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Geddy Lee explains why John Paul Jones was the “unsung hero” of Led Zeppelin

Mon 1 January 2024 16:30, UK

Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee has many idols. From Paul McCartney to James Jamerson and more contemporary acts such as Björk, the Canadian has made it clear that he loves great music, no matter its era. Despite always having his finger on the cultural pulse, Led Zeppelin is one band Lee has gushed over more than any other.

Of course, this makes perfect sense, as for most rock lovers of Geddy Lee’s generation, the British band represent the pinnacle of musical achievement. While The Beatles might have opened the door for them and the other mass of essential groups that emerged simultaneously, the way that Led Zeppelin eclipsed the Fab Four as the most exciting band of their era was remarkable.

They did this by making rock darker and more expansive than it had ever been, fusing genuine artistic prowess with bold moves in the studio and an even braver dedication to an improvised style in the live setting. Whether it be their self-titled debut album, Led Zeppelin IV, or Presence, their 12 years in the sun were incredibly fruitful.

Luckily for Geddy Lee, he witnessed Led Zep in one of their most exciting periods, 1969, the year which produced their first two albums and saw the band rise meteorically with their earth-shattering sound. Understandably, this changed his life and showed him the way to a music career of his own that, before too long, would also be widely successful.

Recalling what happened that fateful day, Lee told Classic Rock in 2021: “That was August 18, 1969. They were doing two shows. We were at the first show. I went with John Rutsey (Original Rush drummer) and Alex (Lifeson). It was general admission. We lined up for hours.”

“We got in, and we sat in the second row,” he explained. “And I swear they didn’t walk out on stage – they floated out. They literally brought the house down because, by the end of the night, there was plaster falling from the ceiling”.

As well as witnessing the collective might of Led Zeppelin, that evening was also crucial for Geddy Lee in that it showed him the full extent of just how exceptional their bassist, John Paul Jones, truly was. Alas, the Rush four-string hero would describe the Zeppelin maestro as “the unsung hero” of the quartet.

He told Guitar World in 2014: “I saw them in Toronto at a little place called the Rockpile. We were in the second row, and when they played this song, it just blew me away. It reaffirmed for me all the creative potential in blending hard rock with progressive music. John Paul Jones was the unsung hero in that band”.

Watch Led Zeppelin live below.