Photos Courtesy Ron Wood Com  / Jeff Beck Com

“I’m a Gemini, so I have a great time with the other guy!”

He is rightfully acknowledged as one of rock’s premiere slide guitarists with a gregarious personality to match his inimitable musical prowess.

However if Ronald David Wood had opted to set aside his signature Zemaitis guitars and other assorted six-strings full-time, he’d be known as a world-class rock bassist as evidenced by his work with the Jeff Beck Group (Truth, Beck Ola), and select tracks with his pal Rod Stewart (An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down … aka The Rod Stewart Album, Gasoline Alley, Every Picture Tells a Story, Never A Dull Moment), and from various cuts throughout Faces and Stones slabs.

Woody never plays in the pocket, never quite outlines the changes in the traditional sense, and never renders a conventional bass line!

And when Woody has his own albums to do, he enlists the best players to support him including Flea, Darryl Jones, Willie Weeks, Shaun Solomon, Doug Wimbish, Jimmy Haslip, Jay Davis, Pops Popwell, and part-timer Keith Richards. 

Ron Wood Sound & Vision…(KNOWYOURBASSPLAYER Spotify Playlist) 

The Jeff Beck Group:  

“Plynth” https://youtu.be/cHdd4PVJYdo

“Shapes of Things” https://youtu.be/pcsrASSQs2o

“Rock My Plimsoul” https://youtu.be/yWcgV4ZpW9Q

Rod Stewart:

“Street Fighting Man”  https://youtu.be/2kdboWc-DwY

“An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down”   https://youtu.be/qFt6RSJOtUU

“Maggie May” https://youtu.be/EOl7dh7a-6g

The Faces: “Three Button Hand Me Down” https://youtu.be/RF8O8uL4unI

Rolling Stones: “Emotional Rescue” https://youtu.be/U4dSIZ5QS7I

Courtesy of John Paul Jones Com

Rock journos tend to discuss the former John Baldwin as Led Zeppelin’s “secret weapon.” What’s the secret? John Paul Jones was up in the mix, his harmonic and rhythmic expertise as a bassist and keyboardist defined the band’s signature identity, and his musical knowledge expanded the range of Page, Plant, and Bonham’s artistry collectively and individually!

Previous to his tenure in Zep, Jones was an in-demand session cat, arranger, and producer on the fertile London studio scene of the early to mid-1960s. Among his higher profile credits included Donovan (“Hurdy Gurdy Man,” Mellow Yellow,” “Sunshine Superman”), the Rolling Stones (“She’s a Rainbow”), Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, Lulu, Shirley Bassey, Herman’s Hermits, and Jeff Beck to cite a select few.

According to lore, he joined forces with Page, a session colleague, out of boredom from long days and nights in the studio. Mentored by his musical parents Joe Baldwin: a big-band pianist, and singer / performer mom, Jones’ theoretical (and historical) expertise informed his work as a bassist.

Whereas most rock bassists tended to follow the guitarist (as many a player were converted six-stringers), Jones was heavily influenced by James Jamerson, James Brown, and the Stax cats. Akin to the Motown legend, Jones worked a soulful pocket with jazzy harmonic extensions which set Zep apart from the loud and proud motley.

He is cited by scores of bassists as a primary influence – however I’ve heard few hard rock players cop his rhythm and blues feel.  In particular, Led Zeppelin II is Jonesy’s masterpiece. JPJ’s main weapon of choice was the ’62 Fender Jazz, though he often brought the vogue Alembic on stage with him in the 1970s.

Led Zeppelin’s career trajectory has been extensively documented – no need to repeat it here! Following Zep’s demise, Jones continues to enjoy a diverse career, collaborating and composing with artists spanning jazz, experimental, and alternative rock.

John Paul Jones Sound & Vision as a bassist!

Led Zeppelin:

“Ramble On” https://youtu.be/EAmIuTI4wRg

“The Lemon Song” https://youtu.be/8gWbKAcuzN8

“The Crunge” https://youtu.be/CWf5FYSK7Yc

Diamanda Galas: Live https://youtu.be/AM45V5BIQPE

Them Crooked Vultures: Live on Rockpalast https://youtu.be/Ty8Yj2FCab4

Live with Lenny Kravitz: “Are You Gonna Go My Way” https://youtu.be/Ougf2ZIoqww

Solo JPJ: “Zooma” https://youtu.be/RFqSQ0Vvmx0