Jason Bonham has retracted a previous story in which he claimed Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page introduced him to cocaine. The drummer, and son of late Zeppelin legend John Bonham, now calls his previous statements “untrue.”

The story in question stems from an interview with Howard Stern earlier this month. At the time, Bonham stated that “Jimmy was the first one to ever give [cocaine] to me,” recalling an incident that took place in a hotel.

“We got called to his room," he told Stern. "I was 16 at this point, and there was a woman on the floor with a collar on, meowing, and he had this grinder thing … and he turned it over and he went, ‘Here you go,’ and I went, ‘Thanks.’ He’s like, ‘You’ve done this before, right?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, of course I have.’ So he handed it over and I just did all of it, and he went, ‘Just like your father – you know, that was supposed to be for all of us.’”

In the newly released statement, Bonham calls his comments “unfounded and untrue,” while also apologizing to Page. A full transcript of his retraction is below.

“On or about 9 April 2019 I, Jason Bonham, gave an interview on radio with Howard Stern (the Interview). In that interview I made certain untrue and derogatory statements concerning Mr. James Page (aka Jimmy Page) of the legendary band Led Zeppelin. I unconditionally retract all derogatory and defamatory comments relating to Mr. J Page that I made in that interview. In particular it is wholly untrue that Mr. J Page offered me any illegal substances either when I was a minor or at all. I apologize to Mr. Page, unreservedly, for making these unfounded and untrue comments about him. Out of my long held respect for Mr. Page I will make no further comments on the Interview and I agree to make no further comments which Mr. Page might view as disparaging, either now or in the future.”

 

 

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