On 24 September 1980, Led Zeppelin’s drummer, John Bonham, was picked up by the band’s assistant, Rex King, to join the others for rehearsals at Bray Studios, where they were preparing for their long-awaited North American tour set to begin on 17 October in Montreal. It was to be their first tour since 1977. On the way, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he drank four quadruple vodka screwdrivers—16 shots in total. The day passed with Bonham continuing to drink heavily as they rehearsed. That night, they all headed back to Jimmy Page’s home, the Old Mill House in Windsor. Sometime after midnight, Bonham, exhausted and deeply inebriated, fell asleep. A friend helped him to bed and placed him on his side. But by the following afternoon, when bassist John Paul Jones and tour manager Benji LeFevre checked on him, Bonham was unresponsive. At only 32 years old, John Bonham was gone. An inquest held on 27 October revealed the heartbreaking details: Bonham had consumed nearly 40 shots of vodka within 24 hours, a staggering amount that ultimately caused him to choke on his own vomit—a tragic condition called pulmonary aspiration. It was ruled an accidental death, and the post-mortem confirmed no other recreational drugs in his system. Rolling Stone reported that Bonham, who had recently managed to overcome a battle with heroin addiction, was taking medication for anxiety and depression at the time, an all-too-common struggle for musicians of his era. But despite these personal battles, Bonham had returned to his music with renewed dedication—a comeback that would, heartbreakingly, never be realized

**The Final Day of John Bonham: A Tragic End to Led Zeppelin’s Thunderous Heartbeat**

On 24 September 1980, John Bonham—Led Zeppelin’s powerhouse drummer—was picked up by assistant Rex King to join the band for rehearsals at Bray Studios. Excitement was building for their first North American tour in three years, set to kick off on 17 October in Montreal. But the day would take a tragic turn.

On the way to rehearsal, Bonham stopped for breakfast and downed four quadruple vodka screwdrivers—16 shots of alcohol before noon. The drinking continued throughout the day as the band rehearsed. That night, they returned to Jimmy Page’s home, the Old Mill House in Windsor. Bonham, by then severely intoxicated and exhausted, was helped to bed and carefully placed on his side by a friend. But by the following afternoon, when John Paul Jones and tour manager Benji LeFevre checked on him, it was too late. Bonham was unresponsive. At just 32 years old, the thunder behind Led Zeppelin was gone.

An inquest on 27 October revealed the devastating truth: Bonham had consumed the equivalent of nearly 40 shots of vodka in less than 24 hours. The cause of death was pulmonary aspiration—choking on his own vomit while unconscious. It was ruled accidental. No recreational drugs were found in his system.

Bonham had recently overcome heroin addiction and was reportedly taking medication for anxiety and depression, a silent battle shared by many musicians of that era. Friends noted that despite his struggles, he had returned to his craft with fresh energy, looking forward to the tour and the future of the band.

That future, tragically, ended with him. Without Bonham, Led Zeppelin disbanded, declaring they could not continue without their brother. His death wasn’t just the loss of a drummer—it was the silencing of one of rock’s most powerful, irreplaceab

le voices.