July 12, 2010 16:22

Jason Bonham: 'We came real close to reforming Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant'

Drummer said the band worked on material for a year

Ex-Led Zeppelin drummer Jason Bonham has revealed that the band came "real close" to reforming the band without frontman Robert Plant.

The sticksman, who is the son of late Led Zep star John Bonham, said the remaining former members, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, had worked on material for a year with a view to hitting the road before the reunion was shelved.

"I think basically, they agreed to disagree," Bonham told MusicRadar. "After a while, it was just time to move on. We did a year of writing and putting stuff together. I loved working with Jimmy and John Paul. It was so much fun."

Despite plans to draft in a replacement singer, Bonham ruled out Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy being in the frame.

"Somebody else was involved – and that's all I'll say," he added. "But as I said, I loved the time we had together. I can't even explain it, it was just great."

His comments come after bassist John Paul Jones said the project "fell by the wayside" after he went on to form Them Crooked Vultures with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme.

Bonham stepped in for his late father when the remaining members reformed for a one-off gig at London's O2 Arena at the end of 2007 in aid of Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun.