A UNIQUE experience is landing in Redditch this month to celebrate the town’s connection to the iconic John Bonham.
John ‘Bonzo’ Bonham called the town his home and a bronze statue of the drummer was installed in Mercian Square in the town centre on his 70th birthday.
A cutting-edge immersive tribute is coming to town, thanks to a collaboration between Rediscover North East Worcestershire (ReNEW), Birmingham Music Archive and Birmingham Open Media.
Using motion capture technology, drummer and producer of The Genius of John Bonham show Matt Green, was filmed performing three of John Bonham’s drum sequences from Led Zeppelin tracks: Rock and Roll, Good Times, Bad Times, and Immigrant Song.
The footage was then synched with a digital avatar of John in his signature 70s pose which was then animated.
Residents and visitors will be able scan the project QR code, watch the statue come to life and explore the sights and stories that shaped Bonham’s life.
The experience will be unveiled to the public next Friday, March 14.
The statue is thought to be the only statue of a drummer in the world and there will be the opportunity to watch Palace Drum Clinic’s Matt Green perform his acclaimed show, The Genius of John Bonham, on March 15 and 16 at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm at Redditch Library.
Redditch Borough Council portfolio holder for leisure and culture, Coun Juliet Barker Smith, said: “John Bonham is revered by some of the greatest drummers across history.
“Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Taylor Hawkins amongst many others, have all cited him as a primary influence and even Dave Grohl has said ‘no one gets close to him’.
“So, his connection to Redditch is a matter of great pride. To see his statue ‘come alive’ via this new immersive and cutting-edge project is a really exciting prospect.
“Residents will be able to get involved and immerse themselves in the history of Bonham in Redditch, showcasing our town to music lovers everywhere. I can’t wait.”
Council leader, Coun Joe Baker, added: “This is a fresh project for the town, building on the previous successes of the ReNEW project to bring you their latest collaborative cutting edge experience.”
Visit rediscovernew.co.uk/john-bonham or email r[email protected] for more information.
