Jefferson Airplane: The Kings of Rock Music

The Jefferson Airplane was one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands of the 1960s. They were the kings of rock music and their sound was unlike anything that had come before.

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Introduction

Rock music would not be the same without the influence of Jefferson Airplane. This band was one of the first to pioneer the sound and style of psychedelic rock. With their unique blend of folk, blues, and eastern influences, they created a sound that was truly ahead of its time. From their breakout album “Surrealistic Pillow” to their final album “Long John Silver”, Jefferson Airplane left a lasting mark on rock music. In this article, we will take a look at the history of this groundbreaking band and explore some of their most iconic songs.

The Early Days

Jefferson Airplane was one of the most successful and influential rock bands of the 1960s. The group was formed in San Francisco in 1965 by singer-songwriter Paul Kantner and folk singer Marty Balin. The early lineup also included blues guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, and drummer Spencer Dryden. Jefferson Airplane became known for their energetic live performances and imaginative songs that blended elements of folk, blues, rock, and jazz.

The band’s debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, was released in 1966 and featured the singles “Somebody to Love” and “She Has Funny Cars.” The album was a critical and commercial success, reaching the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 chart. Jefferson Airplane’s follow-up album, Surrealistic Pillow, was even more successful, reaching number three on the chart and launching the singles “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” Surrealistic Pillow is often considered one of the best albums of the 1960s.

Jefferson Airplane continued to enjoy success in the 1970s with a series of well-received albums including Volunteers (1970), Bark (1971), Long John Silver (1972), and 1974’s atmospheric masterpiece Crown of Creation. The band undertook a lengthy hiatus in the late 1970s but returned in 1989 with a new lineup that included original members Kantner, Casady, and Kaukonen as well as singer-guitarist Craig Chaquico, singer-keyboardist Pete Sears, and drummer Don Dixon. This incarnation of Jefferson Airplane released two albums before splitting up again in 1992.

The Music

While the other bands of the San Francisco music scene were experimenting with drugs and playing long, drawn-out improvised jams, Jefferson Airplane was focused on writing concise, catchy songs. The band’s 1967 debut album, Surrealistic Pillow, is chock-full of hits like “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.” But it was the band’s live performances that really made them stand out.

Singer Grace Slick had a powerful voice that could easily switch from delicate to powerful, and her stage presence was unmatched. The rest of the band was no slouch either. Guitarist Paul Kantner was a superb rhythm player, while lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady were both masterful soloists. And then there was drummer Spencer Dryden, who held everything together with his rock-solid beats.

The combination of strong songwriting, virtuoso musicianship, and captivating stage show made Jefferson Airplane one of the most popular bands of the late 1960s. They helped define the “San Francisco Sound” and were one of the first bands to embrace the counterculture movement.

The Legacy

Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. The band was one of the first to embrace the counterculture of the 1960s, and their music reflected the rebelliousness and free-spiritedness of the era. Jefferson Airplane was one of the most influential bands of their time, and their legacy continues to this day.

The band’s original lineup included singer Grace Slick, guitarists Paul Kantner and Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, and drummer Spencer Dryden. They were known for their energetic live performances and for their pioneering work in the genres of psychedelic rock and acid rock. Jefferson Airplane achieved great commercial success with their 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow, which included the hits “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit.”

The band continued to be successful throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, with such albums as Volunteers (1969), Crown of Creation (1968), and Bark (1971). In 1972, internal tensions within the band came to a head, and Grace Slick left the group. The remaining members carried on as a trio with new singer Marty Balin. The new lineup released the album Long John Silver in 1972.

Jefferson Airplane disbanded in 1974, but Paul Kantner, Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, Marty Balin, and Grace Slick continued to perform together in various incarnations over the years. In 1996, Kantner, Casady, Kaukonen, Balin, Slick, Spencer Dryden’s nephew Justin Haywood (who had replaced his uncle on drums in 1970), and percussionist Prairie Prince formed Jefferson Starship: The next Generation. This group continues to tour and perform today. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

The Members

Tommy Actually – Bass, Vocals

Grace Slick – Vocals

Jorma Kaukonen – Guitar, Vocals

Jack Casady – Bass

Paul Kantner – Guitar, Vocals
Marty Balin – Guitar, Vocals
Signe Anderson – Vocals

The original Jefferson Airplane lineup was:
-Tommy Actually (bass, vocals)
-Grace Slick (vocals)
-Jorma Kaukonen (guitar, vocals)
-Jack Casady (bass) and
-Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals).

The Songs

The sound of Jefferson Airplane is immediately recognizable, a blend of folk, rock, pop, and psychedelia that influenced numerous other bands and artists. The group’s 1967 debut album Surrealistic Pillow is often cited as one of the most influential records of the psychedelic era.

The band’s best-known songs include “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit,” both of which were written by guitarist/singer Grace Slick. “Somebody to Love” became a huge hit in 1967, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “White Rabbit” was also a big hit, peaking at #8 on the Billboard chart.

Other well-known Jefferson Airplane songs include “Embryonic Journey” (written by bassist Jack Casady), ” Volunteers” (written by guitarist Paul Kantner), and “We Can Be Together” (written by Kantner and Casady).

The Albums

The Albums
Jefferson Airplane released eight studio albums, one live album and three compilations between 1966 and 1972. Their debut album, ‘Takes Off’, was released in 1966 and featured the singles ‘Somebody to Love’ and ‘She Has Funny Cars’. The album peaked at number thirty-five on the Billboard 200.

The group’s second album, ‘Surrealistic Pillow’, was released in 1967 and featured the singles ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘White Rabbit’ and ‘Downtown’. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

The group’s third album, ‘After Bathing at Baxters’, was released in 1968 and featured the singles ‘Won’t You Try/Saturday Afternoon’ and ‘Eskimo Blue Day’. The album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

The group’s fourth album, ‘Crown of Creation’, was released in 1968 and featured the singles ��Lather’ and ��In Time”. The album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum by the RIAA.

The group released their first live album, street scene,’ in September of 1968 which captured their set from the Fillmore West earlier that year. The double-album peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 200.

Their fifth studio album ‘Bless Its Pointed Little Head’ was recorded live during their sets at The Fillmore East in New York City over Thanksgiving weekend of 1968 and released early 1969. It peaked at number twelve on Billboard’s Top LPs chart upon its release in January 1969. The double-album features classics such as ‘Volunteers’, ‘We Can Be Together’, ‘Something Fine’ as well as a cover of Crosby, Stills & Nash’s ‘Wooden Ships’. In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked it 320th on their list of greatest albums of all time. It was also added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2016 as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Their sixth studio album Volunteers was released in October of 1969 with a more direct message than any of their previous releases reflecting not only the political unrest of late 60s America but also offering up some practical solutions for change such as working within government (‘We Can Be Together’) or getting out (‘ volunteers’). It features anthems such as ‘ Volunteers’, ‘ somebody to love’, my best friend’, ‘ Embryonic Journey’ (‘ Wooden ships’,’ Eskimo blue day’ , feeling responsible for changing what they saw happening around them whether it be politically , socially or environmentally . Many consider this to be one of their best works . Critic Bruce Eder states , “With its twin themes of antiwar chanting….the loss innocence….the record came across immediate …and would likely have made a major impact under any circumstances.” It reached #13 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart upon its release . Allmusic’s Matthew Greenwald writes , “What makes [it] one of Jefferson Airplane’s strongest albums is that it pulls off its ambitious ambitions without compromising either its music or political pointof-view.”

The Tours

During their tours, the members of Jefferson Airplane often took powerful drugs such as LSD to enhance their performances. Some of their concerts were marred by violence, as when drummer Spencer Dryden was hit in the head with a bottle during a performance in Boston. Despite the controversies, their tours were highly successful and helped to establish them as one of the top rock bands of their era.

The End

Jefferson Airplane, one of the most influential and important rock bands of their era, came to an end in 1973. The group had been through many lineup changes and had seen their fair share of success, but by the early seventies, it was clear that the band was no longer heading in the same direction.

In 1972, Grace Slick left the group after becoming fed up with the constant touring and recording schedule. Her replacement, Darby Slick (no relation), failed to click with the rest of the band and was let go after just one album. The following year, original members Paul Kantner and Jorma Kaukonen left Jefferson Airplane to form Jefferson Starship, taking bassist Jack Casady with them.

The departure of Kantner, Kaukonen, and Casady signaled the end of Jefferson Airplane as a creative force. The three remaining members soldiered on for another album with new guitarist Craig Chaquico, but it was clear that without Kantner and Kaukonen’s songwriting talents, the band was not the same. They officially disbanded in 1974.

The Reunions

The original lineup of the Jefferson Airplane was together for the first time in seventeen years when they took the stage at a California club in 1989. The reunion was short-lived, however, as Kantner and Slick divorced shortly thereafter. The couple had been having problems since the early 1970s, and their relationship was further strained by Slick’s drinking. In 1992, Kantner filed a lawsuit against his former wife, alleging that she had mismanaged the band’s business affairs. The lawsuit was settled out of court, but it effectively ended any chance of a reunion of the original lineup.

Kantner and Airplane bassist Jack Casady formed the band Jefferson Starship in 1974, and continued to tour and release albums under that name until 1984. In 1988, Kantner, Slick, Casady, and Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden reunited for a performance at Madison Square Garden to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Woodstock Music & Art Fair. The concert was a success, and led to a brief reunion tour by the group in 1989. The tour was not without its problems, however; Casady left the group after just two weeks, and was replaced by former Starship bassist Peter Kaukonen.

The Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Kantner, Slick, Casady, Dryden, Balin, and microphone twirler Paula Franzese were present for the induction ceremony. Kaukonen did not attend, nor did Grace Slick; she declined her invitation citing her poor relationship with her former bandmates as her reason for doing so.