**‘Nothing Like That at the Time’: Why John Paul Jones Was So Sure Led Zeppelin Were ‘The Best Bloody Band in the World’**
John Paul Jones, the enigmatic multi-instrumentalist and quiet force behind Led Zeppelin, rarely spoke in superlatives. Known for his understated presence and composed demeanor, Jones often stood in contrast to the flamboyant energy of Robert Plant and the mystic charisma of Jimmy Page. But in one rare moment of candid reflection, Jones made a bold statement: Led Zeppelin, he said, were “the best bloody band in the world.” And he meant it.
Unlike his bandmates, Jones was never one to bask in the glow of the spotlight. While Plant and Page attracted frenzied fan attention, and John Bonham often made headlines for his wild lifestyle, Jones remained in the background—working tirelessly on arrangements, experimenting with instrumentation, and quietly shaping the sonic foundation of the band. He would often slip in and out of cities unnoticed, avoiding interviews and sidestepping the chaos that came with the Zeppelin lifestyle.
Yet beneath that quiet exterior lay one of the most skilled and visionary musicians of his generation. A classically trained musician, Jones brought a level of sophistication and versatility to Led Zeppelin that set them apart from every other band on the scene. Whether it was the haunting Mellotron on “Kashmir,” the delicate mandolin on “Going to California,” or the thunderous bass lines of “Ramble On,” Jones’s fingerprints are all over Zeppelin’s most iconic tracks.
When asked years later why he was so confident in the band’s greatness, Jones pointed to their unique chemistry. “There was nothing like us at the time,” he said. “We could do blues, folk, hard rock, psychedelia, even funk—and we did it all better than anyone else. It wasn’t ego. It was just the truth. We knew it when we played.”
He also acknowledged the freedom that came from being the “invisible member” of the group. “Because I wasn’t always in the spotlight, I could really focus on the music,” Jones explained. “I wasn’t distracted by all the madness. That helped keep things grounded.”
John Paul Jones’s quiet confidence and unmatched musicianship played a critical role in making Led Zeppelin not just legendary—but untouchable. And when he said they were the best, he wasn’t boasting. He was simply stating a fact that rock history would go on to prove agai
n and again.
