An application for a statue of John Bonham to be erected in his hometown of Redditch has been formally submitted to Redditch Borough Council.
The application is supported by the Bonham family as well as Warner Music Group. Redditch Borough Council is expected to decide on whether the application will go ahead in a meeting on October 11.
LedZepNews dug out the proposal documents so that we could take a better look at the planned monument.
First of all, here’s where the statue will be located if the application is successful:
The area highlighted with the bold red line is Mercian Square in Redditch town centre.
And here’s what the sculpture, which has been designed by artist Mark Richards, would look like:
Here’s the back of the sculpture:
The memorial would be made out of bronze and covered in anti-graffiti paint. It’s estimated to weigh up to 2,500kg.
The application includes images of a small-scale model of the proposed statue:
The application suggests that a group named “Friends of the John Bonham Memorial” could be set up to help maintain the statue.
Additionally, the proposal suggests that a yearly “Bonham Bash UK” event could be held in Redditch on the weekend closest to Bonham’s May 31 birthday. It sounds similar to the Bonzo Bash event that takes place in the US every year.
Intriguingly, a Warner Music executive has written a letter in support of the statue. Tim Fraser-Harding, who lists his title as “President, Global Catalogue, Recorded Music” said in his letter to Redditch Borough Council that the statue’s unveiling would be part of “a series of high-profile events” held to mark Led Zeppelin’s fiftieth anniversary in 2018.
View the full letter from Fraser-Harding below:
Just very curious why Plant, Page or Jones wouldn’t pay for the whole thing??? Why raise money?? We’re talking muti millions if not billions between those three ? Don’t get me wrong… I’m the biggest Zep fan on earth, I’m just dazed and confused about this fund. Pat, Jason or any affiliation could grant this money as a gift. I’m sure (and I don’t know) of the zoning regulations regarding statues in John Bonham’s home town would be in question. Maybe so…. Just my thought’s! Zeppelin forever!!!!! Your time is gonna come! Ten years gone! For your Life!! 🙂
Bring your band to Johannesburg South Arica. Plenty of Rockers here.
Awesome, best rock band of all time, John bonham, amazing, drummer, perhaps rest of band were not asked, or notified, before going ahead, with planned request, but yes they could, couldn’t they, defo gift, money to fund it, respect, for, legendary geniuses, ?
why not show him punching a woman or pouring drinks over a stewardess, or pissing on his seat,..???
we shouldn’t be celebrating this oaf.
The man was a criminal, who, with money behind him, thought he could do anything and not face the consequenses.
Forget about it . Yes folks Easy now I love the Zep. But what about Moon the Loon .Ginger Baker.Neal Peart. Bonzo was not the only one I sure you know.