S Poddar
Without the in-your-face thumping of John Bonham’s drums, Led Zeppelin’s sound would have been sorely missing a component. As much as Robert Plant’s gravelly voice was Led Zeppelin’s voice, Bonham’s killer drums were what defined the sound. When he died, the record of their tragic death led to the breakup of the band; the decision had been unbearable to tolerate due to the immense grieve they were feeling.
There is enough documentation about the occasion of Bonham’s death, but two and a half months prior to that, his last concert appearance still rings as a great occasion. His audience will remember how he was still bursting with energy to deliver a fabulous performance as he happened to deliver his classic “Whole Lotta Love” at a Berlin ice rink.
Far less attention has gone to Bonham’s last studio work with Led Zeppelin. This was nearly two years prior to his death at Polar Studios, then a brand-new high-tech facility just opened by the ABBA members in Stockholm. While the winter weather was otherwise frozen stiff, outside there was no hesitation on the part of Led Zeppelin in taking up the opportunity to use the fantastic equipment Benny Andersson had installed there. It resulted in their final record to be released in their lifetime: In Through the Out Door.
Over an eight whirlwind days at the end of November 1978, the band laid down 11 rough tracks. Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Robert Plant spent the ensuing two weeks fine-tuning the seven songs that would make up the album, layering them with elaborate overdubs. As always, Bonham’s distinctive drumming drove the arrangements, with much of his original work surviving the final mixes.
But which track is the last one Bonham makes with the band? On November 23, 1978, Led Zeppelin gathered for what would prove to be the last occasion they all recorded together in the same room. On that session, they recorded basic tracks for two pieces, which, in their earlier nomenclature, were “The Epic” and “Blot.” The latter became “Carouselambra” on the side of In Through the Out Door based upon overdubbing and mixing after the first takes.
Of course, these include “I’m Gonna Crawl,” which has the distinction of being the last of the songs Bonham ever recorded. It has a numinous quality to it, really recalling the darker, more atmospheric noises Pink Floyd tried out in mid-1970s. On this, unlike his usual bombast, Bonham is restrained as he provides precisely the right material for the composition while still managing to indulge in inventive flourishes at unexpected turns.
The ending of this song is most certainly one of the most spine-chilling moments ever captured on a Led Zeppelin record: the piercing scream of the plant. The raw emotion gives this intensity an eerie weight, thus evoking desperate foreboding in feelings of gloom. They might not have known they would soon come to the end, but the atmospheres of the song suggest that they knew well that they will part sooner or later.
The enshrinement of Bonham’s legacy, in reflecting upon the final studio moments, is clear that even at the end he was unique. “I’m Gonna Crawl” exemplifies his style of drumming but, at the same time reflects the spirit of the band and thus is worthy enough as a culmination of this great work.
