OnlineHost: John P Zep has entered the room. HubMeg: Welcome John Paul!
Question: If you could jam with any musician(s) from any era who would it be and why? John P Zep: John Bonham and Jimi Hendrix John P Zep: I don't think I need to say why!
Question: What do you think were the unique qualities that Zeppelin brought to rock? John P Zep: Musicality John P Zep: diversity John P Zep: power John P Zep: ! John P Zep: let's see... a good stage show John P Zep: and commitment!
Question: What Zeppelin recording do you feel features your most creative bass work? John P Zep: Oh, that's a hgard one... John P Zep: Which one doesn't? John P Zep: I hate false modesty! John P Zep: "The Lemon Song" is famous John P Zep: I quite like the bass lates thate are tight in with Bonzo John P Zep: bass lines, that is John P Zep: Any live recording of "Dazed and Confused"
Question: did you help in the release of the new bbc release ? John P Zep: Yes I did. John P Zep: Tapes were circulated and... John P Zep: we all amde a decision on what best versions to use John P Zep: we tried to get as much good stuff on as possible
Question: How do the "younger" bands react when they find out you are producing their work? John P Zep: Initially... John P Zep: they're terrified! John P Zep: but I think they get frightened that I might want to change them John P Zep: and that they might not be able to tell me what they want John P Zep: and what theyd on't want John P Zep: hopefully, they find that I'm pretty sympathetic John P Zep: and that if I'm going to produce a band John P Zep: that i'll let their personality come out
Question: Do you like any new artists? John P Zep: Some songs from some artists, I think. John P Zep: Some of Radiohead John P Zep: there's a single from the Eels that I like John P Zep: I like some of the English drum & bass/jungle John P Zep: I like bluegrass as well, at the moment
Question: If Page/Plant tour after their album is released...and they wanted you to join them...would you? John P Zep: No, I think they've missed their chance now.
Question: Did the XYZ (former Yes and Zeppelin) project ever really exist? John P Zep: No! It was pretty much a pressthing, I think. John P Zep: It was one of those things you read about John P Zep: and wonder, "Are they talking John P Zep: about us?"
Question: Did you make up the bass solo in the Lemon Song on the spot? John P Zep: The word is improvise-- John P Zep: And YES!
Question: What's the best thing about this Live at the BBC album? John P Zep: It's teh sound of a young, enthusiastic band. John P Zep: It's a very raw sound. John P Zep: A cocky young band at the height of its powers. John P Zep: And John Bonham,
Question: Jonesy, on your upcoming solo album, is it going to be entirely musical? No vocals, or do you sing? And are you doing and No Quarter style jazz improv on it? John P Zep: Entirely musical? Don't you mean instrumental? John P Zep: The answer is yes-- John P Zep: it is instrumental -- John P Zep: no vocals John P Zep: no guitar John P Zep: no jazz John P Zep: Pure Rock! John P Zep: (with some funny noises)
Question: you have such a smooth driving bass style who was your influence John P Zep: A lot of bass players from a lot of different John P Zep: styles of music John P Zep: To name a few... John P Zep: James Jameson John P Zep: from motown John P Zep: Duck Dunne (booker t & the mgs) John P Zep: and some of the great jazz players John P Zep: such as charles mingus John P Zep: and Scott LaFaro
Question: Will we be seeing any professional live video i.e. Earls Court '75, Seattle '77 released in the future for public consumption John P Zep: it's always possible. John P Zep: every now and again we feel we ought to John P Zep: look at this stuff John P Zep: some of it is good, some not so good John P Zep: it would be nice John P Zep: to see some of it out there
Question: I know that you have worked with Lenny Kravitz in the past do you consider him to be one of the most talented younger musicians today as i do?oh by the way you do realize you are the best bass player in rock music historyright? John P Zep: Is that Lenny Kravitz writing in? John P Zep: if it is, i better say that he's pretty good too. John P Zep: he actually approached me John P Zep: by saying that his bass player left John P Zep: just before the MTV video awards John P Zep: he was trying to think of who to use John P Zep: and he said to me John P Zep: "why not call the guy i took it all from in the first place?"
Question: Tell us abou the new "Whole Lotta Love" video. I beleive some of the footage has never been seen before. John P Zep: Yes, it certainly surprised me! John P Zep: There's a funny little bit where John P Zep: Robert and I seem to be doing some strange John P Zep: Martian dance together. John P Zep: Don't knwo where tehy found it. John P Zep: but it's a good video. i must be biased.
Question: what do you feel is your best performance on the keyboard? John P Zep: oooh... John P Zep: There's a piano solo on "No Quarter" John P Zep: at one of the old Court shows John P Zep: that was particulary successful John P Zep: (Earl's Court, that is) John P Zep: I can't tell you to listen to the bootlegs -- John P Zep: Robert will kill me!
Question: What do you think of the current state of rock? John P Zep: Well, I don't know about America John P Zep: but in England it seems to be harking back to the 60s a lot. John P Zep: As I was on most of teh stuff on the 60s that they took it all form John P Zep: I can't say that I'm happy to hear it all again.
Question: What did it feel like in 1985 when you played Live Aid in Philly and at the end of 'Stairway' all 92,000 fans were singing along. John P Zep: It felt like we hadn't been gone. John P Zep: Walking on stage was just like coming back home. John P Zep: It was very exhilirating.
Question: What were your thoughts on Hammer Of The Gods? We all know that Percy hated it..... John P Zep: It's a very sad little book. John P Zep: It made us out to be sad little people. John P Zep: He ruined a lot of good, funny stories.
Question: will zep be playing at the atlantics 50 th anniversary John P Zep: There is no Led Zeppelin. John P Zep: And there's certainly no plans for any reunion of the 3 remaining members... John P Zep: that i know of.
Question: John Paul what was your favorite band that seemed a precursor to the Zep sound i.e. Cream , Traffic, Jefferson AIrplane, et al? John P Zep: Possibly Vanilla Fudge. John P Zep: I know that sounds odd, but they really were John P Zep: extremely powerful John P Zep: plus they had a great stage show John P Zep: They had two great voices. John P Zep: and we became great friends --we supported John P Zep: them on teh first tour.
Question: Did "The girl I love" evolve into "Moby Dick"? John P Zep: It kinda sounds like it, soesn't it? John P Zep: I think it must've. John P Zep: It was a Pgae riff. John P Zep: I must admit, I preferred teh "Moby Dick" verison as a riff.
Question: what advice can you give to the younger generation of musicians out there? John P Zep: Keep your ears open. John P Zep: Listen to as much music as you can. John P Zep: Of all different types. John P Zep: And listen to the pother people that you're playing on stage with. John P Zep: Think not just how you should sound... but how the band should sound John P Zep: and work towards that.
Question: is richard cole's book an accurate account of all the partying on tours you guys did? John P Zep: It's accurate about his partying! John P Zep: I don't think he knows who else was there with him!
Question: What is "Kashmire" about? And why the fascination with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings on the 3rd and 4th Zep albums? John P Zep: That's a question for Robert. John P Zep: It's about a journey to Morocco John P Zep: but you'd get pretty lost if you went by "Kashmir". John P Zep: Robert was into all that fairy stuff.
Question: What kind of basses do you like to play? John P Zep: I have my basses made for me by John P Zep: a guy called Hugh Manson John P Zep: he's just today delivered a 10-string abss John P Zep: which i will be using on the record and on the following tour.
Question: What do you consider to be Zepplins best album??? And would you change anything John P Zep: You could always change things. John P Zep: I like Physical Graffitti a lot. John P Zep: but I like most of every album. John P Zep: There's a lot to like. John P Zep: But when you listen to your own music back John P Zep: you always think you could've done better John P Zep: but.. John P Zep: make another album!
Question: why don't you play with PAge and Plant anymore? You would still make great music together John P Zep: Their plans didn't include me. John P Zep: Although it did seem to include my music.
Question: Do you think Bonzo is the best drummer of all time? John P Zep: Of all time, of all places. John P Zep: That's one of the nice things about listening to the BBC Sessions John P Zep: I get to hear him live and well recorded.
Question: Plant says "Kashmir" truely defines Zep.....Page says "Stairway"....what is your opinion? John P Zep: "Stairway to Kashmir"? John P Zep: Thatwould be a long track! John P Zep: They have everything that Zeppelin is about. they have similar John P Zep: dynamice to songs like "Baby, I'm Ginna Leave You" John P Zep: Things off teh first album... John P Zep: That whole acoustic,heavy... journey, really John P Zep: It's hard talking about siongs in the abstarct John P Zep: I could play it for you!
Question: What is the meaning of Zoso? John P Zep: Oh lord! John P Zep: I really don't know! Jimmy came up with it... John P Zep: He said it was something to do with Saturday... John P Zep: but we all chose our signs at dfifferent times John P Zep: Bonzo and I got them from teh smae book John P Zep: Jimmy got his from who knows where?
Question: Do you have an ill feelings towards Page & Plant over the No Quarter tour/album? Did you WANT to be involved, whether they asked you or not? Did they ask you? John P Zep: In the reverse order... John P Zep: BNo, they didn't ask me John P Zep: I woul;d've certainly thought about it at the time John P Zep: And it was hurtful, at the time John P Zep: we were very close John P Zep: but... John P Zep: time passes!
Question: Is it true what they say about playing Stairway backwards? John P Zep: I should think it'd be very difficult!
Question: Why do you use Marshall guitar cabinets instead of Bass cabinets in your rig John P Zep: I didn't know that I did! John P Zep: With the last tour I did with Diamanda Galas? John P Zep: My 8 string bass was in stereo John P Zep: and teh bass head went through SWR bass cabinets John P Zep: and the high end went through Marshalls.
Question: How do you like the recently released Symphonic Zeppelin? John P Zep: I haven't herad it... John P Zep: I've heard mixed reports John P Zep: And a lot of people have asked me over the last 10 years or so to do something similar John P Zep: I just couldn't bring myself to. I think we made the definitive version.
Question: What did you think of the Moog Cookbook version of Whole Lotta Love? John P Zep: They got quite a good groove -- I thought it was hilarious. John P Zep: I thought it was a bit cowardly using real drums, though. John P Zep: I laos notcied that they used my solo from "All of My Love" from "25 or 6 to 4" (the chica John P Zep: so they've obviously been doing their homework!
Question: What age did you start playing the bass? John P Zep: 14. John P Zep: I became professional at 16.
Question: What is your favorite Zep album cover? Favorite cover of all time? John P Zep: The one with the wheel!
Question: Tell us more about your new project: John P Zep: Blues based and acoustic rock John P Zep: but using a lot of computer processing and electronics John P Zep: over a live rhythm section
Question: Did you write the "Black Dog" riff? John P Zep: Yes. I did. John P Zep: it came to me on a train coming back from rehersel at Jimmy Page's house. John P Zep: I'd been listening to a song on a Muddy Water's record John P Zep: called Electric Mud, which had a long, rambling blues riff John P Zep: and i thought i'd like to try something with a similar form
Question: What influenced you in writing the keyboard part for Stairway to Heaven? John P Zep: Really, a reaction to what Jimmy was playing on acoustic guitar John P Zep: I think he had already started writnibg it with robert when tehy were away in tehir John P Zep: cottage in Wales and Jimmy had lots of different part sof it John P Zep: which we put together, the two of us John P Zep: at Hedley Grange
Question: What do you think of Jason Bonham ? John P Zep: He's a good drummer, he reminds me John P Zep: of his dad a lot. John P Zep: When we played with him at the 40th Anniversary John P Zep: HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW ALL THE LINKS John P Zep: BETWEEN THE SONGS
Question: do you miss touring? John P Zep: yes, that's why i went out with diamanda galas John P Zep: and that's why i'm going out as soona s my record is released.
Question: CD or Vinyl? John P Zep: Cd's arent perfect John P Zep: but i prefer to hear my msuic without the surface noise and pops that vinyl John P Zep: used to have John P Zep: on the other hand, the artwork is more fun John P Zep: on vinyl
Question: What is your fondest Led-Zeppelin memory? John P Zep: ummm... playing at the Boston tea Party John P Zep: for 4 and a quarter hours John P Zep: with 45 minutes' worth of songs John P Zep: now that's what i call improvising!
HubMeg: Anything you want to add John? John P Zep: Enjoy the BBC Sessions!
OnlineHost: John P Zep has left the room. OnlineHost: Copyright 1997 America Online, Inc.
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This Month in
Led Zeppelin History
January 09, 1944 - James Patrick Page was born in Heston, Middlesex
January 03, 1946 - John Baldwin was born in Sidcup, Kent
January 02, 1946 - Led Zeppelin Tour Manager Richard Cole was born in Kensal Rise, London, England
January 05, 1967 - Jimmy Page begins recording Little Games with The Yardbirds at De Lane Lea Studios in London.
January 17, 1969 - Led Zeppelin released in the US
January xx, 1970 - Led Zeppelin now play without support acts in order to perform longer sets
January 09, 1970 - Royal Albert Hall gig filmed and recorded for documentary that is eventually scraped. (But was recalled for 2003’s DVD)
January xx, 1971 - Recording continues at Headley Grange
January xx, 1972 - Page has a studio built into his home
January 02, 1973 - Plant’s car breaks down and Bonham and he barely make the Sheffield City Hall gig
January 22, 1973 - Led Zeppelin record a live gig at Southampton University
January xx, 1974 - The band resigns with Atlantic and forms their own label
January 03, 1975 - Jimmy breaks a finger at Victoria Station just a week before the European warm up shows
January 17, 1975 - The band rehearses in Minneapolis for the upcoming US tour. Bootleg "Johnny Kidd And The Pirates" evolves out of this rehearsal
January xx, 1976 - Jimmy contemplates the release of The Song Remains The Same film but, continues work on the soundtrack
January 01, 1976 - In Paris, Robert takes his first unaided steps since his car accident
January xx, 1977 - Rehearsals for US tour take place at Manticore Studios in Fulham
January 24, 1977 - Bonham and Plant watch The Damned perform at the Roxy in London
January xx, 1978 - Media still claims Led Zeppelin have broke up
January 21, 1979 - Robert Plant is now proud father to son Logan Romero
January xx, 1980 - Zeppelin donate Candy Store Rock to a benefit album to benefit children
January 31, 1995 - Jimmy Page escaped being knifed when a fan rushed the stage at a Page and Plant gig at Auburn Hills, Michigan. The fan was stopped by two security guards, who he knifed instead. After his arrest, he told police that he wanted to kill Jimmy Page because of the Satanic music he was playing.
