Joan Bonham, mother to John, Mick and Deborah Bonham, died early morning today (February 09, 2011) at the age of 81, after battling an illness since Christmas.

She was preceeded in death by her husband John Henry Sr. (Jack) in 1998, son John Henry Jr. in 1980 and Michael (Mick) Bonham in 2000.

Achilles Last Stand – The Led Zeppelin website reports Joan was a musician just like her children, John and Deborah; Joan was a singer, most notably one of the principal lead vocalists of The Zimmers, a 40-piece British band originally created by BBC television for a 2007 feature documentary on the conditions and feelings of the elderly, as part of the Power to the People series.

In September 2008, the band released its first full-length album "Lust for Life."

Joan was also a fan of big band music, such as the Benny Goodman, and Harry James bands. She also ran a news agency business in Hunt End, Redditch, Worcestershire, England.

One of her most last notable appearances was on November 02, 2009, accompanied by daughter Deborah, to accept the Tommy Vance Inspiration Award at the Classic Rock Awards Ceremony from Paul Rodgers at the Park Lane Hotel, London, England.