Ultimate Classic Rock reports:
As he sets out on the latest tour by his Led Zeppelin Evening, Jason Bonham is “a little sad” – but not angry – about losing his spot in Sammy Hagar‘s band.
Answering a fan’s social media question a few days ago, Bonham revealed that his 10-year tenure with The Circle and last year’s Best of All Worlds tour band had come to an end.
“Sammy has decided to carry on with Kenny,” Bonham wrote, referring to Kenny Aronoff, who filled in during the four Best of All Worlds shows in August when Bonham rushed to England to help care for his mother, who’d suffered a stroke.
The move reunited the last Chickenfoot touring lineup of Hagar, Aronoff, guitarist Joe Satriani and bassist Michael Anthony (along with keyboardist-guitarist Rai Thistlethwayte). The group, with Aronoff, has been pictured working on new material in the studio, and Bonham says Hagar let him know he’d been replaced not long after the tour’s end.
Speaking to 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.”
Despite the fact that he was fired from Hagar‘s band, Bonham was full of praise for the legendary rocker. “Listen, I love the guy to bits,” Jason said. “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.”
Aronoff replaced Chad Smith in Chickenfoot‘s touring lineup from 2011 to 2012. Smith was forced to step away from Chickenfoot‘s touring activities due to his commitments with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Jason Bonham spent nearly a decade touring as Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience before changing the band’s name to Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.
27 Responses
Hard to understand this move…..maybe Sammy wasn’t happy that Bonham put him in a bad spot trying to replace him when he left?…..not real sure how serious Bonhams Moms health was….I don’t like it…
Bonham‘s mother had a stroke, and as someone, who is sadly, all too familiar with that scenario, it can range from mild to very serious. In my Mother’s case, it rendered her handicapped.
Anyway one slices it, the optics of this, does not look good. Again, I commend Bonham, for how he has handled himself, when being queried about the situation.
I love both drummers – Kenny a little more than Jason – but that was really cold of Sammy – who knows why Sammy did it – other than Sammy.
Dana, sorry to hear about your mother – I too know about this Within a six year period, my mother had 6+strokes and recovered all six times until a heart attack took her to Heaven. Each rehab was hard but my mom was a stubborn Irish woman and got better. It taught me alot – that life is short and worth fighting for. My prayers for you and your mother.
Thank you, Gene,
Sorry, to read about your, Mother.
As for my Mom, she had a brain bleed, as opposed to a clot, and sadly she recovered some, but not enough. Her arm never fully regenerated, and her leg is weak, but she can “walk” very slowly, with a cane. However, not having that arm functioning, is very debilitating.
Pretty weak Sammy
When your 77yo friend/boss/peer says he wants to try something or someone else……you thank him for the opportunity and the company.
Of course there’s bit and pieces we aren’t privy to.
There is no issue with that, the problem is, Bonham’s mother, just had a stroke. Had she not, would he have been fired while out on tour OR would he have been allowed to complete said tour, before Hagar decided to move forward with other projects?
Let me be clear, I have no axe to grind with Hagar, but, the problem is the timing and the optics. It appears as a somewhat heartless. cold, lacking in empathy, and selfish decision.
I am “speaking” from both a public relations POV, and as a human being. Additionally, I would be writing the same exact thing, even if this involved a completely different band with different band members.
the sand which we are in flows through life made of glass…sandwitch with our glass flows…caught up…do we need to make more bread?
Could be that Sammy has a closer relationship with the other guy and just has more fun playing with him in his band. The only thing that bothers me is that this all supposedly occurred in one conversation – checking on Bonham’s mother and then letting him go. That brings into question what his true motive was for calling. However, I would like to hear what Sammy says before throwing him under the bus.