"Zeppelin's Jones, Galas Try New Terrain"
The collaboration of ex-Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and confrontational vocalist Diamanda Galas may seem as freakish as a double cream and battery acid smoothie. But remember, before Elvis peanut butter and banana sandwiches were considered outlandish too.
"It's less surprising once you hear what we've done," says Jones, 48. "I do believe there are some people at our shows going, 'What the hell are you doing?' But fortunately, they're the minority."
While the much-publicized reunion of Jones' ex-band mates Jimmy Page and Robert Plant finds the two milking old Zeppelin songs for all they're worth, Jones--who was never even contacted about the venture--is veering off into new terrain with Galas on their album "The Sporting Life."
Jones and Galas, who perform at the Wadsworth Theater on Sunday, meet on a bizarre plain just outside the realm of traditional rock, and bring with them a bristling edge of dark humor.
Galas lets her many dramatic voices rip, sounding as if she's channeling dozens of turbulent souls through her thin frame, while Jones--playing eight-string bass and lap steel guitar, co-writing half the songs and producing the record--provides a weighty foundation of menacing blues and rock.
Jones is not only comfortable with the pairing, but also draws parallels between his recent and past work.
"Zeppelin was always known at the time, at least I thought, as being innovative and exciting on stage," says Jones, who hooked up with Galas last year at the urging of a mutual friend. "We're doing both of those things. It's basically a rock act with some blues, some soul. . . . Like Zeppelin, we cover a lot of bases."
Since Zeppelin split in 1980, Jones has played with Brian Eno, written music for R.E.M., produced a Butthole Surfers record and scored several films, among other endeavors. He's been a fan of Galas since his wife introduced him to the artist's 1982 debut album, but Zeppelin is something Galas only recently discovered.
While Jones was playing "Stairway to Heaven" to stadiums full of kids in the '70s, the San Diego-born Galas was honing her performances in subterranean Berlin.
"A few years back I was touring with some people who were listening to Zeppelin a lot," she says in a separate interview. "I kept saying, 'Damn, what is this? The bass and drums are just killer!' They said it's the Jones and (John) Bonham rhythm section, and I thought 'Now that's the kind of power I'm looking for.' "
Jones' presence has brought a lot of new fans into the dramatic realm of Galas, and has also given Jones a chance to spread his wings a little.
"I'm glad to be doing something that's 'out there,' that's challenging," Jones says. "It's not some airy, weird
stuff, but instead hard, uncompromising and ultimately satisfying."
* Galas and Jones play Sunday at the Wadsworth Theater, Veterans Administration grounds, Brentwood, 8p.m. $26 and $23. (310) 825-2101.
(The unlikely pair joins forces to create a sound just
outside the realm of traditional rock.)