The most underrated and best Rock multi-instrumentalist of all time

A very underappreciated musician. John is brilliant. Zep would not have been Zep without him.

Jimmy Page knew he was getting a very talented multi-instrumentalist for his new band when he got JPJ. And he knew he was getting a real secret weapon who would help make the band great - a quiet, humble guy who was not concerned with being in the spotlight - only with helping to make great music.

One of the Gods of Rock. Zep could NOT have been Zep without him. Page was very clever and smart to get JPJ into the the band.

JPJ is an absolute genius!

jpj is why I started playing bass as a kid in the late 70's. lz2 still gets me. that big thick tone with just enuff dirt on it. perfect

Nice to see some acknowledgement of JPJ"s stuff outside of Led Zep. A great muso.

John Paul Jones was prolific as an arranger and session man. He contributed to some of the biggest hits in the sixties. Here is just a sample. Donovan “Mellow Yellow”, “Sunshine Superman”, ‘Hurdy Gurdy Man” Lulu “To Sir with Love” Rolling Stones “She’s a Rainbow” PP Arnold “ Angel in the Morning” Herman’s Hermits “No Milk Today”, “Dandy”, “East West”, “ The Most Beautiful Thing in My Life”, “There’s a Kind of Hush” Wayne Fontana “Pamela Pamela” Magic Lanterns “Shame Shame” Cliff Richard “Congratulations”

I’ve been a JPJ fan since I first heard Led Zep in ‘69. He’s been a major influence on my own bass playing from the beginning.

He must have been bloody good , because with his smooth looks and musical ability what young man in the 60s wouldn’t have wanted to be in a four piece band ? Only someone with exceptional backroom and technical gifts, in big demand from established stars would be able to resist the limelight. Most of these guys had to work hard at music lessons and rudiments when most of us got bored with it or didn’t have the stamina or patience to stick at it. Learning piano scales and reading music is damn hard when your a kid and want to go out and play in the sunshine. So, I guess these kids deserved to reap the rewards later on in their late teens and early 20’s.

I've heard dozens of Zeppelin live recordings and Jones never had an off night. He was always strong and steady as a rock.

'When the Leave Breaks', one of my favourites.

I saw an early televised black and white concert of Zeppelin from 1969 and all 4 members were tight and brilliant. John Paul Jones is an excellent bassist who not only plays well but listens and responds to what the others are doing.

JPJ is such an astute musician but terribly underrated, he has never really got the credit he deserves, much like Brian Jones with The Stones, George Harrison with The Beatles and Rick Wright with Pink Floyd. I remember when Zeppelin were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll hall of fame and JPJ said "Thank you to my friends for finally remembering my phone number" It happens a lot in Rock bands but there does always seem to be one that is very underappreciated. Great video as always YP 😊

Oh no! I didn’t want the video to end! It was too short! At the young and ignorant age of 13 is when I learned of JPJ and LZ. It was In The Evening that was constantly being played by the local rock station, that caught my ear. It was 1980 and I was hearing a band who’d reached the end of their reign but I didn’t know this at the time. During the entire span of the eighties is when I put the Zeppelin puzzle together via bootleg vinyl and books. After getting LZ II, that was it for me. It was over. In the midst of all the eighties pop culture crap, there I was with my beloved LZ II cassette tape. This separated me from everyone else who were listening to Motley Crue and Thriller. What I heard in Zeppelin was; a group of guys who laid waste to the competition. I was right too. John Paul was so talented that he didn’t ever even need to be in a band, much less tour like a animal. We all owe him a bit of gratitude for leaving his family so many times thru the years and bringing us fans the goods.

Opening organ to YOUR TIME is GONNA COME makes hair on my neck stand every time I hear it....masterful !

He doesn’t get the credit he really deserves

A great guitarist went on tour with Jet Harris and Tony Meehan following the success of ‘Diamonds’ which Jimmy page played on as a session musician, then ironically John Paul Jones almost joined The Shadows as a bass guitarist. A great story and piece of history 2 members of Led Zeppelin with a connection to The Shadows.

Thank you 🙏🏼 I’m a solid fan of JP Jones

If he keeps it up, he’ll be famous some day

J.P. is a fabulous musician and a marvelous gentleman...

One of my favourite bassists oat!!! JPJ is awesome!!! 🎸🌟👏

How interesting about this young man. Maybe someday he'll join up with a group and they'll make it big.

The true secret weapon of Led Zeppelin.

He has always been an incredible musician.

Groovy stuff man...I dig it !

So thank you P.J. Proby🥇

JPJ is the man! One of my favorite bass players and all around musicians. 👍

John looks like a young, healthy Chet Baker on some of those photos. He did a great job with the string arrangements on R.E.M.'s Automatic For The People as well. A big big seller!

man I LOVE THIS SITE, every Yesterdays Papers has such great footage and info.This one on JPJ is one of the best.

I love the way you put these together dude, real pro, like BBC quality, always so enjoyable to watch.

I had no idea, but I know now. Thanks for the education.

JPJ was a pivotal guy. Not a star, not a leader. But he had the chops and the dedication and was in everywhere. Yet again, a great video charting a little piece of music history. I thank you.

This is great, a lot of, did not know cool stuff thank you.

He very talented..hope he lands a gig someday with a band that can hopefully make it big..😄

Correction: It was Glyn Johns' brother, Andy, whom was responsible for Bonham's massive drum sound on When the Levee Breaks.

It’s a disgrace how little recognition and respect JPJ gets, sometimes even from Page and Plant. He’s just as integral as Bonham was in the formula that made up Zeppelin.

Loving this. Brilliant video

Wonderful, I loved this video!

Thanks for this. He’s one of my heroes.

Interesting clip, fascinating to see a video made on John, It reminds me of seeing all of Jimmy's recent productions about his earlier session works and accomplishments.

At the very end of this, the unmistakable drums of John Bonham.

Very talented... I had no idea how. Thanks

Very informative and entertaining !! - Zep !! :)

Great stuff. I love that 1964 version of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter", too.

Best channel on KZfaq...

The Song Remains the Same. 1973 at Madison Square Garden. No Quarter, There you can appreciate the work carried by JPJ Fender Rhodes piano , Hammond organ , mellotron and moog Taurus pedal. Later "Kashmir" and later "All of my Love " Also as a producer. Just Top Notch!

Glyn Johns worked with Led Zeppelin only on their first album. It was his brother, the late Andy Johns, who recorded When The Levee Breaks.

Definitly one of the best.

When this March 1966 article was written ( hence narrated for this documentary) it was 2 months prior to "Becks Bolero"!) There is no mention of Page in the article. JPJ played on many, many sessions during the 60s- I've spent a lifetime trying to document them. Great video

John Paul Jones. Without him, Led Zeppelin wouldn't be so good... (I loved the video with Jimmy Page. Please do other videos with Bonham and Plant)

Another great one he played on was Eloise by Barry Ryan. Apparently Jimmy Page also played on it; it's one of my favourites.

A talented guy. He should do well.

The more I hear about him, the more I like him.

The Jones Brothers Band- Brian Jones/ Rhythm Guitar-Mick Jones/Lead Guitar-Kenny Jones/Drums, Percussions-David Robert Jones(David Bowie)/Vocals- John Paul Jones/Bass Guitar&Keyboards...Only if Brian had lived !!!!!

JP had become disenchanted with session work tho handsomely compensated. He was on the verge of calling it a day when Page approached him and eagerly laid out plans for an exciting new band and brand. JP story goes didn't wait til Page got to the end before asking if he could become involved. The organic nature of how this group of guys came to be is really like none other in the world of rock folklore.

Excelente músico John Paul Jones,,,

Just subscribed. Interesting and slick videos

Good one!

5:54 Imagine having Led Zeppelin as your backing band!

Musical genius!

John Paul Jones along with Jimmy Page also played on several tracks of the Yardbirds album, Roger the Engineer.

I usually keep this under my hat as I am not a name-dropper, but this man is my Uncle Peter's cousin!

Ahh yes, When the Leave Brakes, my favourite.

😍😍😍

I never realized most of Led Zeppelin's members were session musicians, but then again, it shouldn't surprise me. Session musicians are cream of the crop.

Nice, to hear my Father Mickie Most and HH’s name checked! True, Gent and musical genius. He, was my Fathers MD for two years. Jimmy Page, never played on Sunshine Superman and JPS arranged/salvaged it. Glyn Jones, only worked on the first Led Zeppelin. Thanks, for sharing though...

Great pair with the Jimmy Page video.

John Paul Jones: Hey Jimmy I heard you were looking for a... Jimmy Page: Your hired

Although they are not related and both play more than one instrument they even look some what alike they remind me of each other that's Brian Jones and John Paul Jones.

Remember when youtube wasn't obnoxiously innundated with excessive commercials ?!? Pepperidge Farm Remembers !

interesting info

thats something only learned Zeppelin fans know- JPJ and Page were pretty much already millionaires (or at least very wealthy / successful) before Zep even started, Page paid for the entire recording of LZ 1 before they had a record deal.

John doing strings for "She's a 🌈" says so much. That to R.E.M.

I share his birthday! Wish I were as talented

5:05 "LEV-VEE" not leave :D Great series !

I have heard that it is George Harrison who plays the guitar solos on 'Sunshine Superman'. Anybody?

No Matthew & Son? Surely this was his finest finest hour.....

0:12 Also plays with Seasick Steve

After Cliff Burton JPJ is my fave.

Levee is pronounced "LEV-ee".

Until this video, I's always thought that John Paul Jones was the singer in Mannfred Mann.

Small nit-pick in an otherwise really cool video. Glyn Johns recorded the first Zep record. His younger brother Andy Johns recorded a couple of other records for Zep, including "When the Levee Breaks"

Nobody remembers before LZ? I am sure from listening to the records for 50 years that JPJ played bass on the most of the first 2 Cat Stevens albums on Deram. His sound is very unique and when I hear Matthew & Son or The First Cut Is the Deepest, I hear that style, all over the rest of the tracks, too. No musicians are credited on either album. Give them a listen and see.

The UK pop landscape would sound much less interesting without JPJ and Pagey as session men. Those two cats _were_ the sound of the 60's. Best JPJ session of all time: Beck's Bolero. The greatest rock supersession instro of all time in my book - a total atom smasher

Eu tenho essa música com o PJ Proby!!

Correction: Glyn Johns did NOT work on 'several' Led Zeppelin albums and was not responsible for the drum sound on 'Where the Levee Breaks'. He engineered Zep's debut album but quit working with the band after being denied the co-production credit he says he was promised by Jimmy Page. His brother, Andy, did work with Zep after that. As for the drum sound on 'When The Levee Breaks', though Glyn was not involved, his mic'ing approach - that of ambient mic'ing - was employed. Jones also did an arrangement and played bass on Dusty Springfield's 'Definitely Dusty' album. Around 1974, he was bassist and musical director for the TV series starring Dusty's backing singer, Madelline Bell. He and the band were very visible on stage behind Ms. Bell. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fa2FmqSkxMfNg58.html

Glynn Johns only engineered the first Led Zeppelin album. (Video states he engineered multiple Zeppelin albums) It was his brother Andy who engineered on multiple Zeppelin albums.

Glyn Johns wasn't responsible for the drum sound on When the Levee Breaks. It was his brother Andy and Jimmy Page.

Still a beast with Them Crooked vultures.

Most people think it was all Jimmy Page but the others in Led Zeppelin were great

"When the leave breaks" lol

Suggest all JPJ fans take a listen to his bass work on "Portobello Road" by Billy Nicholls.. Another dazzler.

In LZ JPJ was just overshadowed by Page

Phusssssss Zoooooop Wheeeerxzooooom goes the bloke out of Aphex Twin, innit !!

Interesting to see JPJ rocking the same axe that Rick Huxley (DC5) segued to (Burns baritone). And the Dallas Tuxedo had its credentials first burnished by Bill Wyman!

Leevee

Wow had no clue John Paul did all that. I 2as heavily into Zeppelin in the 80s. Learn from the internet.

When the "leave" breaks? (5:07). Even if you didn't know the background of the song in the flood-prone Mississippi Delta, you must have heard Robert Plant sing the song. It's "leh-vee" not "leave."

also played on donovan's hits