Libel damages for Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page (right) performs with Robert Plant

Rock legend Jimmy Page has accepted substantial undisclosed libel damages from a magazine which claimed he had caused or contributed to the death of his Led Zeppelin bandmate John Bonham.

The High Court in London heard the 56-year-old musician had brought proceedings over allegations published in an article in Ministry magazine in August 1999.

Bonham was found dead in Page's bed in September 1980, after he passed out following a drinking binge. The 32-year-old drummer had choked on his own vomit.

Page's solicitor, Norman Chapman, told Mr Justice Morland the feature claimed Page was more concerned with keeping vomit off his bed than saving his friend's life, and that he stood over him wearing Satanist robes and performing a useless spell.

Mr Chapman said the allegation was untrue, and this was now acknowledged by publishers Ministry Magazines Ltd and editor Scott Manson.

Charity donation

They had expressed their sincere apologies for the distress and embarrassment caused and had agreed to pay Page substantial damages, as well as his legal costs.

After the brief hearing, Mr Chapman said his client - currently on tour in the US - was very pleased the matter had been resolved, and that the record had been put straight.

The damages will be donated to Page's favourite charity, the Action for Brazil's Children Trust.

Led Zeppelin were credited with establishing the heavy metal sound in their 12 years together.

They disbanded three months after Bonham's death, with the remaining members of the band - Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones, saying they could not continue without him.

However, Page and Plant reunited in the mid-1990s, releasing an album, Walking Into Clarksdale, in 1998.