Statue of John Bonham Unveiled in His Hometown on His Birthday

By Andrew Magnotta

May 31, 2018

Statue of John Bonham Unveiled in His Hometown

Legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham has been posthumously honored by his hometown of Redditch, England, with a massive statue in the center of town. 

The bronze statue depicts Bonham in action at the drum kit. The base of the statue is inspired by Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy album artwork. The front reads: "The most outstanding and original drummer of his time, John Bonham's popularity and influence continue to resonate with the world of music and beyond."

Sculptor Mark Richards wrote via Twitter early Thursday morning that the piece had been installed overnight on May 31, 2018, which would have been Bonham's 70th birthday. Richards and fans shared some photos of the work of art.

Funds for the memorial were raised through a private donations, in campaign that began in 2013 led by Bonham's sister Deborah Bonham.

"I just want to say how absolutely thrilled I am that this is happening in Redditch," Deborah Bonham said following the approval by the town council last fall. "We just got planning permission. We're going to have a John Bonham memorial. Brilliant."

The memorial is be about 5-feet-9-inches tall; 16-feet wide; and 4-feet deep. It reportedly weighs more than 5 tons. 

When a fan Tweeted at Deborah on May 30, asking what cake she would have made for her late brother, Deborah replied by referring to the statue: "A beautiful bronze memorial cake xxx."


Photo: Getty Images

Happy Birthday Dad . He would have been 70 today !!!

A post shared by Jason Bonham (@jasonbonham) on

Led ZeppelinJimmy PageRobert PlantJohn Paul JonesJason Bonham
Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.