Jefferson Airplane/Starship story

[Macfan4life]

There are fights in all bands but Jefferson Airplane/Starship's history and infighting is fascinating. It makes Fleetwood Mac seem like Buddhist Monks. When they fought they put their own band members in hospitals. Its incredible how Grace Slick just walked into the band when the other female singer had a baby. No audition and they blew up. Then wild success comes the fighting and they could not use the name Jefferson Airplane and changed it to Jefferson Starship. They started out as sort of acid rock in the late 60s and then morphed into folksy rock in the 1970s. Who remembers Peter Jennings at the 1992 Democratic convention talking about Don't Stop was by Jefferson Starship. They did similar mid 70s rock. I knew this before watching this video but how Grace Slick got fired from the band is beyond freaking cool and crazy. This video tells a slightly different version of the events. Either the band had to cancel a gig because Grace was too drunk to go on stage or they played without her. Either way the crowded rioted because the show was cancelled or the crowd was chanting her name when she was not on stage. Because of this the next night they forced her to go on stage. She dressed as Hitler and was yelling obscenities at the West Germans telling them how the United States kicked their ass in World War 2. The bands 1984 Nuclear Furniture album was good. They had 2 songs make top 5 rock charts but not much pop success or album success. The band got sued again and had to change it to Starship. They went total pop and had 3 #1 songs in 18 months. Yet Grace could not do it anymore. Some say We Built This City is the worst song ever recorded. The demo was an anti establishment punk and rock song but they turned it really pop and made it a different song especially drowning out the meaning of the song. So many lead singers it was hard to keep up. Grace's only baby and daughter came from a band member. They used to hire the Hells Angels as security. Once at a major concert a band member argued with one of the bikers in his beatings of fans and the biker came on stage and punched the band member.

I must say Grace Slick was always the best guest on David Letterman. She is a mind f*** to listen to.

Now THIS is a wild band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoYGdcWUmdI

[Villavic]

The only song I remember now from Jefferson Starship is Count On Me. But maybe I would recognize others if I hear them. And also I remember Marty Balin's solo song Hearts.

And of course Starship's We Built This City and Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, just part of the bunch of commercial songs of the 80s. Not big deal.

But I can't remember how I knew about Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love. I got the song in a CD compilation of songs from the 60s, but I think I had heard it before, in a movie or a TV show like The Wonder Years, or maybe a documentary of the 60s, I'm not sure. I like that song very much.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

The only song I remember now from Jefferson Starship is Count On Me. But maybe I would recognize others if I hear them. And also I remember Marty Balin's solo song Hearts.

And of course Starship's We Built This City and Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, just part of the bunch of commercial songs of the 80s. Not big deal.

But I can't remember how I knew about Jefferson Airplane's Somebody to Love. I got the song in a CD compilation of songs from the 60s, but I think I had heard it before, in a movie or a TV show like The Wonder Years, or maybe a documentary of the 60s, I'm not sure. I like that song very much.

You would know Miracles and also my favorite Runaway. IMHO Runaway takes me right back to being a kid. Its feel is so 70s. Jane also was a monster hit in 1979. You would also know Find Your Way Back (1981).
But my favorites are from Nuclear Furniture: No Way Out and Laying It On The Line. They did chart on the pop charts but were huge hits on the rock charts and MTV which did play the hell out of them. Nuclear Furniture was considered a flop album but it still went Gold. Never got into the Starship version of the band. In the late 80s Grace's daughter China was a VJ on MTV. They played Starship nonstop it seemed.

[Villavic]

Oh yes, I looked for them and rememberd Jane and Runaway.

I've read in more than one article that We Built This City is the worst song of the 80s. For me, it was just another pop song meant to fill the charts. Yes, meh, but I didn't hate it either. If it came on the radio, I wouldn't change the station. I guess critics hate it because it marked a shift from a legendary band to a mainstream pop act? Or because of the silly lyrics? Half of the songs you listen on the radio have silly lyrics. I don't get it, I'm not saying it's a good song. But the worst? Please someone explain this to me.

Songs that really make me change the radio station and are the worse in my personal list? Toni Basil's Mickey, video included. Sheena Easton's Telefone (long distance love affair), and I don't know if it was popular in the US but I read it entered the UK charts: "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", by german singer Sandra. She sang it in english and it seemed more like she was shouting the title than singing it. I could never stand it.

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Oh yes, I looked for them and rememberd Jane and Runaway.

I've read in more than one article that We Built This City is the worst song of the 80s. For me, it was just another pop song meant to fill the charts. Yes, meh, but I didn't hate it either. If it came on the radio, I wouldn't change the station. I guess critics hate it because it marked a shift from a legendary band to a mainstream pop act? Or because of the silly lyrics? Half of the songs you listen on the radio have silly lyrics. I don't get it, I'm not saying it's a good song. But the worst? Please someone explain this to me.

Songs that really make me change the radio station and are the worse in my personal list? Toni Basil's Mickey, video included. Sheena Easton's Telefone (long distance love affair), and I don't know if it was popular in the US but I read it entered the UK charts: "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", by german singer Sandra. She sang it in english and it seemed more like she was shouting the title than singing it. I could never stand it.

Wanna like it better? Try singing,

We filled these titties with silicone.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by Villavic

Oh yes, I looked for them and rememberd Jane and Runaway.

I've read in more than one article that We Built This City is the worst song of the 80s. For me, it was just another pop song meant to fill the charts. Yes, meh, but I didn't hate it either. If it came on the radio, I wouldn't change the station. I guess critics hate it because it marked a shift from a legendary band to a mainstream pop act? Or because of the silly lyrics? Half of the songs you listen on the radio have silly lyrics. I don't get it, I'm not saying it's a good song. But the worst? Please someone explain this to me.

Songs that really make me change the radio station and are the worse in my personal list? Toni Basil's Mickey, video included. Sheena Easton's Telefone (long distance love affair), and I don't know if it was popular in the US but I read it entered the UK charts: "(I'll Never Be) Maria Magdalena", by german singer Sandra. She sang it in english and it seemed more like she was shouting the title than singing it. I could never stand it.

Oh come on now. The fat cheerleaders in the Micky video are reason to like it enough. It was even featured on a Beavis and Butthead episode.
I found most ot Sheena Easton's music cringe from the 80s. My baby takes the morning train. OMG But when Prince made her sing a X-rated song about begging a man to come inside her sugar walls was too much.
I dont think We Built This City is as bad as most say. But its a shame it was not performed like the demo. Its a very anti establishment 80s song about clubs shutting down while cheezy groups took their place. Yet it got lost in the hoopla.