Flea named his favourite Led Zeppelin bass line
Led Zeppelin might be a classic rock act, but they have a timeless reach with their music, influencing people from across the genres, whether it be metal, grunge or even hip-hop. A dynamic outfit that made good on the promise of the 1960s by making music more expansive than ever, their arc is fascinating, taking on many artistic twists and turns. One figure they significantly impacted with their journey was Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea.
At first, it might seem strange that Flea is such a big fan of the British band. After all, he emerged from the 1980s Los Angeles punk scene, a movement spiritually and musically at odds with classic rock leviathans such as Led Zeppelin. This followed the first wave of the genre explicitly having these acts in its crosshairs for allegedly representing the very worst of excess.
Furthermore, although Led Zeppelin could joke about themselves, for the most part, their songs were rather serious, touching on an array of weighty subjects, from European mythologies to personal tragedies. Additionally, the group were committed to realising band leader and guitarist Jimmy Page’s ultimate creative vision, which made things much more intense, as it was a lifelong dream for him.
On the other hand, Flea and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are some of the most well-known jokers in rock. They have used their work to have a good time and lampoon the more ridiculous oddities of life.
However, there is a connection here. Led Zeppelin boasted one of the greatest bass players of all time, John Paul Jones, and he brought tangible funk to the party. He and drummer John Bonham formed a resounding rhythm section that ballasted the work of Page and frontman Robert Plant. They locked in many moments of brilliance, but one of the most potent is ‘Ramble On’ from 1969’s Led Zeppelin II.
A performance brimming with sheer technical verve and cerebral innovation, there is no doubt that it is one of Jones’ best, and for Flea, it is his favourite that the Londoner laid down with Led Zeppelin. He revealed this in 2023 when naming his three ultimate basslines on Twitter. As well as choosing the classic rock staple, he picked ‘Flashlight’ by Parliament and Alice Coltrane’s timeless ‘Journey in Satchidananda’.
This small list gives an enlightening peak into the mind of the most influential bassist of the past 30 years, and it’s no wonder that for his rockier side, Flea looks to ‘Ramble On’ as the pinnacle of this area. John Paul Jones was one of the first to fuse the genre with substantial grooves.
Listen to ‘Ramble On’ by Led Zeppelin below.
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