John Paul Jones (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Paul Jones
|
|
|---|---|
_(52334853370)_(cropped).jpg)
Jones in 2022
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Baldwin |
| Born | 3 January 1946 Sidcup, Kent, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1961–present |
John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin; 3 January 1946) is a talented English musician and record producer. He is best known as the bassist and keyboard player for the famous rock band Led Zeppelin.
Before joining Led Zeppelin in 1968, he worked as a session musician, playing for many other artists. He also created musical arrangements for songs. After Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980, John Paul Jones started his own solo career. He has worked with many different musicians and groups, including the supergroup Them Crooked Vultures. In 1995, he was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Led Zeppelin.
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Biography
Early life and musical start
John Richard Baldwin was born in Sidcup, England, on January 3, 1946. He started playing the piano when he was six years old. His father, Joe Baldwin, was a pianist and arranger for big bands in the 1940s and 1950s. A big band is a large group of musicians who play jazz music. His mother was also a musician, and the family often performed together.
John's musical influences were very wide. He loved the blues music of Big Bill Broonzy and the jazz of Charles Mingus. He also enjoyed the classical piano music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Because his parents traveled a lot for their music, John went to boarding school when he was young. He studied music formally at Christ's College in Blackheath, London. When he was 14, he became the choirmaster and organist at a local church. That same year, he bought his first bass guitar. He later bought a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, which he used for many years. He was inspired to play the bass by the musician Phil Upchurch.
Working as a session musician
At 15, John Baldwin joined his first band, The Deltas. He then played bass for a jazz-rock group called Jett Blacks. His big chance came in 1962 when he was hired by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, who were famous British musicians.
In 1964, John started working as a studio session musician for Decca Records. A session musician is someone who is hired to play on recordings for other artists. From 1964 to 1968, he played on hundreds of songs. He also started playing keyboards, arranging music, and directing studio sessions. This made him very popular.
He worked with many famous artists. These included the Rolling Stones, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Jeff Beck, and Cat Stevens. He also worked with Rod Stewart, Shirley Bassey, and Lulu. His work on Donovan's song "Sunshine Superman" led to him arranging music for many other projects. He even arranged music for a movie called Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter. John Paul Jones later said he couldn't remember most of the sessions he played on because there were so many!
During this time, John Baldwin started using the stage name John Paul Jones. A friend suggested it after seeing a poster for a movie called John Paul Jones. He released his first solo song, "Baja," in 1964 under this new name.
John Paul Jones said he was doing two or three sessions a day, six or seven days a week. By 1968, he felt very tired from all the work. He said, "I was arranging 50 or 60 things a month and it was starting to kill me."
Career
Led Zeppelin
How the band formed
While working as a session musician, John Paul Jones often met guitarist Jimmy Page. In 1966, Jimmy Page joined a band called the Yardbirds. In 1967, John Paul Jones played on their album Little Games.
Later, the Yardbirds broke up. Jimmy Page needed new musicians for some upcoming concerts. John Paul Jones's wife suggested he ask Jimmy Page about joining. Jimmy Page was very happy to have him. He said John Paul Jones had great musical training and brilliant ideas.
Singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham then joined them. At first, they were called the "New Yardbirds." But soon, they changed their name to Led Zeppelin.
Musical contributions
John Paul Jones created many of Led Zeppelin's famous bass lines. You can hear them in songs like "Ramble On" and "The Lemon Song". He also helped create songs with changing time signatures, like "Black Dog".
He and drummer John Bonham formed the band's strong rhythm section. They both loved funk and soul music, which gave Led Zeppelin a unique "groove." John Paul Jones said that people would dance at their shows, which was different from other rock bands at the time.
After 1975, John Paul Jones started using custom-made Alembic basses for touring. But he still liked to use his old Fender Jazz Bass in the studio.
John Paul Jones also played keyboards, which added many different sounds to Led Zeppelin's music. He played the Mellotron on "The Rain Song" and the Clavinet on "Trampled Under Foot". He also used the Mellotron for the eastern sounds in "Kashmir". During live shows, his keyboard playing on "No Quarter" could last for a long time. He sometimes included parts of classical music in it.
He also played other instruments, like the mandolin and recorder. He even used a special triple-necked instrument that had both a six-string and a twelve-string guitar. He often used bass pedals to add to the band's sound while playing other instruments. On their 1977 tour, he sang lead vocals on "The Battle of Evermore" during concerts.
Life in the band
John Paul Jones said that he tried not to get too caught up in being a rock star. He wanted to keep his privacy and freedom. He often left the hotel to walk around and explore the cities they visited. He also changed his look often so people wouldn't recognize him as easily. He believed it was important to see the world when traveling.
By late 1973, John Paul Jones was feeling very tired from all the touring. He thought about leaving Led Zeppelin to spend more time with his family. But the band's manager, Peter Grant, convinced him to stay. He joked that he wanted to become a choirmaster, which some people thought was true! He later explained that he didn't want to hurt the band, but he also didn't want his family to suffer.
Other musical projects
Even while in Led Zeppelin, John Paul Jones continued to do some session work. In 1969, he played bass on an album for The Family Dogg. He also produced and arranged an album for Madeline Bell in 1974. He played bass on a song for Roy Harper and on the Wings' song "Rockestra."
After Led Zeppelin
1980s and 1990s
Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980 after the sad death of their drummer, John Bonham. John Paul Jones said he had just moved to Devon to raise his family at that time. He said he didn't miss being in the spotlight right away.
After Led Zeppelin, John Paul Jones worked with many different artists. These included Diamanda Galás, R.E.M., Peter Gabriel, and Foo Fighters.
In 1985, he created the music for a film called Scream for Help. Jimmy Page also played on two songs for the movie. John Paul Jones even sang on two of the songs. He also toured and recorded with singer Diamanda Galás for her 1994 album, The Sporting Life.
In 1985, John Paul Jones joined Jimmy Page and Robert Plant for the Live Aid concert. They played with other drummers for this special event. The former members of Led Zeppelin also played together again in 1988 for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert. In 1992, John Paul Jones arranged the orchestra parts for the R.E.M. album Automatic for the People.
In 1995, he produced a live album for the band Heart called The Road Home. He also played several instruments on it.
2000s to today
John Paul Jones released his first solo album, Zooma, in 1999. He followed it with The Thunderthief in 2001. He toured to support both albums.
In 2004, he toured with a group called Mutual Admiration Society. He also played on two songs for the Foo Fighters' album In Your Honor. He played mandolin on "Another Round" and piano on "Miracle." The Foo Fighters' singer, Dave Grohl, said it was one of the best things that ever happened to him.
John Paul Jones has also produced albums for other bands, like the Mission and the Datsuns. In 2007, he produced an album for the bluegrass group Uncle Earl.
In May 2007, he played mandolin at a tribute concert for Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett. He also played at the Bonnaroo festival in 2007. There, he joined a special "Super-Jam" with famous musicians like Ben Harper and Questlove. He played mandolin with Gillian Welch and bass and keyboards with Gov't Mule.
On December 10, 2007, John Paul Jones played with the other surviving members of Led Zeppelin at a reunion show in London. This was a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun.
In 2008, he produced the first solo album for Nickel Creek singer Sara Watkins. He also appeared with the Foo Fighters at the Grammy Awards and at a concert at Wembley Stadium.
From 2009 to 2010, he was part of a supergroup called Them Crooked Vultures. The band included Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. They released their first album in 2009.
He has continued to perform with various artists, including Seasick Steve at festivals like Reading and Leeds Festivals and Glastonbury. He also played with Brian May of Queen and Ian Paice of Deep Purple at a charity concert.
In 2017, John Paul Jones formed a trio called "Tres Coyotes." He also formed a duo called "Sons of Chipotle" in 2019. He continues to perform and create music.
Legacy
John Paul Jones is seen as one of the most important and influential bassists, keyboard players, and arrangers in rock music. Many famous bass players have been inspired by him. These include John Deacon from Queen, Geddy Lee from Rush, and Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers. Chris Dreja of The Yardbirds called him "the best bass player in Europe."
Music magazines have often ranked John Paul Jones among the best rock bassists of all time. In 2000, Guitar magazine ranked him third in their "Bassist of the Millennium" poll. He has also received awards for his contributions to music, including a "Gold Badge Award" in 2010. In 2014, Paste magazine listed him as the top "Most Underrated Bassist."
Personal life
John Paul Jones married Maureen Hegarty in 1967. They live in west London and have three daughters.
Discography
Solo albums
- The Sporting Life (1994) with Diamanda Galás
- Zooma (1999)
- The Thunderthief (2001)
Soundtrack albums
- Scream for Help (1985)
With various artists
- No Introduction Necessary (1968)
With Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin (1969)
- Led Zeppelin II (1969)
- Led Zeppelin III (1970)
- Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
- Houses of the Holy (1973)
- Physical Graffiti (1975)
- Presence (1976)
- In Through the Out Door (1979)
- Coda (1982)
With Them Crooked Vultures
- Them Crooked Vultures (2009)
Session and production work
With Donovan
- Mellow Yellow (1966)
With Yardbirds
- Little Games (1967)
With the Rolling Stones
- Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)
With Billy Nicholls
- Would You Believe (1968)
With The Mission
- Children (1988)
With R.E.M.
- Automatic For The People (1992)
With Butthole Surfers
- Independent Worm Saloon (1993)
With Heart
- The Road Home (1995)
With Seasick Steve
- You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks (2011)
- Hubcap Music (2013)
Filmography
- Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968) – music arranger: songs
- The Song Remains the Same (1976)
- Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
- Scream for Help (1984) – composer
- The Secret Adventures of Tom Thumb (1993) – composer
- Risk (1994) – composer
- Celebration Day (2012)
Images for kids
-
Jones playing bass guitar in 2010
See also
In Spanish: John Paul Jones para niños
