Classic rock bassist talks of his time with The Turtles, Frank Zappa… and the New York Jets
Exclusive video interview with FBPO’s Jon Liebman
November 13, 2023
Jim Pons is a bassist, singer and author. In the ‘60s, he founded The Leaves, a very successful band in California, after which he served as bass player for the Turtles, from 1967 to 1970. Jim also played with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, including that fateful night in Montreux, Switzerland, when, during the band’s performance, the entire venue burned to the ground, inspiring Deep Purple’s iconic “Smoke on the Water” hit. Following his successful music career, Jim worked his way up from an entry-level job with the New York Jets all the way up to becoming Video Director for the team. His award-winning autobiography is called Hard Core Love: Sex, Football and Rock and Roll in the Kingdom of God.
Watch our interview with Jim!
See Jon’s blog, with key takeaways from this interview here.
Thanks so much for posting this interview with Jim Pons, although he is somewhat dismissive with regard to his musical career and talent, I played bass and sang Hey Joe by The Leaves in 1967/68. Jim played the standard walking bass line underneath the chords at a faster tempo and when I was 12/13 I thought their uptempo version of the song was just great and very challenging. Eventually, I heard Hendrix/Tim Rose slowed blues version of the song which became the standard; my playing had progressed so that I understood the bass part by then and subsequently played the song in the Hendrix style on and off for over 50 years. Interesting unassuming instrument, back in 1967 I traded my home made go cart for a Danelectro single cutaway bass guitar and a Kingston amp when the music bug hit me and have played bass ever since. My influences back then were Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce and Jaco, who changed everything for me. Music never leaves but gigging sure gets old so I am now teaching myself acoustic/orchestral strings and getting back into the wind instruments I abandoned when I went electric in 67. I have a home studio and a great collection of bass and six string guitars along with some really classic electric bass and guitar amps. After I became an adult and with the help of EBay I was able to buy many of the instruments and amps I lusted after when I was younger and now I don’t have the heart to get rid of them. Father Time takes no prisoners so I am too old to do much publicly with them anymore. Anyhow, Jim Pons does not know me but I am one of his biggest fans and I greatly appreciate your interview with him, I also really appreciate hearing about the hotel fire in Montreux, I always wanted to better understand the backstory behind Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water, I had no idea Jim Pons was playing with Zappa there at the time, what a story, glad he survived, thanks again!