The name of Bonham is still big business. Helen Brown reports on Jon's sister Deborah's visit to Darlington

AFTER Deborah Bonham took part in last year's packed performance at The Royal Albert Hall, as guest of Middlesbrough’s Paul Rodgers, a select six UK dates have been booked for her with the only North-East gig being Darlington’s Forum tomorrow.

Deborah is the younger sister of the late John Bonham, who was the drummer with Led Zeppelin. When the world famous band was formed in 1968, Deborah was six years old. At the age of 17, at Robert Plant's house in a nearby Worcestershire village, she recorded her first demos. With some encouragement and advice from mentor Plant, Deborah sent out the songs anonymously and soon landed her first record deal with the major European label Carerre Records, in 1985. She went on to record the critically-acclaimed album For You and the Moon in Plant’s barn. The album went to No 5 in the UK charts.

Deborah Bonham has toured and performed with Robert Plant, Van Halen, Ann Peebles, Humble Pie, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne, Nazareth, Jools Holland and Stax label legend Steve Cropper.

Deborah and her band features Jo Burt (Black Sabbath, Freddie Mercury, Tom Robinson) on bass and Frank Benbini (Fun Lovin Criminals) on drums. Her band, also featuring Peter Bullick on guitar and Gerard Louis on keyboards, have backed Paul Rodgers for several UK shows, and has featured Deborah in a duet with Rodgers on the Free classics Oh I Wept and Be My Friend.

Bad Company also invited Deborah to open for them in the US on last year's 40th Anniversary Tour where she performed to 5,000-strong audiences.

She’s also a favourite at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival; The Great British Rock and Blues Festival; Cambridge Rock, Donington, Weyfest, Wickham and European Harley Davidson Festivals.

After touring Europe last year, Deborah and the band returned to France in February with the French Press calling her the "Princess of Rock". Her touring plans this year include a mix of rock and blues festivals across Europe, including the UK, France, Austria and Switzerland.

Her latest album, Spirit, is a classic mix of country, blues, rock, and soul and has met with critical acclaim. Mixed and mastered in Nashville, it features a guest appearance from Robert Plant.

Deborah Bonham, The Forum, Darlington. Support Jo Burt. Box Office: 01325-363135 or theforumonline.co.uk