THE STARSHIP TAKES OFF...AGAIN
This City On Rock ’N’ Roil” and “Sara” been two of the biggest hits of the last several months, leading some people to wonder if this Starship group is some new band. Well, the answer to that is both yes and no. The Starship is a new band on one hand.
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THE STARSHIP TAKES OFF...AGAIN
This City On Rock ’N’ Roil” and “Sara” been two of the biggest hits of the last several months, leading some people to wonder if this Starship group is some new band. Well, the answer to that is both yes and no. The Starship is a new band on one hand. On the other hand, the band is built on a legacy that goes back to the ’60s when people were talking about love, peace, flower power, revolution and something called the Woodstock Nation.
The roots of the Starship began with a band called the Jefferson Airplane, formed in the San Francisco hippie district called Haight-Ashbury during the mid30' The band was formed by Paul (antner and Marty Balin, began playing jhe local ballrooms, replaced their female eat. singer with Grace Slick, recorded [Somebody To Love” and ‘‘White Rabbit” 3a :d on Alice In Wonderland)—which loo :an still hear on the “oldies” radio stations today—and the rest is history.
The band was one of those most closely |ss‘. jiated with counterculture revolution, Jut oy the early 70s, internal friction sc n to split the band apart.
B.-.in left for awhile, but returned in the |iid70s to help a new version of the in called the Jefferson Starship. The in s lead guitarist, bassist and drummer |er new, but core members Kantner and Mick remained—and the band scored ;v al hit singles with Balin’s compelling jc. s, including the million-selling \/li cles.” Balin soon became se chanted with the band again, leaving jr eener pastures. In the late 70s, jrsonal problems forced Grace Slick to Ike ; sabbatical from the group, and she was replaced by Mickey Thomas, who formerly sang with the Elvin Bishop Band on the hit single, “Fooled Around And Fell In Love.” The band persevered in this formation until Grace returned. Then it was Kantner’s turn to leave in this group of musical chairs, but this time the former band leader (and Grace's former boyfriend) sued to take the “Jefferson” part of the name with him.
So the remaining members (only Grace remains from the original Jefferson Airplane) are taking off again, hitting the charts with some of the year’s biggest smash singles. Word has it that Kantner recently got together with the Jefferson Airplane’s original bassist (Jack Cassady), drummer (Spence Dryden), not to mention Balin, to perform a gig. Who knows? Maybe the old gang will reform with the new gang for a gigantic Jefferson Airplane/Starship reunion! Revolution in the streets in the 1980s? Stranger things have happened!
