This is the 13th part of the transcript of my interview with John Paul Jones, conducted Dec. 10, 2001.
SPS: It was actually about two years ago, October ’99, you played in Philadelphia. During that live version of "Snake Eyes," I said, "Man, that is definitely some King Crimson influence right there." JPJ: Oh really?
SPS: Yeah, just the way that it’s so progressive and things like that. The instrumentation…
JPJ: Well, we always used to think that Zeppelin was a progressive rock band until it became [laughing] a slightly dirty word. Well, we thought we played progressive rock. People asked, "What sort of band are you?" I said I had played progressively – progressive rock – thinking that it just meant forward-thinking as opposed to anything [inaudible, laughing]. But you’re right, "Snake Eyes" was, oops. "Snake Eyes" was in its truest sense progressive rock. ... [laughing] And again, my only record on that label…
SPS: I love trying to figure out how to play "Snake Eyes." I have perfect pitch, so things sort of come naturally, but I mean, when it’s that discordant, it’s tough.
JPJ: Yeah, it’s tough.
SPS: I once figured it out, but I’ve since forgotten. Sort of like, "What’s Jimmy’s symbol mean?" "I used to know."
JPJ: Who knows? I don’t think anybody knows.
On to part 14: John Paul Jones on the "tight" Zeppelin.
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