Jefferson Starship Information

American band members Jefferson Airplane were pioneers of the LSD-influenced psychedelic rock movement. Their performance at Woodstock in 1969 is considered by many to be one of the most memorable moments of rock 'n roll. The group formed on the West Coast during the summer of 1965. Singer Marty Balin recruited Paul Kantner, guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, vocalist Signe Toly Anderson, drummer Jerry Peloquin, and bassist Bob Harvey. Inspired by bands such as the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Lovin' Spoonful, they soon built a following at the Matrix Club.

Their first appearance was at the Matrix Club in August 1965, and later that year they were signed to RCA Victor; they released Jefferson Airplane Takes Off the next year. Two of the members were replaced, and by the time the band went to the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967 they were nationally famous instead of just locally famous. After Jefferson Airplane performed at Woodstock, they followed that up with a free performance with the Rolling Stones at Altamont speedway in California.

By 1970, Jefferson Airplane had released five more albums. A string of hits including "White Rabbit," "Somebody to Love," and "Embryonic Journey," each of which focused on a little different variation of folk music. Shortly after The Worst of Jefferson Airplane was released in 1970, Balin left the group, Kantner and Slick fired Dryden, and the group continued on without them. Around the same time, Kaukonen and Casady began working with their side band Hot Tuna.

The last official Jefferson Airplane release for quite some time would be Early Flight in 1974. In the early 1970s, Kantner joined with an ad hoc group of musicians to form Jefferson Starship and release Blows Against the Empire. Included in the line up were David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzman, and Mickey Hart. But by 1973, Kantner and Casady were focusing on Hot Tuna. There was a new Jefferson Starship line up in 1974.

In 1984, Kantner left the group, but not before taking legal action and the Jefferson name. His remaining band mates wanted to continue on as Jefferson Starship, but they would have to go on as Starship. After a number of releases the band disbanded by 1990.

Since Early Flight in 1974, there have been a number of Jefferson Airplane compilation albums before and after 1995's Live at the Monterey Festival.

Today there are two versions of Jefferson Starship. One of them is Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, and the revived Jefferson Starship, with Kantner and Balin. David Freiberg joined Kantner and Balin in 2005 for the Jefferson Family Galactic Reunion, and continues to tour with the band into 2006.

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