Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane R.I.P.
September 29, 2018 6:58 AM Subscribe
Marty Balin was co-founder of Jefferson Airplane. He was 76. It was emblematic of the turbulent path San Francisco’s Jefferson Airplane navigated in the 1960s and ‘70s that when the group showed up to play a 1969 festival that was supposed to be the West Coast version of Woodstock, founding member Marty Balin got knocked out cold.
The event was the Altamont Festival, cooked up and headlined by the Rolling Stones. Held four months after Woodstock outside of San Francisco, Altamont failed to replicate that event’s touted “three days of peace and music” and turned tragic when a concert-goer was stabbed to death by a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, which the Stones had hired to provide security.
Only Jorma and Casady left from the first line-up. The musicians of my youth are fading fast these days.
posted by octothorpe at 8:15 AM on September 29, 2018
posted by octothorpe at 8:15 AM on September 29, 2018
Only Jorma and Casady left from the first line-up.
Mr Kaukonen's autobiography is recently released and said to be good.
posted by BWA at 8:23 AM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mr Kaukonen's autobiography is recently released and said to be good.
posted by BWA at 8:23 AM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
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Love his solo single Hearts.
posted by porn in the woods at 8:27 AM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Love his solo single Hearts.
posted by porn in the woods at 8:27 AM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Such a beautiful voice. "Today" is my favorite Jefferson Airplane song.
posted by JanetLand at 8:29 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by JanetLand at 8:29 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
The world was at their feet -- then came After Bathing at Baxter's. One has to wonder what was going through their pointed little heads.
I like After Bathing At Baxter's. But one would have to guess, large quantities of LSD?
posted by mubba at 8:50 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
I like After Bathing At Baxter's. But one would have to guess, large quantities of LSD?
posted by mubba at 8:50 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Yes Jorma's biog is very good. My Amazon provided copy came with a CD.
posted by andreap at 8:52 AM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by andreap at 8:52 AM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Balin's voice and original songs were essential to the greatness that was Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow. The world was at their feet -- then came After Bathing at Baxter's. One has to wonder what was going through their pointed little heads. They recovered for a last gasp with Volunteers. Then, oblivion.
Modest House -- that's as succinct a review (in fifty-one words or less) of the Jefferson Airplane as I can imagine. Though in defense of Baxter's, I've always been a fan of an artist that deliberately breaks the circle when they've got the world at their feet. And A Small Package of Value Will Come to You, Shortly, well that's just high water weirdness, because no man is an island, but we're all peninsulas in our way.
posted by philip-random at 8:54 AM on September 29, 2018
Modest House -- that's as succinct a review (in fifty-one words or less) of the Jefferson Airplane as I can imagine. Though in defense of Baxter's, I've always been a fan of an artist that deliberately breaks the circle when they've got the world at their feet. And A Small Package of Value Will Come to You, Shortly, well that's just high water weirdness, because no man is an island, but we're all peninsulas in our way.
posted by philip-random at 8:54 AM on September 29, 2018
... and their set at Woodstock really does nail it for me, morning maniac music as Grace Slick calls it, hitting the stage at 8am on the third day, immediately after the Who had brought the sun back after a long and psychedelic night that had included the likes of Janis Joplin, Sly + the Family Stone, CCR, Canned Heat, Mountain. My point being -- the Airplane were up to it, as relevant as any band on the planet at a moment in time when so-called rock n roll had never been as relevant, and it likely never will be again.
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posted by philip-random at 9:04 AM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
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posted by philip-random at 9:04 AM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
no, after bathing at baxter's was their high point, although i think it would have been better with one more balin song in place of spare chaynge
i always felt the airplane was a band of minor talents that were balanced well against each other to make a fairly major group - marty was the heart of the group and the less he participated, the more out of balance they got - when he left, they didn't hold it together for long
posted by pyramid termite at 9:44 AM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
i always felt the airplane was a band of minor talents that were balanced well against each other to make a fairly major group - marty was the heart of the group and the less he participated, the more out of balance they got - when he left, they didn't hold it together for long
posted by pyramid termite at 9:44 AM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:45 AM on September 29, 2018
posted by Slithy_Tove at 9:45 AM on September 29, 2018
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posted by Silverstone at 9:50 AM on September 29, 2018
posted by Silverstone at 9:50 AM on September 29, 2018
Altamont is nobody's fault except the Rolling Stones'. They had a nasty, edgy rep, which worked for their musical identity, but they bought into their own hype. I can't fault other acts hoping to recapture the magic of Woodstock, I can fault the Stones for using their rep as an international act to trick people into believing they could put it together.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:57 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:57 AM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Blaming Altamont on one band or individual doesn't work for me any more than crediting any band or individual for Woodstock. Both came from temper of the times, the yin and the yang or however you want to put it of a particularly accelerated cultural moment.
posted by philip-random at 11:27 AM on September 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by philip-random at 11:27 AM on September 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
I remember reading somewhere that the Stones' decision to bring in the Hells Angels stemmed from a basic misunderstanding on their part about who the Angels were and what they were all about. Apparently, "outlaw motorcycle gang" meant something very different in the UK than it did in the US.
posted by panama joe at 1:10 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by panama joe at 1:10 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Balin's voice and original songs were essential to the greatness that was Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow. The world was at their feet -- then came After Bathing at Baxter's. One has to wonder what was going through their pointed little heads. They recovered for a last gasp with Volunteers. Then, oblivion.
I started becoming a lifelong Jefferson Airplane fan in the 1980s when I was in high school. As I get older, I start liking After Bathing at Baxter's more. It's the album where Jefferson Airplane said, "We've got two Top Ten hits. Now let's start burning the record company's money." In that sense, After Bathing At Baxter's is their In Utero.
posted by jonp72 at 1:18 PM on September 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
I started becoming a lifelong Jefferson Airplane fan in the 1980s when I was in high school. As I get older, I start liking After Bathing at Baxter's more. It's the album where Jefferson Airplane said, "We've got two Top Ten hits. Now let's start burning the record company's money." In that sense, After Bathing At Baxter's is their In Utero.
posted by jonp72 at 1:18 PM on September 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Blaming Altamont on one band or individual doesn't work for me any more than crediting any band or individual for Woodstock. Both came from temper of the times, the yin and the yang or however you want to put it of a particularly accelerated cultural moment.
After reading Joel Selvin's Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day, I can't support that. You can't just shrug and blame Altamont on "It was the bad vibes, man!" The Rolling Stones moved their free concert to Altamont at the last minute, because the previous venue wanted a cut of the film rights for the documentary the Stones were planning to do (what later became the Maysles Brothers' Gimme Shelter). In so doing, they moved to this spot in the middle of nowhere where law enforcement was non-existent & gave the responsibility for keeping order to Hell's Angels!?!?! I used to live in the San Francisco Bay area & I've driven by Altamont. It really is in the middle of nowhere & you can see how easily people could get hurt out there without any emergency services in sight.
posted by jonp72 at 1:26 PM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
After reading Joel Selvin's Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day, I can't support that. You can't just shrug and blame Altamont on "It was the bad vibes, man!" The Rolling Stones moved their free concert to Altamont at the last minute, because the previous venue wanted a cut of the film rights for the documentary the Stones were planning to do (what later became the Maysles Brothers' Gimme Shelter). In so doing, they moved to this spot in the middle of nowhere where law enforcement was non-existent & gave the responsibility for keeping order to Hell's Angels!?!?! I used to live in the San Francisco Bay area & I've driven by Altamont. It really is in the middle of nowhere & you can see how easily people could get hurt out there without any emergency services in sight.
posted by jonp72 at 1:26 PM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
"In the heat of the sun a man died of cold..."
Not really familiar with JA's oeuvre, but always thought Grace Slick was what drove the band...
Martin Balin was that guy who sang "Miracles" and left the band.
Always interesting to see MF's response to the deaths of various musicians, how much even people I've never heard affected people's lives...
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posted by Windopaene at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2018
Not really familiar with JA's oeuvre, but always thought Grace Slick was what drove the band...
Martin Balin was that guy who sang "Miracles" and left the band.
Always interesting to see MF's response to the deaths of various musicians, how much even people I've never heard affected people's lives...
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posted by Windopaene at 2:13 PM on September 29, 2018
I’m with you, porn in the woods, regarding Balin’s hit Hearts. I think one of the most interesting things about pop music is the way in which it is ‘sentimental education’ for kids, where even when the lyrics are indirect, growing up we get a sense of what love and relationships are about by hearing these songs. Hearts came out when I was nine, and deep into my Kasey Kasem phase—I was really into top 40. Something about his voice on that song gave me a glimpse of what heartbreak feels like, and what’s at stake.
posted by umbú at 2:18 PM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by umbú at 2:18 PM on September 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I keep going back to the Airplane's performance of 'Won't You Try/Saturday Afternoon' at Woodstock. For my money, Balin is the smouldering, mesmerising highlight (in a performance where every member was certainly pulling their weight). Whenever he's on screen, I just can't take my eyes off him.
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 2:36 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by paleyellowwithorange at 2:36 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by JoeXIII007 at 3:19 PM on September 29, 2018
posted by JoeXIII007 at 3:19 PM on September 29, 2018
Not really familiar with JA's oeuvre, but always thought Grace Slick was what drove the band...
I'd say Jack Casady was " what drove the band"; the vocalists are kind of riding on top. Slick was a powerful presence of course.
Martin Balin was that guy who sang "Miracles" and left the band.
That was a Jefferson Starship song, from 1975
posted by thelonius at 3:31 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'd say Jack Casady was " what drove the band"; the vocalists are kind of riding on top. Slick was a powerful presence of course.
Martin Balin was that guy who sang "Miracles" and left the band.
That was a Jefferson Starship song, from 1975
posted by thelonius at 3:31 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
You are the crown of creation,
And you've got no place to go.
Soon you'll attain the stability you strive for,
In the only way that it's granted:
In a place among the fossils of our time.
Hats off.
posted by Twang at 4:59 PM on September 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
And you've got no place to go.
Soon you'll attain the stability you strive for,
In the only way that it's granted:
In a place among the fossils of our time.
Hats off.
posted by Twang at 4:59 PM on September 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
So, it was in April 1967 that the Airplane played for a week or so at the Unicorn coffeehouse on Boylston Street, Boston, across the street from the Prudential Center. I was a freshman in college and had a cool new girlfriend, and we went to see the them there, sitting about three rows back in a half-empty joint. A show to remember. RIP Marty.
posted by beagle at 5:38 PM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by beagle at 5:38 PM on September 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Marty Balin's first single from 1962: I Specialize in Love
He always was the sensitive balladeer of the Airplane.
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posted by jonp72 at 8:06 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
He always was the sensitive balladeer of the Airplane.
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posted by jonp72 at 8:06 PM on September 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
I wish I could sing like Marty Balin - he makes very hard work look ludicrously easy. Miracles is one of my favorite songs, and as noted upthread, Today from the JA days.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 9:01 PM on September 29, 2018
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 9:01 PM on September 29, 2018
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posted by homunculus at 9:30 PM on September 29, 2018
posted by homunculus at 9:30 PM on September 29, 2018
According to Wikipedia, Marty Balin started the Jefferson Airplane.
posted by JonJacky at 9:41 PM on September 29, 2018
posted by JonJacky at 9:41 PM on September 29, 2018
"You are the crown of creation,
And you've got no place to go.
Soon you'll attain the stability you strive for,
In the only way that it's granted:
In a place among the fossils of our time.
Hats off."
Lyrics quoted/paraphrased from a John Wyndham scifi story called ReBirth, which I'd read a couple of years before in my tween years. 'Twas nice seeing my teenage budding hippie self's heroes referencing something my junior high nerdly self had grokked.
Marty infused those lyrics and others on that LP (not to mention the previous LPs) with a passion that made them much more compelling than they might have been; the section of House at Pooneil Corners where he sings
Everything someday will be gone except silence
Earth will be quiet again
Seas from clouds will wash off the ashes of violence
Left as the memory of men
There will be no survivor my friend
still gives me chills.
He was the glue and the heart of the band.
posted by Philofacts at 10:08 PM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
And you've got no place to go.
Soon you'll attain the stability you strive for,
In the only way that it's granted:
In a place among the fossils of our time.
Hats off."
Lyrics quoted/paraphrased from a John Wyndham scifi story called ReBirth, which I'd read a couple of years before in my tween years. 'Twas nice seeing my teenage budding hippie self's heroes referencing something my junior high nerdly self had grokked.
Marty infused those lyrics and others on that LP (not to mention the previous LPs) with a passion that made them much more compelling than they might have been; the section of House at Pooneil Corners where he sings
Everything someday will be gone except silence
Earth will be quiet again
Seas from clouds will wash off the ashes of violence
Left as the memory of men
There will be no survivor my friend
still gives me chills.
He was the glue and the heart of the band.
posted by Philofacts at 10:08 PM on September 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Speaking of Hells Angels (note the lack of apostrophe) - anyplace you see an "81 Strong" sign, it's a criminal hangout. 8 - eighth letter in the alphabet, 1 - first letter. HA. Hells Angels. They swiped it from the Neo-Nazis, because they're criminals and racists.
Also, Jefferson Starship was a head-banging great musical re-invention, made possible by Marty rejoining. And here's what's needed and necessary:
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posted by Slap*Happy at 10:57 PM on September 29, 2018
Also, Jefferson Starship was a head-banging great musical re-invention, made possible by Marty rejoining. And here's what's needed and necessary:
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posted by Slap*Happy at 10:57 PM on September 29, 2018
porn in the woods: "Hearts" is the song I've always thought would make a great mash-up with Terence Trent D'Arby's "Sign Your Name." I bet if DJ Lobsterdust took a swing at it, it'd be seamless.
posted by aurelian at 1:58 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by aurelian at 1:58 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Like a lot of people, I discovered Jefferson Airplane through many of the Grace Slick-driven songs, but Marty Balin's are the ones that I play again and again around the house ("Today" and "Comin Back to Me" in particular).
It seems a little unfair that even in death, he's being remembered for getting punched out and not getting along with the rest of the band, instead of for being really really talented.
(Also: the Monterey Pop performance of "High Flyin Bird" might be my favorite; they all just seem so locked in together)
posted by Dr.Enormous at 6:11 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
It seems a little unfair that even in death, he's being remembered for getting punched out and not getting along with the rest of the band, instead of for being really really talented.
(Also: the Monterey Pop performance of "High Flyin Bird" might be my favorite; they all just seem so locked in together)
posted by Dr.Enormous at 6:11 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
RIP Marty
We are seeing Jack and Jorma in a few weeks for our anniversary.
posted by terrapin at 6:45 AM on September 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
We are seeing Jack and Jorma in a few weeks for our anniversary.
posted by terrapin at 6:45 AM on September 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
A recording from Marty Balin's days as a pre-electric folkie: Marty Balin & the Town Criers, 900 Miles
It's not for nothing they called Jefferson Airplane "an electrified Peter, Paul & Mary." Usually, that was meant derisively, but I think it's an upside.
posted by jonp72 at 7:47 AM on September 30, 2018
It's not for nothing they called Jefferson Airplane "an electrified Peter, Paul & Mary." Usually, that was meant derisively, but I think it's an upside.
posted by jonp72 at 7:47 AM on September 30, 2018
Only Jorma and Casady left from the first line-up. The musicians of my youth are fading fast these days.
Casady was part of the classic Airplane line-up, but not part of the first line-up. The original bassist was a guy named Bob Harvey who played an acoustic stand-up bass, because it was 1965 and the band hadn't yet gone the full electrified folk-rock route yet. Wikipedia informs me that Bob Harvey was in the sunshine pop band, Holy Mackerel, which also included Paul Williams as a member, before he got famous.
posted by jonp72 at 7:53 AM on September 30, 2018
Casady was part of the classic Airplane line-up, but not part of the first line-up. The original bassist was a guy named Bob Harvey who played an acoustic stand-up bass, because it was 1965 and the band hadn't yet gone the full electrified folk-rock route yet. Wikipedia informs me that Bob Harvey was in the sunshine pop band, Holy Mackerel, which also included Paul Williams as a member, before he got famous.
posted by jonp72 at 7:53 AM on September 30, 2018
I was going by the personnel on the first album with Signe Anderson. Didn't know that there were changes before that.
posted by octothorpe at 8:59 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 8:59 AM on September 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have to paraphrase what Jorma said about writing "Turn My Life Down" from his book (put the book away and can't find it now). Wrote it for Marty to sing and mentioned the "whoa whoa whoa" at the end. Listen
posted by andreap at 11:37 AM on September 30, 2018
posted by andreap at 11:37 AM on September 30, 2018
Marty Balin was an inspiring singer.
The framing in the post for this obituary is possibly the crappiest that I've ever seen here on MF. Altamount was a gig where he was assaulted, but not "emblematic" of his career as an artist. There's other things worthy of emblemation in this life.
posted by ovvl at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
The framing in the post for this obituary is possibly the crappiest that I've ever seen here on MF. Altamount was a gig where he was assaulted, but not "emblematic" of his career as an artist. There's other things worthy of emblemation in this life.
posted by ovvl at 5:17 PM on September 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Thinking of the deaths of Marty Balin and Otis Rush back to back. Both men gave voice to an unconstrained romantic yearning that few guys really pull off as well.
posted by Chitownfats at 7:27 PM on September 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Chitownfats at 7:27 PM on September 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hearts came out when I was nine, and deep into my Kasey Kasem phase—I was really into top 40.
In my memory, the summer of 1981 is all "Hearts," "All Those Years Ago," and "Bette Davis Eyes." At this point they all have a melancholic hold on me in the way that only nearly 40 year old pop songs can have.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:53 AM on October 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
In my memory, the summer of 1981 is all "Hearts," "All Those Years Ago," and "Bette Davis Eyes." At this point they all have a melancholic hold on me in the way that only nearly 40 year old pop songs can have.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:53 AM on October 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
"Miracles", "Today", and "Hearts" are three of the most gorgeous, sticky songs, ever. EVER. And, "Volunteers" should be our national fucking anthem. Sung at every ballgame.
I had no idea Marty had died until tonight—I'd just started out of nowhere singing and playing Miracles on bass, and doing a Marty Balin voice, and then my friend told me he'd died a couple days ago.
(And my other friend was like, "Who's Marty Balin?" ... [we give explanation, examples] ... "Oh so he sang 'Find Your Way Back'?" ... [no no no no] ... )
I always thought his voice was like, say, if you took Frankie Valli and Prince and smooshed them together. Can be smooth and silky, or fistpumpingly screamy.
Ain't nothin' better!
> In my memory, the summer of 1981 is all "Hearts," "All Those Years Ago," and "Bette Davis Eyes." At this point they all have a melancholic hold on me in the way that only nearly 40 year old pop songs can have.
90% of the songs on the Billboard Hot 100 from June 20, 1981 were soldered into my neural circuitry when I was 11 and started really listening to the radio. (Also soldered was Casey Kasem's voice announcing every one of those singles.)
posted by not_on_display at 10:10 PM on October 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
I had no idea Marty had died until tonight—I'd just started out of nowhere singing and playing Miracles on bass, and doing a Marty Balin voice, and then my friend told me he'd died a couple days ago.
(And my other friend was like, "Who's Marty Balin?" ... [we give explanation, examples] ... "Oh so he sang 'Find Your Way Back'?" ... [no no no no] ... )
I always thought his voice was like, say, if you took Frankie Valli and Prince and smooshed them together. Can be smooth and silky, or fistpumpingly screamy.
Ain't nothin' better!
> In my memory, the summer of 1981 is all "Hearts," "All Those Years Ago," and "Bette Davis Eyes." At this point they all have a melancholic hold on me in the way that only nearly 40 year old pop songs can have.
90% of the songs on the Billboard Hot 100 from June 20, 1981 were soldered into my neural circuitry when I was 11 and started really listening to the radio. (Also soldered was Casey Kasem's voice announcing every one of those singles.)
posted by not_on_display at 10:10 PM on October 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Wow, lots of bad stuff on that chart. You forget that pop music has always mostly been terrible.
posted by octothorpe at 5:48 AM on October 5, 2018
posted by octothorpe at 5:48 AM on October 5, 2018
Now we are three: Jorma's remembrance of Balin.
posted by octothorpe at 6:58 AM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 6:58 AM on October 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
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The Jefferson Airplane needed Balin's reedy voice, the same way the Beach Boys needed Mike Love's snotty whine. Twined with Slick's stainless-steel siren, it helped the Airplane soar.
posted by Modest House at 7:18 AM on September 29, 2018 [9 favorites]