The Ups and Downs of Flying Jefferson Airplane

From the drug fueled haze of Haight-Ashbury came a gathering of musicians that would shake the pop charts and alter rock music. The music identified with this area will last a lifetime. It will continue to sell decades after the bands have broken up. One of those bands was Jefferson Airplane. The story and arc of this band takes some strange turns. This is a story that will open with a bang and loose steam as we go on. 

Jefferson Airplane started in 1965. The band line up will change as well as their style as they find themselves. 1967 was the year that it all came together. The winning band was Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukomen, Spencer Dryden, Jack Cassady and Grace Slick. They made the album Surrealistic Pillow. Their signature song, White Rabbit was a pop-psychadelic hit. The song combined Alice in Wonderland, drugs and a haunting closing line of “feed your head.” 

It was shocking, revolutionary and so good that it made the same Top 40 occupied by The Monkees, Tommy James and Shondells, and the Beatles. 

The same album had a remake of a song that Grace Slick brought from her first band. Someone To Love was pure power rock pop. Easy to sing along with and great guitars. 

Jefferson Airplane became a big touring band. They played coast to coast to sell out crowds. They became so successful that two of the members started the band “Hot Tuna,” another legendary San Francisco band. 

Follow up singles weren’t as successful. It didn’t matter because they were in demand on the road. They played Central Park in August 1969. They played Woodstock and Altamont. They were regulars at the Filmore East. 

This was a lot of touring in those years. The tolls of the road caused the first splinters in the band. Spencer Dryden left the band in 1970. Marty Balin left the band in 1971. 

How could they continue? Should they continue?

There were solo records. Side projects and lawsuits over the band name and rights. The new songs aren't the blockbusters they thought they would be. Jack Cassady is out. Jorma Kaukonen leaves.

And the momentum looses steam. 

People still like this band. People know these band member names. Kantner, Slick, John Creach, Peter Kaukonen, John Barbata and David Freiberg. They can’t just kill the band, how about just alter things? 

Jefferson Starship. 

Sure. Let's get with the future. Forget airplanes. We get starship. A new type of band. 

The band starts big on tour. They release albums that sell. Marty Balin returns to the fold. Things are like the old days again.  They release the big album “Red Octopus” in 1975. The big hit, Count on Me, is all over the radio. it’s more adult contemporary. It’s not power pop, but it’s got rhythm. Listen to it and it will stay with you all day. 

Balin leaves again, but that will not stop this hit making, touring band. They get Mickey Thomas as a co-lead singer. One of the hugest songs of the 1970s, Miracles comes out. Another soft rock ballad. In the era of disco, rock and roll icons Jefferson Starship have one of their biggest hits. 

Then the Starship looses it's way. The record sales slow again. Touring is lucrative but tiring. What should they do? After a decade, should they fold up? Should they become a legacy band?  

Next week, The Ship will rise again!!!!!