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
August xx, 1968 - Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham hold their first rehearsals in Gerrard Street, London
August xx, 1968 - Page, Grant and Chris Dreja go see Robert Plant perform at a Birmingham Teachers College. Page invites Plant to his Pangbourne house and offers him the vocalist position
August xx, 1969 - Peter Grant starts enforcing the 90/10 split in favor of the band
August 31, 1969 - The third US tour ends at the Texas International Festival in Dallas
August xx, 1970 - Zeppelin earn no less than $25,000 per show
August 17, 1970 - Page completes mixing of the Led Zeppelin III in Memphis
August 19, 1971 - The seventh North American tour opens in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
August xx, 1972 - Jimmy Page purchases Plumpton Manor in Sussex
August xx, 1973 - Jimmy starts arranging ideas for the next album
August xx, 1974 - Film maker Peter Clifton has the band re-enact scenes at Shepperton Studios
August 31, 1974 - John Paul Jones appears with David Gilmour and Steve Broughton as Roy Harper’s backing band for the night
August 04, 1975 - Robert Plant and his family are seriously injured as their car veers off the road on the island of Rhodes
August 08, 1975 - Rehearsal for Zeppelin’s Eleventh North American tour postponed after Robert is involved in a serious car accident
August xx, 1976 - Arrangements are made to show the upcoming Zep film in theaters
