Throwback: Happy 80th Birthday, John Paul Jones!

It’s 2026 y’all. May it be a kinder, better year for all of us. January is a busy month for music birthdays. 

• Gang of Four co-founder and guitarist Andy Gill was born 70 years ago on January 1
• The pioneering and legendary Grandmaster Flash celebrated his 68th birthday on January 1
• French touch pioneer Thomas Bangalter, best known for his work in Stardust and the multi-Grammy Award-winning duo Daft Punk celebrates his 51st birthday today
• The legendary Stephen Stills, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as for being a solo artist, celebrates his 81st birthday today

Led Zeppelin‘s John Paul Jones celebrates his 80th — yes, 80th — birthday today. Jones has behind some of the most influential and important music ever recorded. Since Led Zeppelin’s breakup in 1980, Jones has been busy as an arranger, musician and producer: he famously wrote the gorgeous arrangements on R.E.M.s Automatic for the People, and he’s also known of his work with rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures with Foo Fighters‘ Dave Grohl, and Queens of the Stone Age‘s Josh Homme. 

Along with John Entwistle, Jones is one of the greatest rock bassists ever. The fact that he’s not recognized as such is criminal in my book. So let’s celebrate Jones, his work and his birthday today, eh? Happy birthday, John! May there be many, many more!

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