Rock royalty Jager Henry talks Louder Than Life, new EP, and finding his own path in the music business.
The name Jager Henry might not immediately stand out, but his last name—Bonham—certainly does, especially for rock drummers. The son of powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham (known for Black Country Communion, Sammy Hagar and the Circle) and grandson of the iconic Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, Jager is carving out his own identity as a vocalist and songwriter with his project, Jager Henry. He chose not to use his famous last name, explaining, “I was always talked about due to my last name, so I thought why not switch it up a little and just basically took my last name and replaced it with my middle name, and it had a nice ring to it.”
With a blend of modern rock, metal, and alternative influences, his debut 8-song EP Heart of Thorns has garnered widespread critical praise. Singles like “Bite Down” and the title track “Heart of Thorns” are gaining traction on SiriusXM, rock radio, and streaming platforms. Additionally, his performances at major festivals like Louder Than Life and Aftershock have showcased that Jager Henry is much more than just a famous last name.
Jager Henry will kick off a short tour with Chicago-based band Letdown. (note the period is part of the band’s name) on November 6th at Zanzabar in Louisville, before wrapping up the year with a series of dates opening for his father’s band, JBLZE (Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening).
Jager Henry’s set at Louder Than Life was unfortunately canceled due to weather, but he and his band made the most of it by playing a free show at The Fox Den in Louisville that night. The next day, they got the opportunity to perform at the Louder Than Life festival in the Kroger Big Bourbon Bar tent, which he described as “unreal” and possibly the best show they’d ever played.
When asked about some of his favorite shows, Jager mentioned touring with Beauty School Dropout as one of his first tours. While those may not have been his best performances, they were certainly memorable. Another standout moment for him was playing at the Fort Lauderdale Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, where he had previously worked as a security guard. Returning to the venue as a performer was a “full circle moment.”
On following in the footsteps of his legendary father and grandfather, Jager explained that there was no pressure to pursue drumming. He acknowledged that drumming was always present in his household, but he knew it wasn’t the path for him. Instead, he chose to carve his own way as a vocalist and songwriter. He likened his decision to stepping over his father and grandfather’s shoes and finding his own.
Regarding the Bonham name and its association with classic 70s rock, Jager admitted there’s an expectation that he would play that style of music, but he sees it differently. While he respects the legacy of his father and grandfather, he’s focused on creating his own music, blending influences from different genres. He feels that today’s music scene is about experimentation, something that was more challenging in the past when recording costs were astronomical.
Jager’s passion for singing started at a young age when he would sing Ozzy Osbourne songs, despite not being very good at it. He also went through a phase of rapping, which he believes influenced his songwriting. He feels that the quick thinking required in rap has helped him write lyrics faster and more efficiently.
When it comes to writing songs, Jager Henry enjoys working with a producer who understands his creative process. He explains that they typically start by throwing down some riffs, and as he writes, his producer builds out drums and samples, helping to shape the song’s sound. This collaborative and improvisational approach keeps the process fun and flexible.
Lyrically, the 8 songs on his debut EP Heart of Thorns are deep and introspective. Jager admitted there were moments when he felt he might have shared too much of himself, but he also saw the beauty in the depth and personal meaning of the songs. He reflected on “Breaking Down” in particular, which holds a secret message that he’ll never fully explain. He believes that music allows listeners to connect with songs in their own way, and while he sometimes tries to keep some of himself private, he also relishes the opportunity to be fully authentic in his music.
The EP flows as a cohesive narrative, with no spaces between songs, which was a deliberate choice by Jager. He constantly tweaked the order of the tracks, ensuring that they connected smoothly and gave listeners the feeling of experiencing a story or documentary from beginning to end, rather than just a collection of songs.
As for future plans, Jager confirmed that he is already working on a full-length album, but he’s waiting for the right time to release it.
One of the most powerful tracks on the EP is the closing song, “Mortal Sacrifice.” Jager shared that it was written with the intense emotion of losing friends and the fear of being next. The song’s aggression captures the feeling of watching the world crumble around him while still being alive, carrying a deep sense of mortality and loss. He revealed that recording the song was cathartic, with a sense of weight being lifted off his shoulders afterward.
On a lighter note, Jager, who was born in the UK, explained that he lost his accent after moving to the United States at the age of 9 or 10. He joked that it wasn’t “cool” to have a British accent when he first arrived, especially before Harry Styles made it fashionable.
Jager also mentioned his college experience, where he majored in finance. He said he pursued a degree because it was the “thing to do” when he moved to America, but it ended up being useful in his music career. As an independent artist, he can apply his financial knowledge to manage his career and keep track of costs and revenue. He even took pride in being the first Bonham to graduate college, a fact that playfully irked his older sister.
Jager Henry explained that his decision to become a musician stemmed from a deep, natural connection to music that began when he was about 13 years old. He started recording and writing music in his room, experimenting with sound and creating songs. Despite taking a brief break during which he explored sports and the gym, he always found himself returning to music. He described the moment of realizing that music was his true calling as one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of his life. The realization of finding his path, his style, and his craft gave him a sense of fulfillment he can’t replicate with anything else.
As for reworking a Led Zeppelin song, Jager admitted that it’s something he’s thought about and even experimented with. However, he mentioned that rather than covering a Zeppelin track, he has a strong desire to remake “Wait for You,” a song his father wrote with his band Bonham. Jager plans to give it his own twist, infusing it with his unique style while honoring his family’s legacy.
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