MIKE PORTNOY To Co-Host Bonzo Bash 2014
January 18, 2014, 10 years ago
Drummer MIKE PORTNOY (THE WINERY DOGS, ex-DREAM THEATER) has issued the following announcement:
"I am honored to not only be playing the Bonzo Bash for the fourth time, but to have been promoted to co-host along with CARMINE APPICE and BRIAN TICHY!"Bonzo Bash NAMM Jamm 2014 - "The Ultimate Celebration To The Ultimate Drummer - John Henry Bonham Of LED ZEPPELIN", is scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd at The Observatory, in Santa Ana, CA
Tichy/Sutton Production's Brian Thomas Tichy states: "You can have a bash, or you can bash something. When you put that together you have the ultimate celebration to the ultimate drummer: John Henry Bonham!!!!"
The complete press release follows:
Bonzo Bash is back! We said in the beginning, before we knew what the future would bring; "It's always a good time for a Bonzo Bash!" Bonzo Bash is the "celebration show" that John Bonham freak/worshiper/drum lifer Brian Thomas Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER, OZZY OSBOURNE, BILLY IDOL) put together to pay tribute to the one and only drummer he has never stopped listening to and being inspired by since he was 10 years old!
One day in 2010, Tichy thought it would be a pretty simple and cool idea to put an amber acrylic replica drum kit at the front of the stage and one by one, have some of the world's best drummers pick their favorite Led Zeppelin songs and have a house band of buddies (dubbed THE MOBY DICKS) perform these songs with these drummers. Tichy told this idea to promoter bud Joe Sutton (another Bonham/Zeppelin freak) who loved it and happened to have the exact night on hold at Key Club in West Hollywood. This was the 30th anniversary of the passing of John Bonham (Sept. 25th, 2010.) Called Bonzo: The Groove Remains The Same, it brought together 20 drummers on one kit celebrating the man, John Bonham, who continues to prove to be without a doubt the most influential drummer in all of rock 'n roll! The night was attended not only by world class drummers Chad Smith, Kenny Aronoff, Danny Carey, Abe Laboriel Jr., Steven Adler and many others, but also by the Bonham family including son Jason, daughter Zoe, sister Deborah (all of whom performed in the show) and wife Pat! A magical event is an understatement and it has been likened to a rhythmic wildebeest crossing without the crocs!
The night and the pace of the celebration is like no other. The music of Led Zeppelin is some of the most popular in the world so every song goes over amazingly. The anticipation of which drummer will play next and which song they will choose keeps the audiences interest all the way up to final percussion jam where every drummer is on stage with percussion in hand as they all take turns for a last go-round on the kit!
The celebration includes the element of spontaneity ensconced in a well-prepared, organized backyard party! Anything can happen and it's encouraged! Much like a Led Zeppelin concert as no two were ever the same. Drummers take chances, the band retains up to 5 hours of Zep tunes, unique arrangements, intros and endings, and high fives are thrown all over the stage after every song! The Moby Dicks are as much fans of Bonzo, Zeppelin and of the drummers who take the stage that the energy coming off the stage is undeniable and felt to the back of the venues every time!
So, with that said, having 8 Bonzo Bashes under their belts, over 70 drummers, 40 special guests, and about 170 performances in total, Tichy, Sutton, Production Coordinator Noelle Kim and The Moby Dicks get ready to throw down what will unquestionably be the biggest, best Bonzo Bash yet! Get there early for a night of non- stop Bonzoisms and rhythmic madness!!
Who's performing?? 29 drummers so far!
Seven Antonopolous (OPIATE FOR THE MASSES)
Carmine Appice (CACTUS, VANILLA FUDGE)
Kenny Aronoff (JOHN FOGERTY, SMASHING PUMPKINS)
Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT)
Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX)
Will Calhoun (LIVING COLOUR)
Michael Cartellone (LYNYRD SKYNYRD)
Fred Coury (CINDERELLA)
Jimmy D'Anda
John Hummel
Brandon Kachel (BARARIAN OVERLORDS)
James Kottak (SCORPIONS)
Ray Luzier (KORN)
Khurt Maier (SALTY DOG)
Xavier Muriel (BUCKCHERRY)
A.J. Pero (TWISTED SISTER)
Stephen Perkins (JANE'S ADDICTION)
Mike Portnoy (THE WINERY DOGS, DREAM THEATER)
Van Romaine (STEVE MORSE)
Bobby Rondinelli (RAINBOW, BLACK SABBATH)
Rikki Rockett (POISON)
Chris Slade (THE FIRM, AC/DC)
Glen Sobel (ALICE COOPER)
Jason Sutter (MARILYN MANSON, CHRIS CORNELL)
Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY)
Chad Szeliga (BLACK LABEL SOCITY)
Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER, BILLY IDOL, S.U.N.)
Joe Travers (ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPY)
Steven Wolf (AVRIL LAVIGNE)
Simon Wright (AC/DC, DIO, QUEENSRŸCHE)
The Moby Dicks are: Brent Woods (guitar), Chas West (vocals), Dorian Heartsong (bass), Stephen LeBlanc (keys), Brian Tichy (guitar).
When: Thursday, Janaury 23rd, 2014 Doors at 6 PM.
Where: The Observatory, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, CA
Tickets can be purchased here. Please visit this location for all things Bonzo Bash.