I didn't realize how integral JPJ was to L Zep. His bass lines were very creative, melodic and rocked at the same time. Great musician. He made their sound just as much as the other members, if not more. Plant on the other hand, was an average singer and performer. As to why he still tries to perform and record is beyond me. IMO..
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20 Things You Didn't Know John Paul Jones Did
- Thread starter Richland123
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I agree that RP is way past his prime and should probably give it up, but I disagree that he wasnt as important to LZ as the other guys.
I cant imagine them with another singer.
I cant imagine them with another singer.
I used to live in San Francisco in the early 90's. Someone told me that JPJ was playing at the Filmore with this woman who was described as a "satanic opera singer." Of course, I had to go and see that. It was a good show. Their drummer sounded like Bonham. Diamanda's shrieking was incredible at times, but too much of it became irritating. She could do a lot of deep soulful stuff as well; her range is vast. I bought their album, but I usually only listen to the first and strongest track, Skotoseme. I'd suggest starting with that.
Unmentioned in the RS Article is that JPJ has become intertwined with the US Bluegrass Community.
He's produced a few CDs for bands like Uncle Earl and he's toured with the amazing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as their Mandolin player.
Here's a great rendition of LZ's Going to California that I shot at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park in '14:
~Enjoy
He's produced a few CDs for bands like Uncle Earl and he's toured with the amazing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings as their Mandolin player.
Here's a great rendition of LZ's Going to California that I shot at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park in '14:
~Enjoy
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Would be nice to hear the isolated everything-except-the-vocal mix of that. She sounds like she's choking on a sandwich for the most part.
I saw JPJ's band open for King Crimson in 2002 or 2003, around the time Thunderchief was released. He played pedal steel for much of the set, which included an instrumental Zeppelin medley with JPJ playing off the riffs and melodies on the pedal steel. It was one of the coolest performances I've ever seen. He was simply brilliant.
BTW, I think Robert Plant is doing just fine. His recent album Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar is excellent.
BTW, I think Robert Plant is doing just fine. His recent album Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar is excellent.
I'd already heard all of those--but still cool.
So is this...
So is this...
He plays some mandolin at the end of this old interview from an old Canadian talk Show...
Apparently he is a very keen Mandolin player nowadays (see post above). I know Barry Mitterhoff (formerly of Hot Tuna, he’s a neighbor). He’s played with JPJ - in fact they both met at a Mandolin Festival in Europe and JPJ came up to him to speak on the Mandolin. Barry only realized who he was after about ten minutes of conversation...
Best, Pete.
Best, Pete.
The article mentions JPJ's work with Donovan. I think he did the cool brass arrangement for "Mellow Yellow."
(Going to see Donovan one month from today. Very excited about that!)
(Going to see Donovan one month from today. Very excited about that!)
Diamanda Galas about JPJ: "He's the only one in Led Zep worth anything musically, the others may go ahead and raise geese or something..."
I giggled when I read that. Agreed, LZ is one of the very few bands that all 4 made equal sense, and had that synergy effect. When Bonham died they'd call it quits, just because one very simple thing: It wouldn't be or sound the same. At all. Better? sure Different? One hundred percent. The same? Not a chance. LZ was Pageys project from the start on, JPJ wanted to follow him whatever project he made. Pagey couldn't believe that he had found Plant. He thought "No, there must be something wrong with him, he isn't known, he isn't famous. He must be a weird guy, or hard to work with, otherwise he would've been well known by now". So he was actually wary for the whole of the first album to check/see if there was some personal beef (All abbreviation letters) with him, but it wasn't. He couldn't believe he was the first one to "spot" him.
I giggled when I read that. Agreed, LZ is one of the very few bands that all 4 made equal sense, and had that synergy effect. When Bonham died they'd call it quits, just because one very simple thing: It wouldn't be or sound the same. At all. Better? sure Different? One hundred percent. The same? Not a chance. LZ was Pageys project from the start on, JPJ wanted to follow him whatever project he made. Pagey couldn't believe that he had found Plant. He thought "No, there must be something wrong with him, he isn't known, he isn't famous. He must be a weird guy, or hard to work with, otherwise he would've been well known by now". So he was actually wary for the whole of the first album to check/see if there was some personal beef (All abbreviation letters) with him, but it wasn't. He couldn't believe he was the first one to "spot" him.
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This is killer. Also realized about halfway through that Nuno is on guitar there; I'm used to seeing him play on his Washburn N4.
JPJ has always been an amazing bassist. Huge contribution to Zep's sound, as all members did. As far as Ms Diamanda, I finally heard someone that makes me really appreciate Yoko!