Why John Bonham ‘Took a Swing’ at Alex Van Halen

When Jason Bonham first met Alex Van Halen, issues didn’t go effectively.

Bonham — who’s presently on tour with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony on the Better of All Worlds tour — recalled the incident throughout a current interview with KSHE 95 (audio under).

“It’s 40 years since I noticed Mike play at Donington,” he mentioned of his go to to the U.Ok. competition in 1984. “My spouse and I went to Donington – Monsters of Rock – AC/DC, Van Halen. And I received to fulfill Alex that day… Leonard [Haze] from Y&T launched me. He got here up – it is a basic – and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, it’s Alex Van Halen!’

“He goes, ‘Hey Leonard!’ [Haze says:] ‘That is Jason Bonham.’ And he goes, ‘So what?’ He simply went, ‘So what?’”

READ MORE: Sammy Hagar Bought ‘No Response’ From Alex Van Halen About New Tour

Years later, Jason grow to be associates with Anthony and requested him why Van Halen might have been so dismissive. “I mentioned, ‘Mikey, why was Alex such a dick?’” the drummer recalled. The bassist instructed it may have been payback for the time Van Halen met Jason’s dad, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

John Bonham’s Indignant Response to Alex Van Halen’s Greeting

Anthony harked again to the second within the late ‘70s when Van Halen had tried to fulfill the elder Bonham. “He goes, ‘Nicely, we heard your dad was in (Sundown Strip bar) the Rainbow, and we have been enjoying Gazzarri’s subsequent door. We type of ran across the Rainbow and tried to say ‘hello’ to him.”

Van Halen was excited to fulfill his idol, however Bonzo did not reciprocate the keenness.

“Alex type of like jumped over the [barrier] and went to place his hand out… And your dad took a swing at him!’” Anthony defined to Jason. “Perhaps that’s why he was slightly pissed!”

Hearken to Jason Bonham’s Interview