1969 Rock Song That Still Blows Minds Ranked Best Drum Solo of All Time
Moms, let your kiddos bang on every dang thang. They could end up onstage, blowing minds like Led Zeppelin's John "Bonzo" Bonham.
A masterful drummer rooted in big band and jazz, Bonzo is widely considered unmatched in stamina, power, and dynamics. But there's one song in particular that really lets his virtuosity shine, and it's just been ranked the best drum solo of all time by multipleoutlets.
"Moby Dick," the seventh track on the band's 1969 Led Zeppelin II album, is a renowned instrumental, drum-heavy classic. It's a moment when bandmates Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones shift the spotlight over to Bonzo, who then relentlessly bangs out an insane marathon on the snare, toms, and congos for nearly 20 minutes without missing a beat.
"The man who changed rock drumming forever -- no one matches the swagger, speed, or power of John Bonham on 'Moby Dick,'" RadioX writes.
For Led Zeppelin fans in the 1970s, "Moby Dick" was their white whale - the moment everyone came to witness live. Born at the height of the drum solo's golden age, Bonzo's explosive showcase of power, precision, and endurance became the centerpiece of the band's concerts. Perhaps immortalized at their 1970 performance at Royal Albert Hall.
Though the track wasn't released as a single, "Moby Dick" helped propel the band's second studio album to the top spot, handing them their very first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200.
"John Bonham was one of the most legendary drummers of the 20th century," American Songwriter says, adding that the "Moby Dick" drum solo "is really unlike anything" they've heard "before or after. Bonham's energy was boundless, his skill was impressive, and he mastered rhythm in a way that just seemed to come naturally to him."
According to LouderSound, Bonzo's early influences include Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Sandy Nelson, and Latin band leader Edmundo Ros. He used sticks and his hands, but the outlet credits his kick as his greatest strength, with Jimi Hendrix saying Bonzo had "a foot like a rabbit."
"John's style was cutting edge," Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden says, per Louder. "John was really the pioneer of the fast right foot. … He was the drummer's drummer in just the way he looked when he played his kit. The flamboyancy, beautiful dynamics, and the stunning sound. I always think that Keith Moon was like the Gene Krupa of rock and John Bonham was like the Buddy Rich of rock."
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 9:17 AM.