While the Tupac hologram that appeared during Snoop Doog and Dr Dre’s set at Coachella 2012, it may have spurred worries that other music icons would be ‘resurrected’ and trundled out for money-making world tours, but the huge costs of the cutting edge tech (which sent ‘Holo-Pac’ makers Digital Domain bankrupt as CNN reported) has meant that holographic resurrections haven’t exactly been a dime a dozen.
Still, it didn’t stop speculation running rife at the thought of who could be digitally recreated from the musical grave. But among the likes of Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, and even Aussie rocker Billy Thorpe (for last year’s Long Way To The Top legacy tour) being bandied about, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham – has remained strictly out of the mix.
Mainly because the surviving Zeppelin lineup themselves – Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones – have been highly protective of John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham’s legacy since his untimely death in 1980 triggered their break-up; the band managing only a few sporadic reunions via the drummer’s own son, Jason Bonham. Most famously in the 2007 London O2 reunion shows that were captured for the concert film Celebration Day.
So it comes as a strange surprise that it is Bonham Junior that has announced news of a ‘holo-Bonham’, telling Legendary Rock Interviews that he is planning on a drumming duet with a hologram version of his late father for an upcoming world tour.
The 46-year-old English drummer currently performs in a live show titled John Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, with part of the performance featuring Jason playing along to video recordings of a solo by his father, and now he wants to take the concept to a new level. “I’m talking to people about holograms, and my dream is to do a drum solo with Dad next to me.” – Jason Bonham
“It’s important to me to have something in addition to the music – that was the whole point of it,” says Bonham Jr. “It’s imperative that I continue putting together the best shows and take it to the next level. I’m talking to people about holograms, and my dream is to do a drum solo with Dad next to me. That’s my goal, my dream.”
First however, he must overcome the hurdle of finding enough video footage to use as a model for a Bonham hologram. “[Led Zeppelin] were operating in the 1970s; it’s not like it is today where everybody can record everything with a phone or digital camera,” says Jason.
“Back in those days, if you had a camera that could record video, you were well off. To edit, work with it, process it and release it was a whole other matter. I’m trying to work with the limited footage I have, to put it together in a way that works and is purposeful,” he says.
While Bonham Jr is doing his best to bring the Led Zeppelin drummer back to the stage in holographic form, the rest of Zeppelin have made it clear that any further reunion shows are unlikely – no matter how high the fan demand or the figures on the cheques no doubt waved at them.
Last year, guitarist Jimmy Page voiced his disappointment at not being able to ‘get the band back together’. “We’re almost five years after the O2 concert and I must say I thought there might be some other get together,” said Page last November, “[but] as the years ticked by, it doesn’t look very likely does it?”
Page, and the band’s countless fans, will have to contend themselves with the recorded Zeppelin discography already available, as the legendary guitarist continues work on remastering the entire back catalogue for a future anniversary re-release.
