the “XXXXX” EP, an unbridled Space Of Variations breaks new ground and transcends all expectations with their exciting and undeniably fresh second studio album “Imago.”

Furiously crashing opener “Someone Else” sets free the uncompromising spirit of Space Of Variations – instantly breaking down genres and placing a forceful exclamation mark at the start with smashing instrumentation and a feverish vocal and lyrical assault by Dmytro Kozhukhar and Olexii Zatserkovnyi. Devastatingly heavy “1M Followers” takes no prisoners from the first second and features a hefty appearance from former Asking Alexandria vocalist Denis Stoff, resulting in a fearless, addictive metalcore banger. Tracks like eponymous “Imago” and intense mid-tempo “Serial Killer” emphasize the multifaceted nature of Space Of Variations with sporadically scaled-back instrumentation and emotion turned to 10. On the contrary, previously released penultimate post-hardcore dystopia “Ultrabeat” delivers bone-crushing beats and is by far no stranger to the band’s devotees. Closing with an insane verse from Ukrainian rap sensation Alyona Alyona, the track undeniably marks a milestone in the unit’s soon-to-be revered history while representing the seething desire to expand all limits of songwriting and creativity. This mindset embodies Space Of Variations and their sonically boggling ode to the future, “Imago.”

Space Of Variations on “Imago”:

“The main symbolism of the album is hidden in its title - Imago. In entomology, imago is the last stage an insect attains during its metamorphosis. In psychology, it’s one of the fundamental concepts, an unconscious mental image a person has of himself, other objects of reality and his blood ties through the prism of his perception. As an insect breaks through the shell of a chrysalis to free itself from the protective cocoon surrounding it, you, too, through inner transformation can really become the new being, which, in fact, you were always meant to be. Imago = new stage, Imago = maturation.

“Only in retrospect can one see the imago, which was previously hidden in the shadows. The future is being prepared in the bosom of the past and the present. Imago is the most complete convergence with yourself that can only happen. With this album, Space Of Variations are definitely moving to a new round of self-development as a creative organism.”