Legendary drummer Carmine Appice recently addressed long-standing rumors about tension between himself and Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. He clarified his perspective in an interview shared on Music Radar.
Appice acknowledged that he noticed Bonham’s influence on his drumming style early on. He remained cautious about publicly discussing it, though books have since documented Bonham’s admiration for his work and confirmed a clear musical connection between the two drummers.
“I did notice it then, but for a long time I couldn’t say that, you know? I couldn’t because everybody would have thought I was an egomaniac! But then, there’s been some books released that talk about how John was raving about me to Cozy Powell. So there was definitely some influence there,” Appice said.
The drummer emphasized his understanding of his own legacy. He acknowledged Bonham’s fame with Led Zeppelin while pointing to specific musical similarities as evidence of the influence.
“John Bonham went on to become one of the most famous rock drummers because of Led Zeppelin. But I know my place in rock history. I know what I started. I know who listened to me. I could tell,” he stated. “I never talked to him, but he knew. I’m sure he knew because if you listen to the end of ‘Shotgun’ and the end of ‘Rock And Roll,’ it’s almost the same thing. He’s playing my riffs, you know? But it’s cool – because it’s not the only time that it’s happened to me.”
Appice dismissed internet rumors suggesting animosity between them. He firmly denied claims that he harbors resentment toward Bonham.
“Oh, there have been so many stupid things on the Internet. I saw one thing about the supposed five drummers that I hate the most – it’s ridiculous! I’ve seen people say that I hate John Bonham because he stole my stuff. Yeah, right! I don’t hate anyone!” he concluded.
Appice’s influence on Bonham and rock drumming extends far beyond simple admiration. Modern Drummer notes that Appice was a pioneer in heavy rock drumming, using oversized drums and a forceful playing style to project sound before modern amplification became standard. This innovative approach set a new standard for the sound that would later be emulated by Bonham and countless other rock drummers.
The connection between the two drummers was more personal than many realize. Blabbermouth reported that Bonham was a fan of Appice’s drum sets and drum spins. He even attended Appice’s drum clinics and acknowledged getting ideas from Appice’s recordings while admiring his style, demonstrating a genuine respect that went beyond casual influence.
Appice’s work with Vanilla Fudge in the late 1960s proved groundbreaking in establishing the heavy, powerful drumming style that would define rock music. Far Out Magazine highlighted that Appice helped popularize the use of a big bass drum and a hard-hitting, fat drum sound that became a hallmark of rock drumming in the late 60s and 70s. His fusion of jazz influences—shared with Bonham through drummers like Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich—into a hard rock context reportedly shaped Bonham’s iconic sound.
The triplet bass drum pattern that became synonymous with Bonham’s playing, particularly on Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times,” drew directly from Appice’s earlier innovations. This technical similarity underscores Appice’s assertion that the influence was undeniable and mutual, rooted in genuine artistic respect rather than any form of rivalry or resentment.
