Word: bassists
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...world premiere of Zappa's 200 Motels, written for the Mothers and orchestra. What the concert, held before 11,000 rock fans at the U.C.L.A. basketball arena, mainly proved is that any marriage between rock and the classics is likely to be stormy indeed. As the Mothers' Bassist Jeff ("Swoovette") Simmons said tolerantly of the orchestra: "Those dudes are really out of it, man. It's like working with people from another planet...
They step out of a Warhol movie, this rock and roll band. Pope Ondine and four Chelsea girls, Heavy Metal Kids fleeing the Nova Police. The drummer emerges from beyond a wall of amps, dreamily staring into space, slack-jawed and moronic; the bassist, his pasty skin framed by long dark lifeless hair, is a ringer for Mario Montez. Their new guitarist, the one discovered in a men's room, has powdered his face and lipsticked his already feminine mouth. The lead guitarist is dressed in black mariachi pants and spiky teased hair; there is a gold ring...
...remaining members of Led Zeppelin should be mentioned. John Paul Jones is a fluent bassist unseduced by the primordial roar or steadfastness of his instrument. but attracted rather to its opportunities for polyphony. Drummer John Bonham's distinguished use of syncopation unifies, maintains, and elucidates each song. Finally, vocalist Robert Plant provides a fourth instrument which counterpoints and impels the gathering thrust of each song. Plant has a theatrical, coruscating voice capable of a range of tones and speech rhythms equalled only by Paul McCartney. Plant is mainly responsible for raising Led Zeppelin above such groups as Cream, Procol Harum...
...vocal chorus or a swash of electronic sound, most of the time the instrumental textures are uncluttered by overdubbing. Rarely has John played better guitar than on I Want You (She's So Heavy), a cunning combination of two songs with a chilling, mean blues throb. Rarely have Bassist Paul and Drummer Ringo achieved more cohesive yet flexible rhythm than on Mean Mr. Mustard and Polythene...
Drummer Jones, Bassist Jimmy Garrison and Saxophonist/Flutist Joe Farrell continue their successful alliance. Leaping or striding in harmonic freedom is their thing, though they pause to explore free-time byways as well. On Sometimes Joie, Garrison coaxes quivering screeches or low-bowed hums from the bass, and on What Is This? Farrell skitters on soprano while Jones brushes out a rapid patter...