This generation got no destination to hold
January 28, 2016 6:10 PM Subscribe
Paul Kantner, guitarist, lyricist, and founding member of the Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, KBC, and the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra has passed at age 74.
The Jefferson Airplane, helmed by Kantner, Grace Slick, and Marty Balin, and also featuring the musical powerhouses of Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, and Skip Spence, were the first music group from San Francisco's burgeoning 1960's music scene to sign with a major record label, and were among that scene's most emblematic emissaries to the outside world.
In addition to his success with the Airplane, Kanter was also one of the founding members of the Jefferson Starship, a spin off group that also experienced commercial success in the 1970's and into the 1980's. It's worth noting that Kantner had left the group by the time their 1980's output reached its nadir.
Kantner was inducted in the to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
For many Americans, the Jefferson Airplane's 1967 appearance on The Smother's Brothers TV show served as the iconic calling card of the San Francisco Sound: White Rabbit, Smother's Brothers TV Show, 1967 (YT)
The Jefferson Airplane, helmed by Kantner, Grace Slick, and Marty Balin, and also featuring the musical powerhouses of Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, and Skip Spence, were the first music group from San Francisco's burgeoning 1960's music scene to sign with a major record label, and were among that scene's most emblematic emissaries to the outside world.
In addition to his success with the Airplane, Kanter was also one of the founding members of the Jefferson Starship, a spin off group that also experienced commercial success in the 1970's and into the 1980's. It's worth noting that Kantner had left the group by the time their 1980's output reached its nadir.
Kantner was inducted in the to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
For many Americans, the Jefferson Airplane's 1967 appearance on The Smother's Brothers TV show served as the iconic calling card of the San Francisco Sound: White Rabbit, Smother's Brothers TV Show, 1967 (YT)
Aw. The next ten years are going to be rough, as age catches up with so many iconic and familiar figures from the era.
.
posted by yhbc at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2016 [8 favorites]
.
posted by yhbc at 6:15 PM on January 28, 2016 [8 favorites]
What the fuck, 2016.
Is this the Culture just displacing the cool people. Please let this be the Culture.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 6:17 PM on January 28, 2016 [9 favorites]
Is this the Culture just displacing the cool people. Please let this be the Culture.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 6:17 PM on January 28, 2016 [9 favorites]
Jeez, no shit.
I went to SF for the first time a while back. As a massive Beat fan, my first stops were City Lights and Vesuvio. Dude was in front of me in line. It seemed so quintessentially SF to me at the time. Pretty sure that city is dead now.
.
posted by nevercalm at 6:19 PM on January 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
I went to SF for the first time a while back. As a massive Beat fan, my first stops were City Lights and Vesuvio. Dude was in front of me in line. It seemed so quintessentially SF to me at the time. Pretty sure that city is dead now.
.
posted by nevercalm at 6:19 PM on January 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
Here's a Rolling Stone obit that doesn't require a login to read
posted by hippybear at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 6:21 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
^^^ Thanks hippybear. I looked for the RS obit when I assembled this FPP but it hadn't been posted yet.
posted by mosk at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by mosk at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016
won't you try
find a way to need someone
find a way to see
posted by pyramid termite at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
find a way to need someone
find a way to see
posted by pyramid termite at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Smart Dalek at 6:23 PM on January 28, 2016
I always liked Jefferson Airplane without really knowing them deeply. I had a cassette of The Worst Of Jefferson Airplane (probably still do) and listened to it pretty endlessly for at least one summer. There were psychedelic bands I liked better, but none of them were as widely known outside of that niche as JA.
We have lost another great who helped shape the world we live in.
.
posted by hippybear at 6:24 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
We have lost another great who helped shape the world we live in.
.
posted by hippybear at 6:24 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
At first
I was iridescent
Then
I became transparent
Finally
I was absent
.
posted by talking leaf at 6:25 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
I was iridescent
Then
I became transparent
Finally
I was absent
.
posted by talking leaf at 6:25 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Aw Shit. He was the balls in the band.
RIP.
*cranks up 'Find Your Way Back"*
posted by jonmc at 6:41 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
RIP.
*cranks up 'Find Your Way Back"*
posted by jonmc at 6:41 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
.
I see you at the same place that I play
Ah darlin' tell me what can I say
Dance, sing, sleep & dream
Is the music of what I feel
Among the many things whenever you're near in time
Come with me my friend
Come on now and take my hand
You can be my friend
Soon be in another country
posted by kewb at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
I see you at the same place that I play
Ah darlin' tell me what can I say
Dance, sing, sleep & dream
Is the music of what I feel
Among the many things whenever you're near in time
Come with me my friend
Come on now and take my hand
You can be my friend
Soon be in another country
posted by kewb at 6:42 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wow. This really hits home.
posted by uraniumwilly at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by uraniumwilly at 6:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
Here's my favorite Kantner (well, right after the first six Airplane albums, anyway) in its entirety on YouTube: Blows Against The Empire.
posted by talking leaf at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by talking leaf at 6:52 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Saw him walking down the street a couple years back in north beach. "Takes Off" (pre Grace Slick) is still one of my favorite albums.
.
posted by telstar at 6:56 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by telstar at 6:56 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
...which I believe was a hovercraft of some sort.
This is a weird January. Come on, February!
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 7:08 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
This is a weird January. Come on, February!
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 7:08 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by AugustWest at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by AugustWest at 7:12 PM on January 28, 2016
If only you believe like I believe, baby, like I believe, we'd get by.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 7:15 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
.
He looked at me eyes wide and plainly said,
Is it true that I'm no longer young?
posted by ChuraChura at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
He looked at me eyes wide and plainly said,
Is it true that I'm no longer young?
posted by ChuraChura at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
. Damn, I love a lot of Airplane and the first few Starship albums.
posted by octothorpe at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by octothorpe at 7:18 PM on January 28, 2016
Being born in SF in '62, the Airplane was just sort of the background music to my childhood, along with the Dead, Janis, etc. my mom was a bigger fan than me, no idea how many times she played Surrealistic Pilllow when I was 5, 6, 7. The weird songwriting mixture of that band made for some uneven albums, but Kantner's & Jorma's contributions were the best.
I have just recently started digging into their back catalog again after a long, long time and while some of it's nonsense, I'm surprised by how much I still enjoy the vibe. He was a tastemaker for a while, and it was good.
Sad that the death of that entire generation seems to really be picking up steam- still numb from this awful Bowie business, and this is not helping at all, no sir.
.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:38 PM on January 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
I have just recently started digging into their back catalog again after a long, long time and while some of it's nonsense, I'm surprised by how much I still enjoy the vibe. He was a tastemaker for a while, and it was good.
Sad that the death of that entire generation seems to really be picking up steam- still numb from this awful Bowie business, and this is not helping at all, no sir.
.
posted by Devils Rancher at 7:38 PM on January 28, 2016 [5 favorites]
.
posted by Token Meme at 7:40 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Token Meme at 7:40 PM on January 28, 2016
.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:41 PM on January 28, 2016
I always liked this Kantner composition: Martha
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by ogooglebar at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by ogooglebar at 7:51 PM on January 28, 2016
Growing up here in San Francisco, I used to occasionally see Kanter at punk shows. He was kinda cool like that.
.
posted by echolalia67 at 8:01 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by echolalia67 at 8:01 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
2 or 3 years ago I passed on a Jefferson Starship NG fundraiser concert at a local studio. Playing for about 200 people, at $150 a ticket. Shows you that now is the time to appreciate what we've got before it's gone.
posted by morspin at 8:05 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by morspin at 8:05 PM on January 28, 2016
.
If you've never heard it, listen to Volunteers--it's absolutely fantastic and wildly underrated.
posted by Slinga at 8:08 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
If you've never heard it, listen to Volunteers--it's absolutely fantastic and wildly underrated.
posted by Slinga at 8:08 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
My first concert was Jefferson Starship, in the early 80's version that had Kantner and Slick.
Kantner's attempt to fuse hippie themes with science fiction (Have You Seen The Saucers?) maybe seems dated now, but it was pretty interesting at the time.
posted by thelonius at 8:12 PM on January 28, 2016
Kantner's attempt to fuse hippie themes with science fiction (Have You Seen The Saucers?) maybe seems dated now, but it was pretty interesting at the time.
posted by thelonius at 8:12 PM on January 28, 2016
It is a Fair Wind that Blows Against the Empire.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:17 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:17 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by Karmadillo at 8:26 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Karmadillo at 8:26 PM on January 28, 2016
They have a niche somewhere near the heart of me.
Why not keep the little animals alive?
Why not?
Why not?
posted by Oyéah at 8:30 PM on January 28, 2016
Why not keep the little animals alive?
Why not?
Why not?
posted by Oyéah at 8:30 PM on January 28, 2016
Yeah, this hurts. I always liked Kantner's song writing -- in addition to the many great songs already mentioned, he was also one of the co-writers of Wooden Ships, recorded by both CSN and the Airplane and, like Bonnie Dobson's Morning Dew, a song about what it might be like to be left alive after a nuclear apocalypse that was also surprisingly, achingly beautiful.
.
posted by mosk at 8:31 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
.
posted by mosk at 8:31 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Pedantry alert! A Jefferson Airplane is a paper match split lengthwise to hold a cannabis roach.
posted by telstar at 8:45 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by telstar at 8:45 PM on January 28, 2016 [3 favorites]
Little by little, those who helped shape my formative years are fading away.
posted by Lynsey at 9:05 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Lynsey at 9:05 PM on January 28, 2016 [2 favorites]
He's gone to see the stars tonight.
posted by Freedomboy at 9:44 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Freedomboy at 9:44 PM on January 28, 2016
.
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:57 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by Radiophonic Oddity at 9:57 PM on January 28, 2016
Kantner's attempt to fuse hippie themes with science fiction (Have You Seen The Saucers? ) maybe seems dated now, but it was pretty interesting at the time.
Oh, and don't forget Woo-
he was also one of the co-writers of Wooden Ships, recorded by both CSN and the Airplane . . . a song about what it might be like to be left alive after a nuclear apocalypse that was also surprisingly, achingly beautiful.
Right.
Surrealistic Pillow was one of (possible the very) first LP I ever bought. (My sister had the Beatles and Monkees covered).
Damn.
.
posted by Herodios at 9:59 PM on January 28, 2016
Oh, and don't forget Woo-
he was also one of the co-writers of Wooden Ships, recorded by both CSN and the Airplane . . . a song about what it might be like to be left alive after a nuclear apocalypse that was also surprisingly, achingly beautiful.
Right.
Surrealistic Pillow was one of (possible the very) first LP I ever bought. (My sister had the Beatles and Monkees covered).
Damn.
.
posted by Herodios at 9:59 PM on January 28, 2016
Pedantry alert! A Jefferson Airplane is a paper match split lengthwise to hold a cannabis roach.
Jorma Kaukonen: I had this friend up in Berkeley, Steve Talbot, and he came up with funny names for people,” explains Jorma. “His name for me was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane (for blues pioneer Blind Lemon Jefferson). When the guys were looking for band names and nobody could come up with something, I remember saying, ‘You want a silly band name? I got a silly band name for you!’posted by Herodios at 10:03 PM on January 28, 2016 [4 favorites]
Just thought I'd add this for big-time fans: Paul Kantner and the Jefferson Airplane at UBC, 1966
posted by e-man at 10:12 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by e-man at 10:12 PM on January 28, 2016
.
posted by ridgerunner at 10:30 PM on January 28, 2016
posted by ridgerunner at 10:30 PM on January 28, 2016
This is the top youtube clip for Ride the Tiger live.
Does not do it justice; that was about the greatest opening song ever even if most of the Starship's shows went straight downhill right after. The only ones I recognized in that video were Slick and Kantner.
One of the most important events in the history of rock and roll was when a Hells Angels security punched Marty Balin in the face onstage and knocked him out cold at Altamont. It may be that moment was the end of the '60's even though there was a homicide in the fourth row a couple hours later when the Rolling Stones were onstage.
(The best part of the Altamont documentary was when Garcia and Weir were explaining to the interviewer that they were pulling out because the scene there was too messed up--I cannot recall offhand if this was before or after Airplane crashed but it could well have been before because the Airplane was a very big act at the time and could have been on the schedule after the Dead.)
posted by bukvich at 10:33 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
Does not do it justice; that was about the greatest opening song ever even if most of the Starship's shows went straight downhill right after. The only ones I recognized in that video were Slick and Kantner.
One of the most important events in the history of rock and roll was when a Hells Angels security punched Marty Balin in the face onstage and knocked him out cold at Altamont. It may be that moment was the end of the '60's even though there was a homicide in the fourth row a couple hours later when the Rolling Stones were onstage.
(The best part of the Altamont documentary was when Garcia and Weir were explaining to the interviewer that they were pulling out because the scene there was too messed up--I cannot recall offhand if this was before or after Airplane crashed but it could well have been before because the Airplane was a very big act at the time and could have been on the schedule after the Dead.)
posted by bukvich at 10:33 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
ok this clip is good. Somebody to Love on the American Bandstand. Kantner is the guy behind Grace Slick's right shoulder. She is the one in the middle dressed like a nun in a miniskirt with high boots.
posted by bukvich at 10:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by bukvich at 10:48 PM on January 28, 2016 [6 favorites]
Well F*; tired of all the mortality lately. .
posted by buzzman at 11:28 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by buzzman at 11:28 PM on January 28, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on January 29, 2016
posted by On the Corner at 12:36 AM on January 29, 2016
Today you'll make me say that I somehow have changed
Today you'll look into my eyes, I'm just not the same
.
posted by homunculus at 12:52 AM on January 29, 2016
Today you'll look into my eyes, I'm just not the same
.
posted by homunculus at 12:52 AM on January 29, 2016
.
posted by heatvision at 3:19 AM on January 29, 2016
posted by heatvision at 3:19 AM on January 29, 2016
Jefferson Airplane had some awesome, ass-kicking tunes. (White Rabbit, man.) But there's a Kantner deep cut that I've always found really lovely, and it seems appropriate for the occasion.
The long-running Pacifica sci-fi news and interview show Hour 25 used to close with Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? I must have heard it 600 times, but it never failed to give me a geeky little thrill. It's intimate yet sweeping, a folky romantic tune with a sci-fi whoosh.
Did you know
We could go
We are free
Any place
You can think of
We can be
Godspeed.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:42 AM on January 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
The long-running Pacifica sci-fi news and interview show Hour 25 used to close with Have You Seen the Stars Tonight? I must have heard it 600 times, but it never failed to give me a geeky little thrill. It's intimate yet sweeping, a folky romantic tune with a sci-fi whoosh.
Did you know
We could go
We are free
Any place
You can think of
We can be
Godspeed.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:42 AM on January 29, 2016 [2 favorites]
.
posted by El Brendano at 4:16 AM on January 29, 2016
posted by El Brendano at 4:16 AM on January 29, 2016
.
posted by lordrunningclam at 5:20 AM on January 29, 2016
posted by lordrunningclam at 5:20 AM on January 29, 2016
Am I the only person who looked up the datum that Kantner was not in the band when they did We Built this City?
posted by bukvich at 5:42 AM on January 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by bukvich at 5:42 AM on January 29, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh, shit.
.
Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun A soundtrack to many youthful bone rides, late night sessions, and motorcycle rides.
posted by sfts2 at 5:53 AM on January 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun A soundtrack to many youthful bone rides, late night sessions, and motorcycle rides.
posted by sfts2 at 5:53 AM on January 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm getting a little bummed out that my daily musical selections are mostly 'in memoriam' lately.
.
posted by Gronk at 6:04 AM on January 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Gronk at 6:04 AM on January 29, 2016 [1 favorite]
> ok this clip is good. Somebody to Love on the American Bandstand. Kantner is the guy behind Grace Slick's right shoulder. She is the one in the middle dressed like a nun in a miniskirt with high boots.
Thanks for that; Slick's voice still sends shivers all through me. (Personal to Grace: stick around a while longer, OK?)
.
posted by languagehat at 7:20 AM on January 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
Thanks for that; Slick's voice still sends shivers all through me. (Personal to Grace: stick around a while longer, OK?)
.
posted by languagehat at 7:20 AM on January 29, 2016 [4 favorites]
Ever since I stopped listening to Christmas carols a month ago, I've been listening almost exclusively to 60's and early 70's rock. It's been getting more poignant every day.
And it's awfully depressing when I start thinking about how few of today's current crop of chart toppers will be still relevant, and revered, in fifty years. Damn few of them, is my guess. Makes the "moment of silence" even more meaningful.
.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:37 AM on January 29, 2016
And it's awfully depressing when I start thinking about how few of today's current crop of chart toppers will be still relevant, and revered, in fifty years. Damn few of them, is my guess. Makes the "moment of silence" even more meaningful.
.
posted by MexicanYenta at 10:37 AM on January 29, 2016
This obituary reminded me of this clip from the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man, where the rabbi recites all the Jewish members of Jefferson Airplane, including Paul Kantner on the list. Ironically, as it turns out, Paul Kantner was not Jewish (Wikipedia says he's of German Catholic ancestry), but the drummer Spencer Dryden was (although not acknowledged as such by the rabbi).
posted by jonp72 at 6:44 PM on January 29, 2016
posted by jonp72 at 6:44 PM on January 29, 2016
Signe Anderson, Original Jefferson Airplane Singer, Dead at 74. She died the same day as Paul. A sad coincidence.
For Signe as well:
.
posted by talking leaf at 9:40 PM on January 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
For Signe as well:
.
posted by talking leaf at 9:40 PM on January 31, 2016 [3 favorites]
Signe Anderson, Original Jefferson Airplane Singer, Dead at 74.
Oh, man, that photo. So young.
.
posted by Herodios at 10:10 PM on January 31, 2016
Oh, man, that photo. So young.
.
posted by Herodios at 10:10 PM on January 31, 2016
Am I the only person who looked up the datum that Kantner was not in the band when they did We Built this City?
Didn't look it up but, being as old as I am, was aware of this from when the song was a hit that annoyed me.
posted by aught at 6:37 AM on February 1, 2016
Didn't look it up but, being as old as I am, was aware of this from when the song was a hit that annoyed me.
posted by aught at 6:37 AM on February 1, 2016
(Wikipedia says he's of German Catholic ancestry),
Wikipedia has an unholy obsession with famous people's ethnicities.
posted by aught at 6:39 AM on February 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wikipedia has an unholy obsession with famous people's ethnicities.
posted by aught at 6:39 AM on February 1, 2016 [1 favorite]
« Older “may someday help in a more objective assignment... | If we lowered transit construction costs, we could... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by freakazoid at 6:14 PM on January 28, 2016 [9 favorites]