Tribute bands are big business these days. In an attempt to re-create the magic and the illusion of a band since gone, plenty of able-bodied musicians are getting together and forming bands that emulate the sound and aura of their long gone heroes.
There are, right now, plenty of tribute bands that make a living touring and playing the music of acts like Queen, The Beatles and Kiss. There are a few that have even attempted to channel the magic of British hard rock legends Led Zeppelin. And if anyone has the mojo and the gumption to try and tackle this seemingly insurmountable feat, why not the son of one of the original Led Zep members? Jason Bonham, the son of legendary Zeppelin drummer John Bonham has done just that; he's assembled a band and decided to go out on the road under the title "Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience" in order to relive the mystique and mysticism of his late father's band. And to the near sell-out crowd at Clearwater's Ruth Eckerd Hall on Sunday night, "Experience" is a gross understatement of what they witnessed.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2010.