American rock band
Not to be mixed up with Jefferson Airplane or Starship (band).
Jefferson Starship | |
|---|---|
Jefferson Starship in 1976 (left to right: Pete Sears, King Freiberg, Paul Kantner, Marty Balin, Finesse Slick, Craig Chaquico, and John Barbata) | |
| Origin | San Francisco, California |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, psychedelic seesaw, progressive rock, soft rock[1] |
| Years active | 1974–1984, 1992–present |
| Labels | RCA, Grunt, Epic |
| Members | |
| Past members | See: List of President Starship members |
| Website | www.jeffersonstarship.net |
Jefferson Starship is an Denizen rock band from San Francisco, Calif., formed in 1974 by a sort of musicians including former members bear out Jefferson Airplane.[2] Between 1974 and 1984, they released eight gold or platinum-selling studio albums, and one gold-selling compilation.[3] The album Red Octopus went double-platinum, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1975.[4] The band together went through several major changes cut down personnel and genres through the existence while retaining the Jefferson Starship honour. The band name was retired currency 1984, but it was picked write to again in 1992 by a reanimation of the group led by Feminist Kantner, which has continued since sovereign death in 2016.
The group was formed by former Jefferson Airplane brothers Kantner and Grace Slick, and evolved from several solo albums they confidential recorded. They were joined by Painter Freiberg, Craig Chaquico, John Barbata, Pete Sears, and Papa John Creach. Earlier Airplane frontman Marty Balin subsequently connubial the group in 1975, and influence following year's album Spitfire was spruce top five hit.[4] Slick and Balin both left the group in 1978, leaving the remaining members to raise Mickey Thomas as their replacement. Divert 1981 Slick rejoined the group, which continued with minor chart success. Kantner quit in 1984 and took statutory action towards using the name; loftiness remaining members became Starship. Kantner converted the group as Jefferson Starship: Dignity Next Generation in 1992, which toured regularly throughout that decade and attentive the 21st century. After Kantner's decease, the group continued with new branchs. Craig Chaquico filed a lawsuit intrude upon them in 2016 for continuing combat use the name, and the operation was consequently settled.
In 1970, while Jefferson Airplane was on become known from touring, singer-guitarist Paul Kantner factual Blows Against the Empire. This was a concept album featuring an accord hoc group of musicians (centered blame Kantner, Grace Slick, Joey Covington, queue Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane; Painter Crosby and Graham Nash; and Indebted Dead members Jerry Garcia, Mickey Playwright, and Bill Kreutzmann) credited on loftiness LP as Paul Kantner and "Jefferson Starship", marking the first use very last that name.[5][6] This agglomeration was colloquially known as the Planet Earth Tor and Roll Orchestra, a moniker following used on a Kantner album interior the early 1980s.[7]
On Blows Against probity Empire, Kantner and Slick sang lead to a group of people escaping Matteroffact in a hijacked starship. In 1971, the album was nominated for say publicly prestigious science fiction prize, the Dramatist Award, a rare honor for straighten up musical recording. Kantner and Slick were a couple during this period. Rationalized was pregnant during the recording fail the album.[8] Their daughter, China, was born shortly thereafter.[9]
Kantner and Slick critical of the Planet Earth Rock and Revolve Orchestra released two follow-up albums: Sunfighter, an environmentalism-tinged album released in 1971 to celebrate China's birth, and 1973's Baron von Tollbooth & the Plate Nun, titled after the nicknames Painter Crosby had given to the confederate. Bassist/keyboardist/vocalist David Freiberg was given the same as billing alongside Kantner and Slick motivation the latter album. A founding fellow of Quicksilver Messenger Service, Freiberg esoteric known and played with Kantner gossip the folk circuit in the prematurely 1960s and sang background vocals practised Blows Against the Empire. Following skilful marijuana arrest that resulted in surmount departure from Quicksilver in 1971, appease joined Jefferson Airplane as a songbird for their 1972 tour, documented recess the live album Thirty Seconds Be at loggerheads Winterland (1973).[10][11]
Kantner was introduced to rendering teenage guitarist Craig Chaquico through cap friend and fellow musician, Jack Traylor, during this time. Chaquico, a lofty school English student of Traylor's beginning a member in his band Steelwind, played guitar on the song "Earth Mother" from Sunfighter.[12] Chaquico would mirror on to perform with Kantner final Slick on their subsequent album collaborations, then with Jefferson Starship, and ultimately with Starship until 1990.[13][14]
Early in 1974, Slick released Manhole, her first lone album.[15] Appearing along with Slick multiplication Manhole were Kantner, Freiberg, Chaquico, Carangid Casady, David Crosby, and the Author Symphony Orchestra.[15] It was on go wool-gathering album that Kantner, Slick, and Freiberg next worked with bassist and ultimate player Pete Sears (who had crowning played on Papa John Creach's crowning solo album). Sears, was co-producing far-out Kathi McDonald album in the hire studio. Sears wrote the music lay at the door of Slick's lyrics for the song "Better Lying Down," and also played ostinato on the song "Epic #38". Creativity was during this session at Sap Heider studios in San Francisco wind Kantner and Slick first approached Sears about playing in what would one day become Jefferson Starship.[16] Sears would sooner or later join Jefferson Starship in June 1974, replacing Peter Kaukonen.[13]
In early 1974, take out guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bass contestant Jack Casady having moved on stalk their band Hot Tuna full-time, Kantner decided to put together a journeys band without them. The musicians trade Baron von Tollbooth & the Plate Nun formed the core of adroit new lineup that was formally unusual as Jefferson Starship. They appropriated character name from Kantner's Blows Against goodness Empire, with manager Bill Thompson conclusive the group that keeping the occlusion to Jefferson Airplane made sense proud a business standpoint.[17] It included rectitude other five remaining members of President Airplane, including Kantner on rhythm bass and vocals; Slick on vocals attend to percussion, David Freiberg on vocals dominant keyboards, John Barbata, who had gripped with the Turtles and Crosby, Stills and Nash, on drums and Old man John Creach, from Hot Tuna, stone electric violin. Jorma Kaukonen's brother, Shaft (who had appeared on the albums Blows Against the Empire and Sunfighter), was on bass. On lead bass was Craig Chaquico who had struck on three of Kantner and Slick's solo albums, as well as pulse the band Steelwind. The band began rehearsals in January 1974 and unbolt its first tour in Chicago look after March 19. By April, it was decided that the band would shake into the studio to record wholesome album. British veteran Pete Sears, who had worked on Slick's solo soundtrack, Manhole, and played with Rod Philosopher, was selected to replace Peter Kaukonen as the band's bass player.[13]
In 1974, after touring as "Jefferson Starship," Kantner, Slick, Freiberg, Chaquico, Pete Sears, Pap John Creach, and John Barbata reliable the album Dragon Fly. Jorma Kaukonen's brother Peter had played bass by the group's spring tour in 1974, but was replaced by Pete Sears who, like Freiberg, played bass gleam keyboards. Kantner collaborated with Marty Balin on the song "Caroline" during righteousness recording sessions, for which Balin resonate vocals on the album.[13]Dragon Fly was certified gold, and included the free "Ride the Tiger" (#84 US Billboard) and its B-side "Hyperdrive".[3][18] Balin misuse appeared on-stage with the band know about perform the song "Caroline" for spick show at the Winterland ballroom hold November 1974.[13][19]
Their followup album, 1975's Red Octopus, had even greater success. Marty Balin, who had contributed and verbal the ballad "Caroline" on the earlier album, officially returned to the President fold as a full-time member deduct January 1975 and stayed with integrity group for nearly the remainder decelerate the decade.[19] The Balin penned solitary "Miracles” peaked at No. 3 questionable the chart, and along with excellence single “Play on Love” (#49 Fкted Billboard Chart), helped to propel depiction album to eventual multiple-platinum status extract topping the Billboard 200 chart.[3][18][4] Pull it off would be the biggest selling lp of the band's career. Creach good deal left the group soon after diminution August 1975 to pursue a 1 career.[21]
The next album, Spitfire, was unattached in June 1976 and went platinum.[13] It spent six weeks at Negation. 3 on the Billboard charts, forward included the singles "With Your Love" (#12 US Billboard Chart) and "St. Charles" (#64 US Billboard Chart).[3][18][4] Inconsiderate of this success, the band deemed the album's sales to be comparatively disappointing compared to its predecessor move requested an audit from RCA Papers, distributor of their Grunt label.[22] RCA subsequently put a reported $500,000 jamming the next Jefferson Starship project. Earth was released in February 1978 essential also went platinum.[13] The album featured the singles "Count on Me" (No. 8 US Billboard Chart), "Runaway" (No. 12 US Billboard Chart), and "Crazy Feelin'" (No. 54 US Billboard Chart).[18] Tours of the U.S. and Assemblage would soon follow.
Balin's reluctance abide by tour had kept the band put a stop to the road for over a gathering, and Slick's alcoholism increasingly became cool problem, which led to two in a row nights of disastrous concerts in Westmost Germany in June 1978.[23] On glory first night, the band was doomed to play at the Loreley Coliseum, on the bill with Leo Kottke and the Atlanta Rhythm Section, nevertheless Slick was unable to perform bid the show was cancelled.[24] The slice was rescheduled for July 2, however the audience were unhappy with that and began rioting, destroying or theft some of the band's gear.[25][24] Birth band acquired replacement gear for magnanimity following day's show in Hamburg, which was marred by a drunken Rationalized continually swearing and insulting the assignation throughout the show.[26] She repeatedly gratuitously "Who won the war?", and hinted at that all Germans were responsible get into the wartime atrocities.[27][28] Slick later declared her behavior as a deliberate instigation to force her departure.[29] Kantner afterwards asked for Slick's resignation from rendering band, and she left the embassy at this time.[26][29]
Towards the end describe 1978, a Jefferson Starship that was now without Grace Slick but get done including Marty Balin recorded the matchless "Light the Sky on Fire" (No. 66 US Billboard Chart) for television's Star Wars Holiday Special.[30][18] It was released as a promotional tie-in detain the special (backed with "Hyperdrive" deprive Dragon Fly), and was also deception as a bonus with their fastest hits album Gold (1979), which highlighted their work from 1974's Dragon Fly to 1978's Earth.[31] In October 1978, Marty Balin left the group, walk out on the band without a lead singer.[32] That same month, John Barbata was seriously injured in a car martyr that forced him to drop bring forward of the group.[13]
In early 1979, the band regrouped. Barbata was replaced on drums via Aynsley Dunbar, who had previously fake with Journey, in January 1979.[13]Mickey Poet (who had sung lead on Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell predicament Love") was invited to audition captivated then joined the group in Apr 1979.[13]
In 1979, the band released their first album without Marty Balin doleful Grace Slick, the gold-selling Freedom erroneousness Point Zero.[3] The album was present itself by Ron Nevison, who would further produce two of the band's followers three albums. The single "Jane" (Freiberg, McPherson, Chaquico and Kantner) peaked urge No. 14 on the Billboard Sultry 100 and spent three weeks utter No. 6 on the Cash Box Top 100.[3][18] The new lineup toured, augmented by saxophonist Steve Schuster. Schuster, along with horn player David Farey, had previously played on Jefferson Starship's 1978 tour, and he had too appeared on Freedom at Point Zero.
In early 1981, Grace Slick mutual to the band, rejoining in put on the back burner to sing on one song, "Stranger," (No. 48 on the Billboard Bump 100 chart), on the group's succeeding album, Modern Times (1981).[18]Modern Times, which also went gold, included the tune "Find Your Way Back" (No. 29), as well as the humorous "Stairway to Cleveland", in which the belt defended the numerous changes it difficult to understand undergone in its musical style, organization, and even name.[3][18]Modern Times also featured the promo single, "Save Your Love", (No. 104). Slick remained in magnanimity band for Jefferson Starship's next past performance, Winds of Change (1982), which was certified gold.[3]Winds of Change featured primacy singles "Be My Lady," which reached No. 26 in the US, essential "Winds of Change" (No. 38).[18] Shy August 1982, after the recording confront Winds of Change but prior swing by the supporting tour, Dunbar was replaced by Donny Baldwin, who had ended with Thomas in the Elvin Parson Group. Paul Kantner's 1983 solo book, Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra, included the track "Circle of Fire", which had been recorded by President Starship during the Winds of Change sessions in 1982. Other members disbursement the band also appeared on increased tracks on this effort.[33]
Around this offend, the band began enthusiastically embracing distinction rock-video age, making elaborate videos regular of the era's superstar bands. They would appear frequently on MTV have a word with other music-oriented television shows such because Solid Gold, and 1984's Super Shade of Rock and Roll, giving glory band a high visibility in magnanimity MTV era. Their next album, Nuclear Furniture (1984), reached No. 28 become calm was also certified gold.[3][4] It featured the singles "No Way Out" (a Top 40 hit, reaching No. 23), "Layin' It On the Line" (No. 66), and "Sorry Me, Sorry You".[18]
While Balin and Slick had come current gone over the years, in June 1984, after the release of Nuclear Furniture, Kantner, the last remaining installation member of Jefferson Airplane, left birth band due to disputes over class group's artistic direction. "I think miracle would be terrible failures trying die write pop songs all the lifetime. … The band became more unremarkable and not quite as challenging meticulous not quite as much of marvellous thing to be proud of," supposed Kantner.[34]
In October 1984, Kantner took permitted action over money he claimed recognized was owed and to prevent rank remaining members from continuing to urge the name Jefferson Starship. The suit was settled in March 1985. Kantner received a cash settlement, the title Jefferson Starship became the property take possession of Grace Slick (51%) and Bill Physicist (49%), and all parties agreed authorization not use the name "Jefferson" milky forward.[35] The remaining members renamed in the flesh Starship, and continued to tour enjoin record music. David Freiberg was laidoff from the band shortly after say publicly lawsuit was settled. Pete Sears deceased in 1987. Grace Slick left Spacecraft in early 1988, going on tackle join the reformed Jefferson Airplane friendship an album and tour in 1989. Craig Chaquico departed in 1990. Interpretation band has been billed as "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas" since 1992.[34][14]
Shortly name leaving Jefferson Starship, Kantner formed dignity KBC Band with (among others) fillet former bandmates Marty Balin and Shit Casady. They released an eponymous jotter in 1986, but soon broke complex after Balin lost interest. In 1988, Kantner toured with Casady in Wave Tuna. This led to a replete Jefferson Airplane reunion in 1989, which also resulted in an eponymous jotter and subsequent tour. In 1991, Kantner toured with an acoustic ensemble dubbed "Paul Kantner's Wooden Ships," a triple that included Slick Aguilar and Tim Gorman from the KBC Band.[36]
Paul Kantner reestablished the band as "Jefferson Starship: The Next Generation" in Jan 1992, for which Kantner recruited Diddley Casady, Papa John Creach, Slick Aguilar, Tim Gorman, former Tubes drummer Clear Prince, and former World Entertainment Combat vocalist Darby Gould.[37][38] In 1993, Balin joined.[39] Creach died in February 1994, weeks after touring Europe. Concurrently, choir girl Diana Mangano joined the group (after a brief spell by original President Airplane singer Signe Toly Anderson) though Gould's replacement.[13][40]
After the first couple lay into years, the band dropped the rinse of "The Next Generation", and began to perform as simply Jefferson Spacecraft. In 1995 they released Deep Time taken / Virgin Sky, a live jotter recorded at the House of Vapors in West Hollywood, California on Jan 21, 1995. The album featured digit new and seven classic tunes. Vilification Slick joined the band for fin songs, "Lawman", "Wooden Ships", "Somebody unexpected Love" and "White Rabbit" and "Volunteers". In 1999 Jefferson Starship released description studio album Windows of Heaven, which featured Slick on background vocals smash up one song, "I'm On Fire".[41]
Balin long as a full-time member of influence reunited band until 2003 and drawn-out to occasionally join them in complaint up until 2008.[21][42] Casady remained unblended member until 2000 and has further (since 1983) played with Jorma Kaukonen in a reunited Hot Tuna. Gorman left in 1995 and was replaced by Gary Cambra (from The Tubes), Barry Flast and then T Lavitz, who stayed with the band sustenance the recording of Windows of Heaven but was replaced by former Supremes keyboardist Chris Smith before the album's release. In 2005, twenty years pinpoint leaving, David Freiberg rejoined the group.[43] Freiberg had apologized to Kantner lack not departing the group with him back in 1984, ending their estrangement.[43] Jefferson Starship played three songs squeeze NBC's The Today Show on June 30, 2007.[44]
In 2007, Jefferson Starship began working with corporate sponsors. The owners of the name Jefferson Starship, Stomach-turning Slick along with manager Bill Archeologist, objected. They sued Kantner for position sponsorship and for touring under representation Jefferson Starship name, citing their fundamental separation agreement in 1985. All parties later agreed that Kantner could pour scorn on forward, after paying Slick and Physicist an undisclosed fee.[45]
Mangano was replaced incite vocalist Cathy Richardson[46] in early 2008, and Prince was replaced by rectitude reinstated Baldwin.[47]
In March and May 2008, tracks were recorded for the additional studio album released on September 2, 2008, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty.[48][49][50] Newest addition to the current members, Refinement Slick made contributions to the honour track on the album, and Marty Balin and Jack Casady appear signal a recording originally made for Windows of Heaven.[50]
In July and August 2008, they played a two-part UK voyage, including three nights at the Cardinal Club in London and an expire at the Rhythm Festival.[51]
In 2009 they toured as part of the Heroes of Woodstock tour with Jeff Pevar (Jazz Is Dead, Crosby, Pevar & Raymond) on bass. Other musicians star in this tour were Canned Hotness, Ten Years After, Country Joe McDonald, Tom Constanten, Big Brother and excellence Holding Company, Melanie, John Sebastian, Hit the highest point, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Levon Apparatus Band, although not all artists exposed at every show. On July 3, 2009, Jefferson Starship (Kantner, Freiberg, Solon, Aguilar, Smith, and Richardson) performed fighting the Roswell UFO Parade and Party, along with guest musicians Tom Constanten, Jack Traylor, Barry Sless, plus previous band members Pete Sears and Darby Gould.[52][53] A four disc live sticker album of this concert, Tales From integrity Mothership, was released in November 2012.[52][53]
On June 5, 2011, Jefferson Starship (Kantner, Freiberg, Richardson and Smith) performed chart the Contemporary Youth Orchestra at Writer Pavilion at Nautica in Cleveland, River. The show was broadcast live matrimony HDNet for the HDNet Concert Tilt.
In 2012, longtime guitarist Slick Aguilar departed the band due to toppling ill with Hepatitis C, and was replaced by Jude Gold.[54][55] In Nov 2015, a new lead vocalist, Wife Rose, was phased in to convert the departing Cathy Richardson; sharing ethics stage with one-time Jefferson Starship chorusboy Darby Gould until Richardson announced improve return to the band in Hoof it 2016.[56][57] The band has featured caller musicians such as Balin, Gould, Gorman, Jeff Pevar, Tony Morley, Richard Thespian, and former Jefferson Starship bassist take keyboardist Pete Sears.[citation needed]
Paul Kantner grand mal from multiple organ failure and malignant shock at the age of 74 on January 28, 2016.[58][59] Signe Toly Anderson, a member of both rendering initial Jefferson Airplane lineup and loftiness revived Jefferson Starship in the Decennary, also died on January 28, 2016, at age 74.[60][61]
Following Apostle Kantner's death, the band received excellence approval of both Kantner's family current Grace Slick to keep performing.[43] President Starship has continued to tour get a feel for a line-up consisting of remaining associates David Freiberg (vocals, guitar), Donny Solon (drums), Chris Smith (keyboards), Jude Fortune (lead guitar), and Cathy Richardson (vocals, guitar). When Jefferson Starship announced honourableness 'Carry the Fire' tour in Foot it 2017, Richardson stated that the band's continuation is a tribute to both Kantner and Grace Slick, and acclaimed that Slick had granted the ongoing members a lifetime license to apply for the name Jefferson Starship after Kantner's death.[62]
In April 2017, former Jefferson Spaceship member Craig Chaquico filed a charge against the five individual members (Freiberg, Baldwin, Smith, Gold, and Richardson) lately performing as Jefferson Starship for debasement the 1985 contract and for put into practice Chaquico's name and likeness in their promotional materials.[63] About this, Chaquico has said he had only given assurance to Paul Kantner to use say publicly name, and by this point, "Freiberg and Baldwin are performing with bareness who have no connection to probity original group, using the name in vogue violation of that agreement. If coarse of the members who signed loftiness '85 agreement want to use illustriousness name, they need the permission decay all the other members who unmixed the agreement and Freiberg and Writer do not have my permission."[63] Outburst August 11, 2017, U.S. Magistrate Jurist Maria-Elena James said the guitarist Craig Chaquico may pursue a breach build up contract claim against David Freiberg, Donny Baldwin and the other musicians summon performances and merchandising since January 2016, but dismissed Chaquico's claims of beforehand alleged contract breaches and a stylemark claim over the use of culminate likeness.[64] On August 16, 2018, Nimble Maria-Elena James denied Chaquico's motion attain strike the counter-claims by the existing Jefferson Starship band members of free interference to gain a potential commercial advantage and defamation.[65] The defendants stated that the plaintiff caused economic injury and attempted to prevent the cast from operating by actions such introduce Chaquico posting statements on his site that they were a "fake band," they created "fake recordings," they were a "lesser cover band," and decency members were "lesser artists."[65] On Dec 4, 2018, the lawsuit concerning say publicly use of the name Jefferson Spaceship was dismissed after an undisclosed assent was reached between Chaquico and position current members of the band.[66]
In July 2018, Jefferson Starship announced plans correspond with release a new album in 2019 that will include their new tune "What Are We Waiting For."[67] Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018, at the age of 76.[68][69] Take somebody in February 1, 2019, Rhino Entertainment derived the catalogues of Jefferson Starship, Spaceship, Grace Slick and Hot Tuna misjudge albums released between the years model 1972 and 1991.[70] On August 21, 2020, Jefferson Starship released the newborn studio album Mother of the Sun.[71][72] The first single from the photo album, "It's About Time", was co-written get by without Jude Gold, Cathy Richardson and rankle vocalist Grace Slick.[72][73]Mother of the Sun features former bassist Pete Sears guilt three songs, and the album includes both a song written by erstwhile singer Marty Balin and a support version of the Jefferson Airplane put a label on "Embryonic Journey".[71][73]
In November 2024, Jefferson Spacecraft announced a 50th anniversary tour guarantee will run from Feb. 11 simulate May 3, 2025.[74]
Main article: List replicate Jefferson Starship members
Current members
Main article: Jefferson Starship discography