Music fans at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, rang in the New Year with a rock-and-roll celebration to remember. Jason Bonham, son of the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, joined Billy Joel onstage during Joel’s New Year’s Eve concert to perform the Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love”—a surprise that thrilled the crowd and paid tribute to rock history.
A Rock Legacy Continues
Before launching into the iconic track, Joel teased the audience.
“We’re going to bring a guest onstage and do this next song,” Joel announced. “We have fun playing this, especially with this guy. Please welcome Jason Bonham. You all know this song. It’s not a piano song.”
Bonham’s performance with Joel was a highlight of the night, showcasing his powerful drumming and keeping the Zeppelin legacy alive. Fans were treated to the explosive energy of a song that continues to define rock music decades after its release.
Honoring His Father’s Legacy
Bonham, who opened the concert with his band JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING, has spent years honoring his father’s musical impact. Initially known as JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE, the group later rebranded to its current name following a request from Led Zeppelin’s camp to reserve the word “Experience” for archival projects.
Launched in 2009, Bonham’s tribute band celebrates Zeppelin’s timeless catalog, blending live performances with personal stories about his father.
“You guys all knew him as Bonzo; I knew him as Dad,” Bonham said in a 2017 interview. “It’s about love for Led Zeppelin, and that’s how it’s grown—as a very honest, natural, fan-based show.”
From O2 Arena to Global Tours
Bonham first stepped into his father’s legendary role during Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion performance at London’s O2 Arena, honoring Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun. That performance, immortalized in the 2012 concert film “Celebration Day,” cemented Bonham’s reputation as a worthy heir to his father’s drumming throne.
Since then, JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING has taken the show on the road, performing Zeppelin’s greatest hits along with lesser-known tracks.
“We’re not Led Zeppelin. We are fans,” Bonham said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “We love the music. We give it 150 percent energy and time to make it as good as we can.”
A Setlist for True Zeppelin Fans
Bonham’s band delves deep into Zeppelin’s catalog, blending chart-topping hits like “Stairway to Heaven” and “Kashmir” with hidden gems such as “Friends”, “Achilles Last Stand”, and “Dancing Days”. The performances also include tracks that Zeppelin never played live, making the setlist a dream for die-hard fans.
“The hardest thing is picking the songs,” Bonham admitted. “There are so many deep cuts people love hearing. It’s one of the most fun things I get to do.”
A Night to Remember
The New Year’s Eve collaboration with Billy Joel wasn’t just a performance—it was a celebration of rock-and-roll’s enduring legacy. Joel, whose own catalog of hits has stood the test of time, provided the perfect platform for Bonham to continue honoring his father’s influence while electrifying new generations of fans.
For Bonham, it was yet another opportunity to share his love for Zeppelin’s music. And for the audience, it was a reminder that some classics never fade—they only get louder.
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