The Drum Fill In “Good Times Bad Times” That Bonham Said Was Inspired By A Train Derailment

April 2, 2025

As the sun began to set on a chilly evening in 1969, John Bonham sat at his drum kit, the sound of the world fading into the background. He was known for his explosive energy and powerful beats, but on this particular night, he was searching for something deeper. The inspiration for what he would create was about to come from a deeply unsettling memory. Years earlier, Bonham had witnessed a train derailment—a violent, chaotic event that had etched itself into his mind. It wasn’t just the sound of the crashing metal that haunted him; it was the raw intensity of that moment, a snapshot of life turned upside down.

That night, as he recalled the rumble of the train, Bonham’s heart raced. He remembered the way the earth shook and the horrifying screech of metal tearing apart. It was chaos, fear, and energy all wrapped into one. Instead of running from that feeling, he embraced it. With each hit of the drum, he poured all that emotion into his rhythm, creating a powerful fill that would become the backbone of “Good Times Bad Times.” The fill echoed the tumult he had felt years ago—the thundering clash of a train derailment—capturing the spirit of struggle and perseverance.

The moment he finished that drum fill, Bonham knew he had tapped into something special. It wasn’t just music; it was a narrative of life itself—filled with ups and downs, good and bad times. When Led Zeppelin went into the studio to record their debut album, Bonham’s drum fill became a defining moment, setting the tone for the band’s future. It was exhilarating, and Bonham couldn’t help but feel that he was channeling not just his own experiences, but the experiences of everyone around him. People could relate to that feeling of chaos, and through music, they could find a sense of solace and hope.

As “Good Times Bad Times” rolled out into the world, the reaction was electric. Fans were drawn to the raw emotion in Bonham’s drumming, finding strength in the turmoil he expressed. It propelled Led Zeppelin into the spotlight, marking the beginning of a meteoric rise that would change rock ‘n’ roll forever. Through his art, Bonham transformed a painful memory into a powerful anthem, demonstrating how creativity could arise even from the darkest moments.

But for Bonham, it wasn’t just about fame or success. It was about resilience. He had taken something that could have been a source of fear and transformed it into a celebration of life. Even years later, when the pressures of fame began to weigh him down, he remembered that night—the way he had harnessed chaos and turned it into beauty. It reminded him that even during the hardest times, he could find strength and inspiration in the world around him.

In the end, John’s journey through music became a testament to the power of resilience. He showed that every challenge could be met with creativity and passion, and that even past traumas could inspire something beautiful. As long as he had his drums, he knew he could turn any derailment into a rhythm of hope, echoing through the hearts of fans everywhere. That was the true legacy of “Good Times Bad Times”—and of John Bonham himself.