Claim: Led Zeppelin is an English rock band.

John Richard Baldwin -LRB- born 3 January 1946 -RRB- , better known by his stage name John Paul Jones , is an English multi-instrumentalist , songwriter , composer , arranger and record producer . Best known as the bassist for the English rock band Led Zeppelin , Jones has since developed a solo career . A versatile musician , Jones also plays organ , guitar , koto , lap steel guitars , mandolin , autoharp , violin , ukulele , sitar , cello , continuum and recorder .   According to AllMusic , Jones `` has left his mark on rock & roll music history as an innovative musician , arranger , and director . '' Jones is part of the band Them Crooked Vultures with Josh Homme and Dave Grohl , in which he plays bass guitar , keyboards , and other instruments . In 2014 , Jones ranked first on Paste magazine 's list of `` 20 Most Underrated Bass Guitarists . '' and in its special `` 100 Greatest Bass Players '' issue in 2017 , Bass Player Magazine placed Jones at twenty first .