Jason Bonham was taken aback by his recent departure from Sammy Hagar‘s band ahead of the “The Best Of All Worlds” tour. The veteran drummer, following in the footsteps of his iconic father, John Bonham of LED ZEPPELIN, had actively participated in the U.S. leg of the tour, primarily dedicated to honoring the legacy of Van Halen.
However, a pressing family matter forced Bonham to withdraw from the final four shows of the U.S. leg. Kenny Aronoff, a seasoned musician and former member of CHICKENFOOT alongside Hagar, Michael Anthony, and Joe Satriani, stepped in to fill the drumming role.
A few days ago, Bonham announced that he would not be involved in the upcoming “The Best Of All Worlds” shows. Responding to a fan’s question on social media, Bonham explained, “Sammy has decided to carry on with Kenny.”
And now in a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Bonham said: “I was trying to answer fans, really, because they were asking me, ‘Why aren’t you involved with the new thing they’re recording?’ and saying, ‘Aren’t you gonna do it again?’ ‘I was let go, so, no.’ Sammy rang me awhile ago. He was asking about my mom, but then he said, ‘Y’know, I’m not gonna do much next year,’ blah, blah blah, ‘and I’m gonna go with Kenny.’ I was a little shocked, I must say. I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him.”
“Listen, I love the guy to bits,” Jason continued. “I don’t wish him any ill. I still speak to him. Honestly, the guy has taught me so much — about business, being positive. I’m an English guy; I can be really negative half the time. Even if the sun is shining, ‘but it could rain.’ He really helped me in that aspect big-time, and business sense and never taking no for an answer, always believing in yourself.
“So, yeah, I had a great 10 years. He allowed me to always do what I wanted to do. When my thing would get busy he always gave me the space. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Earlier this month, Jason Bonham explained his absence from the final shows of the “The Best Of All Worlds” tour on social media. He wrote: “I wanted to take a moment to explain my absence over the past few weeks. As many of you know, my mother has been facing some serious health issues, and it’s been an incredibly challenging time for our family. I’m grateful to share that she’s on the mend and has been discharged from the hospital! She’s now home and recovering, which brings me immense relief.
“It was truly difficult to step away from ‘The Best Of All Worlds’ tour with only four shows left. The energy, the connections, and the experiences were nothing short of incredible, but my priority had to be with my mother during her fight for life.
“I’m excited to announce that JBLZE [JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING] will be back on tour starting November 19th! I can’t wait to see all of you and share this journey together once more.
“Thank you for your understanding and love. See you soon!
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.