DESCRIPTION:
The following is the isolated drum track from Led Zeppelin's "Fool In The Rain" from their last studio album in 1979 recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. Originally located in a former movie theater from 1934 at Sankt Eriksgatan 58-60 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, Polar Studios was founded by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA in 1977 and had its grand opening on May 18 the year after. Led Zeppelin recorded their 1979 studio album, In Through the Out Door, at Polar Studios a few months after its grand opening. Artists such as the Ramones, Rammstein, Roxy Music, Genesis, Adam Ant, Backstreet Boys, Beastie Boys, Belinda Carlisle, Burt Bacharach, Franki, Celine Dion, Roxette, Terra Firma, Entombed, The Hellacopters and many major Swedish artists have worked at Polar Studios.

As much research I did, I could not definitively determine what drums Bonham was using for these recordings. It's hard to say but I would guess he used his Ludwig Blonde Maple kit; it seemed to be a favorite for him in the studio. But by 1979...who knows what they were doing.

I (and other Bonham fans) would love to be able to give credit to Bonham for developing this "shuffle beat" on drums, later influencing Jeff Porcaro's drums in Toto's Rosanna. But the fact is Bonham was a huge fan of Bernard Purdie; undoubtably borrowing the feel from the "Bernard Purdie half time shuffle". It is well known that Bonham also drew influences from drummers like Buddy Rich, and Joe Morrello even going as far as choosing to use a "big band" style drum kit dateing back from the age of Buddy and Gene (Krupa).

Contrary to many critics citing Bonham as a (hand hitting rock drummer) ...and nothing more; nothing could be farther from the truth. As this drum track demostrates Bonham's finesse and feel, this is just one of many examples of Bonham filling his drumming with slight but effective "ghost notes". Not to mention, in an age before click tracks him rock solid timing.
I tried to find images of Zeppelin in the studio, but they are rare to come by. Enjoy.