Category: Celebrities

JEFFERSON STARSHIP, a collaboration of celebrated musicians that plays from the rich songbook of its legendary forefathers JEFFERSON AIRPLANE and the original incarnation of JEFFERSON STARSHIP, prevails as one of the most critically acclaimed touring acts today. Steeped in the fantastic realms of science fiction and the contemporary American shadowland, JEFFERSON STARSHIP features a stellar cast of old and new players, including songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Paul Kantner, vocalist Marty Balin, both of whom founded JEFFERSON AIRPLANE and were crucial in developing the renowned “San Francisco Sound” that changed the course of pop music forever.

In 1965, Kantner and Balin formed JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, embarking from Balin’s San Francisco nightclub The Matrix. With Casady, guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, vocalist Signe Anderson and drummer Skip Spence, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE became the first San Francisco rock group to sign a recording contract with a major label. Their first album on RCA, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, was released in 1966. Vocalist Grace Slick joined the AIRPLANE in 1967, bringing with her, the hits “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit,” anthems that announced the “Summer of Love “and permanently altered the perspective of an entire generation. Both songs hit the Top 10 that year, making JEFFERSON AIRPLANE the most successful rock band in America.

In 1995, JEFFERSON STARSHIP headlined a tribute to Papa John at Hollywood’s House of Blues, broadcast nationally on the CBS Radio Network Concert Series. With very special guest Grace Slick (in herlast live performance to date), they debuted new material, together with timeless classics, comprising the 1995 release Deep Space/Virgin Sky. In 1996 PAUL KANTNER & MARTY BALIN were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame as part of JEFFERSON AIRPLANE. In 1997, much sought, session keyboardist Chris Smith (DIANA ROSS, LOU BEGA) joined the band on a full-time basis.

Since reforming in 1992, JEFFERSON STARSHIP has performed almost 800 concerts in 18 countries. They not only perform all the timeless hitsof JEFFERSON STARSHIP, but also perform the entire repertoire ofJEFFERSON AIRPLANE, started by KANTNER & BALIN 38 years ago. In 2014, Jefferson Starship celebrates 40 Years in Space!