Every noteworthy band has an underdog, a vital cog in the machine that goes unnoticed while fans obsess over their more well-known bandmates. There’s a long list of such nuanced geniuses, including Richard Wright, Krist Novoselic, and George Harrison. The bassist and multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin is the archetypal example of one of them.
Since he never sought attention, Jones gave the quartet a genuine flair that has always made him fascinating. Prior to joining the group, he earned high regard as a session musician and arranger. He was raised by talented musicians and had a unique, in-depth education in music. Before joining Led Zeppelin, Jones had already worked in the studio with musicians like The Rolling Stones and Donovan. He accomplished things that most would consider a successful career in and of themselves.
Jones and Page, both renowned players in London, naturally crossed paths and became acquainted. However, Jones was not his first choice when The Yardbirds broke up and he started to form a band in his own image. Rather, it was Chris Deja from his former group. But he soon had second thoughts and moved on to pursue a career in photography.
Thus, at his wife’s encouragement, while the two were working on Donovan’s The Hurdy Gurdy Man, the composed Jones asked Page about the open position. After all, Page told Rolling Stone in 1985 that he had “proper music training” and “quite brilliant ideas,” so he was thrilled to hear that Jones was interested.
The fact that Robert Plant, the front man for Led Zeppelin, has publicly shared his anxiety about potentially joining Jones and Page for the group’s first jam speaks volumes about Jones’ accomplishment. The singer has further stated that it was always “difficult” working with Jones. This was because, in contrast to Plant’s self-taught Black Country development, Jones never paid attention to the lyrics. Instead, he simply listened to the music in light of his sophisticated musical background.
In any case, the group would click and become a close-knit unit that would swiftly dethrone the failing Beatles and establish itself as the most exciting act of the time. Over their 12-year career, they would achieve genuine innovation and give rock music a truly expansive spin. Jones was the driving force behind all of it, from the moody synths in “In the Light” to the famous, twisting riff on “Black Dog.”
In addition to his deft bass lines and command of a wide range of instruments, Jones’ clever arrangements also contribute to his brand. Ultimately, his birth name was actually John Baldwin, not John Paul Jones. However, his chosen moniker, John Paul Jones, has a more alliterative effect than his original name. Inspired by the valiant captain of the same name from the American Revolutionary War, he received the nickname. He revealed this to Uncut in a 2010 Q&A with famous fans. The former Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham gave him the nickname.
After complimenting Jones on his “so engaged” presence in the modern world, Oldham posed the question, “Any advice for old farts who can’t move on?”
Jones answered, spilling the beans, saying, “Who are you calling an old fart? Andy, you tell me, I dunno! Hehe. He’s done a fantastic job of keeping himself current. I was given the name John Paul Jones by Andrew, of course. Up until Andrew saw the poster for the French film version of John Paul Jones, I was John Baldwin. I wanted to compose music for movies, so I thought it would look fantastic in CinemaScope. I visualised the entire screen stating, “Music by John Paul Jones.” And I had no idea at the time that he was America’s Horatio Nelson!”
The film in question is, of course, the 1959 biopic directed by John Farrow about the titular war hero. History books now honor him for his actions during the American Revolutionary War, which gained him popularity. Despite not being a very creative work, the movie’s legacy remains linked to that of Led Zeppelin.
