In Costa Mesa, California, United States, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening broke from its usual all-Led Zeppelin set on Saturday when Michael Anthony, bassist for Van Halen, joined the group near the end of its show at the Pacific Amphitheater for “Runnin’ With the Devil.”
“We have never done anything like this in the 16 years of doing this show,” Jason Bonham told the crowd before Anthony took the microphone. Anthony said, “Jason wanted to do something old. Mr. Jimmy said yeah, let’s do it. So let’s do it.”
“Mr. Jimmy” refers to James Dylan, lead vocalist of the group, which was formerly known as Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience and has existed since 2010. Dylan handled David Lee Roth’s original lead vocal parts, but he let Anthony sing the hook, as Anthony did on the 1978 studio recording and many later live performances.
After the song, Anthony told the audience, “I’m ready to get the Led out,” before the band started the Led Zeppelin classic “Rock and Roll.” He added, “Let’s get the Led out!” Dylan and Anthony traded lead vocals on that track.
Shared history onstage#
The appearance was not the first time Bonham and Anthony shared a stage or played those two songs. Both were members of Sammy Hagar and the Circle with guitarist Vic Johnson. In 2024, they also toured with Hagar and guitarist Joe Satriani on the Best of All Worlds tour, where Hagar’s set centered largely on the Van Halen catalog, including songs he had not performed in the 20 years since the last reunion tour ended.
Midway through that tour, Bonham left to care for his ailing mother. Drummer Kenny Aronoff stepped in, learning the full set with little more than a day’s notice. When Bonham was ready to return, Hagar kept Aronoff in the role.
“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,” Bonham said in 2024. “And I got a little upset. That was strange, after 10 years of being with him…Listen, I love the guy to bits. I don’t wish him any ill.”
