History:
In 1990, their debut album The Disregard of Timekeeping topped the rock airplay charts on the success of the single Wait for You and helped Bonham garner a gold record from the RIAA in 1990. The band toured extensively for two years, but the impact of such early success on its young members caused a great deal of internal friction. After a lengthy tour, Bonham released their second and final album together, Mad Hatter. Jason Bonham then decided to concentrate on session work and writing new music.
In 1994, Jason Bonham reunited with Ian Hatton and John Smithson from his former band, this time featuring new lead vocalist Marti Frederiksen. This new lineup was known as Motherland. They released one album titled Peace 4 Me. Following the abortive Motherland project, Jason put together The Jason Bonham Band, recruiting lead vocalist Chas West, guitarist Tony Catania, and Smithson on bass and keyboards. Their 1997 album When You See the Sun was produced by ex-Motherland lead vocalist Marti Frederiksen and features backing vocals by Jason's aunt Deborah Bonham on the track Turning Back the Time. It was preceded by In the Name of My Father - The Zepset - Live from Electric Ladyland, released by the Bonham / West / Catania / Smithson line-up earlier that same year.
On 16 March 2008, former lead vocalist Daniel MacMaster died at the age of 39 from a Group A streptococcal infection.
Original Bonham vocalist Paul Rafferty, together with fellow Brit Sean Manning, former guitarist for Quiet Riot and Hurricane, released the Led Zeppelin influenced The Exiles album in 1996 under the name Sean Manning & Paul Rafferty. He has since retired from music and become a respected painter based in the South of France, California and London. Rafferty guested with guitarist Joe Bonamassa at several stops during the 2009 The Ballad of John Henry tour, including the Nice Jazz Festival, and again the following year on the Black Rock tour, including the show in Zagreb, Croatia.
Post-Bonham bands and projects:
Bonham appeared in the movies in 2000 as part of the fictitious band Steel Dragon fronted by actor Mark Wahlberg in the film Rock Star (also known as Metal God). His partners in this project were Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde.
Bonham joined American act Healing Sixes in 2000. Healing Sixes was based in Indianapolis, IN. Their Manager Rick Hudnall arranged a two-week tour for them opening for The Jason Bonham Band. That tour was through the Midwest. Hudnall says "I noticed as the tour went on Jason would spend more and more time in the back of the venues watching and listening to Healing Sixes as opening set. That led to an impromptu jam with the band's vocalist Doug Henthorn, guitarist Eric Saylors and bassist Chaz Winzenread. It went so well that about two songs into it Jason asked to join Healing Sixes. Together they went on to record an album Enormosound on Corazong Records. It was recorded at The Hit Factory in New York City and produced by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley. Album cover art was done by Storm Thorgerson.
In 2018, his touring band Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience changed their name to Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening due to a request from the remaining Led Zeppelin members, as they needed the name for their 50th band anniversary in that year.
Bonham started touring under that name back in 2010. Three years earlier, he joined his dad's former bandmates for the briefly reunited group's celebrated appearance at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London. The show was documented on the live Celebration Day DVD and CD.
Since then, he's toured with his band, which performs the music of Led Zeppelin, and played drums with Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson when they performed "Stairway to Heaven" as part of a Led Zeppelin tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. He's also a member of Black Country Communion with former Deep Purple vocalist and bass player Glenn Hughes, guitarist Joe Bonamassa and keyboarder Derek Sherinian as well as the Sammy Hagar & The Circle live band.
Since making his studio debut on When You See the Sun with the Jason Bonham Band, vocalist Chas West has recorded with 3 Legged Dogg and Resurrection Kings, both featuring Vinny Appice of Black Sabbath and Dio fame, Tribe of Gypsies, and Tango Down, and is currently fronting his own band West Bound whose debut album Volume I is slated for an early 2019 release.
West appeared with the new Foreigner, featuring Jason Bonham on drums, at their 25 July 2004 show in Santa Barbara, California, at Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, a benefit for muscular dystrophy, but was subsequently replaced by Kelly Hansen. West has also worked as a touring vocalist with Lynch Mob, Steve Priest's Sweet, Diamond Head, and Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel. He is the vocalist for Los Angeles, California-based Led Zeppelin tribute band, The Moby Dicks, who have appeared at the annual Bonzo Bash festivities.
Just Another Day
Bonham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gray, I'm lost within
All because of life beneath the sky
This city wears me down
No matter how I strive
But I don't care
I wore this day away
Just another day
Just another day
Just another day
I can't resist
Stress surrounds me
When you're next to this
Takes all my time
I work so hard
I can't keep up, no
It's always been this way
Just another day
Just another day
Just another day
Moving fast days
Through the light of day
All the hours I've worked to get me by
Night draws so near
Takes me by surprise
My work is done
I've got to get away
Just another day
Just another day
Just another day
(Another day) just another day
(Another day) just another day
(Another day) just another day
(Another day)
The lyrics of Bonham's song "Just Another Day" depict the struggles of daily life and the feeling of being trapped in a routine. The overall theme of the song is about feeling lost and tired, but still pushing through and persevering. The first few lines of the song talk about feeling lost and grey, insinuating a lack of direction and purpose. The line "All because of life beneath the sky" may suggest that the struggles the singer faces are due to the constraints of the world around them. The city wears the singer down, but they don't care because they wore this day away, indicating that there is a sort of resignation to the hardships they face.
The repetition of "just another day" throughout the song emphasizes the monotonous nature of what the singer is going through. They can't resist the stress that surrounds them and it takes up all their time. They work hard but can't keep up, and it's always been this way. The line "Moving fast days through the light of day" may refer to how the singer's days blur together as they rush through them. They have worked all these hours just to get by, but the end of the day takes them by surprise. Despite having spent so much time working, the singer still feels like they need to get away.
Overall, the song highlights the feeling of being stuck in a routine and going through the motions. The lyrics suggest that daily life can be full of challenges and struggles, but it's important to keep pushing through and persevering.
Line by Line Meaning
This feeling I get
I have an indescribable feeling inside of me
Gray, I'm lost within
I feel lost and empty
All because of life beneath the sky
I feel this way because of the world we live in
This city wears me down
Living in this city exhausts me
No matter how I strive
Even if I try my hardest
But I don't care
I don't care about the outcome
I wore this day away
I spent the day doing something, but it's now over
Just another day
Today was like any other day in my life
I can't resist
I can't avoid this feeling
Stress surrounds me
I am constantly under pressure
When you're next to this
This stress is heightened when you're around
Takes all my time
I spend all of my time on this
I work so hard
I put in so much effort
I can't keep up, no
I can't maintain this pace
It's always been this way
This has been a constant in my life
Moving fast days
The days fly by quickly
Through the light of day
During the daytime
All the hours I've worked to get me by
I have worked so hard just to survive
Night draws so near
The end of the day is approaching
Takes me by surprise
It comes quickly and unexpectedly
My work is done
I have finished my tasks for the day
I've got to get away
I need to escape from this reality
(Another day) just another day
This is a monotonous routine in my life
(Another day) just another day
Another day like any other
(Another day) just another day
Nothing particularly special about today
(Another day)
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.