John Paul Jones: Long Live the Thunderthief

[Mark Clark <airweasel@xxxxxxx>]

        After reading the recent interview with JPJ, I feel compelled to share 
some thoughts with everyone about a person I feel has been 
extraordinarily underrated and overlooked. Reading his answers to the 
questions and his detailed description of the dynamics of what was 
arguably the greatest rock band in history, I am struck by what a 
humble gentleman he is, completely aside from the awesome 
professionalism of his muscianship. It seems to me that, although Jimmy 
may have been the visionary who put the Zeppelin together and steered 
its course so innovatively, and while Robert may have been the golden 
god who announced its presence and sang its hymns, and even though it 
was Bonham's driving force and power that kept it moving ever 
onward...it is my supposition that it was John Paul Jones who was the 
backbone-the frame that held the mighty Zeppelin together for as long 
as it was able to fly. Personally, I think the idea that the band would 
float like a lead zeppelin had less to do with how well the band would 
be received or how much success it would have than it reflected the 
ultimate crash of the type of craft the band was named after. The 
concept of airships is a rather doomed one from the get-go since it 
relies on keeping something so heavy floating by trapping gas that is 
lighter than the air near the surface of the earth-one poke at the 
gasbags or a misplaced spark and the bloody thing would crash like the 
one pictured on the band's debut album cover. If you read all the 
accounts of the band's tours and excesses, you'll notice how Jones was 
the one who held himself together the best through it all. I bet he was 
the only one to never miss a rehearsal or to collapse on stage. And has 
anyone ever heard of a show where JPJ had an 'off' performance? There 
may be some out there, but I've yet to here much about them.
        I'd like to propose a toast to John Paul Jones-a musician's musician 
and an all around good man. Personally, I am 100 percent in agreement 
with the band's assertion that without Bonzo there can be no Zeppelin 
reunion and I applaud them for sticking to their integrity despite all 
of our grousing and rumor-mongering. I would, however, like to see 
Jimmy, Robert and John Paul Jones get together and write some new music 
together. It won't be Zeppelin, but thats a GOOD THING. Come on, think 
of Elvis in his later years. Wouldn't you rather not have the memory of 
the greatest band in rock history stained by a lame attempt to 
recapture electric magic that CAN'T be recreated due to the simple fact 
that one of the magicians insists upon remaining deceased and 
unavailable for sessions :P
        That being said, it would be a GODDAMNED SHAME for the lads not to get 
together and at least make some NEW noise together. Shit, even the new 
Yardbirds album is pretty friggin' good and IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE JIMMY 
ON IT!!! Lets everyone quit complaining about what was lost with the 
demise of Zeppelin and pray to whatever deity you prefer that the boys 
will continue, at the very least, to give us new songs to fill our ears 
and our lives with whatever the hell it is we get out of it. Kudos to 
John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and, yes, even JASON BONHAM 
for giving us wonderful music to enjoy and for persevering despite the 
critics. If you were to take the best tracks from all the boys solo 
projects after Zeppelin and re-record them with the line-up I just 
mentioned...I'd be satisfied. But thats just me.

        Thanks for listening! Flames and comments are more than welcome-this 
list could use a good kick in the pants to liven things up :P 
CHEERIO!!!! ZEPPELIN FOREVER!!



Mark
airweasel@xxxxxxx
www.desertlightning.com