Forty-five years ago today, the remaining members of Led Zeppelin were together for the last time. This time, unfortunately, it wasn’t on stage, but to honor their bandmate. On October 10, 1980, family, friends and bandmates gathered at Rushock Parish Church in Worcestershire, England, for the funeral of drummer John Bonham, whose sudden death two weeks earlier had brought the band’s reign to an abrupt and devastating end.
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John Bonham’s Final Days
Bonham died on September 25, 1980, at just 32 years old, after a day of rehearsals for Zeppelin’s upcoming U.S. tour. He had been drinking heavily during rehearsals and had an estimated 40 shots of vodka over 24 hours. The next morning Led Zeppelin’s tour manager, Benji Le Fevre, and bassist John Paul Jones found him unresponsive. The coroner eventually ruled his death accidental as a result of choking in his sleep.
His death shocked the music world. There had been no warning that the powerhouse drummer was gone.
That day in October, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Jones joined Bonham’s family to say their final goodbyes. The private service was followed by his cremation at Worcester Crematorium, and his ashes were later buried in the Rushock churchyard, which was close to his home.
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The End of an Era
Bonham’s funeral marked the loss of a friend and the end of Led Zeppelin itself. A little over two months later, the surviving members issued a statement and confirmed that the band would not continue without him.
“We wish it to be known, that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were,” the group said in an official press release on December 4, 1980.
By that point, Zeppelin had already left their mark on the world of music with eight studio albums, hundreds of sold-out shows and a distinct sound that would help shape rock for decades.
A Legacy That Still Resonates
Today, Bonham’s influence can be heard across a wide range of genres, from modern metal to arena pop. His technique has been studied, sampled and idolized by generations who weren’t even alive when Zeppelin was at its peak. When the service ended, so did an era, and Led Zeppelin’s sound was finished.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 10, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.