Jason Bonham, son of the late legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, recently took part in the U.S. leg of Sammy Hagar’s “The Best of All Worlds” tour – which focused heavily on the music of Hagar’s former band Van Halen.
With four shows left in the tour, Jason was forced to leave due to a family issue and was replaced by drummer Kenny Aronoff (who previously toured with Hagar in Chickenfoot, taking over for Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith) for the remainder of the U.S. tour.
Then, just a few days ago, Bohnam broke the news that he would not be taking part in any of the upcoming “The Best of All World’s” shows, and that he has officially been replaced by Aronoff for good.
“Sammy has decided to carry on with Kenny,” he wrote on social media, answering a fan’s question.
While speaking with Ultimate Classic Rock in a new interview, Bonham opened up a bit more about Hagar’s decision to replace him:
“I was trying to answer fans, really, because they were asking me, ‘Why aren’t you involved with the new thing they’re recording?’ and saying, ‘Aren’t you gonna do it again?’ ‘I was let go, so, no.’ Sammy rang me awhile ago. He was asking about my mom, but then he said, ‘Y’know, I’m not gonna do much next year,’ blah, blah blah, ‘and I’m gonna go with Kenny.’ I was a little shocked, I must say. I’d be lying to you if I wasn’t a little sad, because we were on fire at the end of the tour. And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him.”
But, despite being fired from Hagar’s band, Bonham has nothing but praise for the singer.
“Listen, I love the guy to bits,” he said. “I don’t wish him any ill. I still speak to him. Honestly, the guy has taught me so much — about business, being positive. I’m an English guy; I can be really negative half the time. Even if the sun is shining, ‘but it could rain.’ He really helped me in that aspect big-time, and business sense and never taking no for an answer, always believing in yourself.
“So, yeah, I had a great 10 years. He allowed me to always do what I wanted to do. When my thing would get busy he always gave me the space. I couldn’t ask for more.”
