A gong used in the 1970s by John Bonham has sold in Los Angeles for $64,660.
Specialist Margaret Barrett of the auction house Bonhams and Butterfields confirmed to LedZeppelinNews.com that a buyer who wishes to remain anonymous bought the item yesterday.
The instrument was consigned by John Bonham's sister, singer Deborah Bonham, and their mother, Joan Bonham.
Yesterday's transaction was termed an "after sale" because the instrument did not sell on June 14 when it was part of an Entertainment Memorabilia auction.
It had been expected to fetch upwards of $80,000 and as much as $120,000.
While the instrument's value fell short of these figures, the amount paid for the gong yesterday is still more than double the $30,000 pricetag an anonymous bidder paid in an eBay auction on May 21 for an amplifier Jimmy Page is known to have used frequently between 1971 and 1973.
That amp, a 1971 orange Matamp, was sold by Rutherford Music Exchange in Rutherford, N.J.
Jason Bonham
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Tuesday, July 7, 2009
John Bonham's gong fetches $64,000 in sale to anonymous buyer
About the author
Steve "The Lemon" Sauer is a writer and musician based in Boca Raton, Fla., who has dedicated a portion of his life researching the history of rock group Led Zeppelin and monitoring the ongoing careers of the band's surviving members. Although he was barely a year old when Led Zeppelin broke up and it took him until his teen years to appreciate the music, it didn't take long to make up for it.
In 2007, Steve launched Lemon Squeezings: Led Zeppelin News to cover the lead-up to the band's reunion concert at the end of that year. Since then, he has closely examined every rumor of a followup tour since then, often dispelling or clarifying misinformation perpetrated by the mainstream media. Using his journalistic training, Steve has also uncovered some facts and accounts previously unreported elsewhere.
At age 18, he began publishing On This Day In Led Zeppelin History, a daily newsletter detailing the interactions of members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and their manager, Peter Grant. The newsletter is located at www.OnThisDayInLedZeppelinHistory.com.
He enjoys uncovering stories and has employed various methods to communicate those stories to Led Zeppelin's vast fan base, utilizing terrestrial radio and the many facets of the Internet: from Usenet newsgroups to plain e-mail and now Facebook and Twitter. Steve also connects with live audiences when performing as a backup vocalist and keyboard player with various bands, including past onstage appearances with three cover or tribute acts performing the music of Led Zeppelin.
Do you have a news tip to share with Steve? Do you have something you would like him to write about? Would you like to book him for a speaking engagement? He can be contacted by e-mail at Steve at LedZeppelinNews.com.
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