Jefferson Airplane

[kiramdear]

Awesome post, Joshua. Your insight is well taken.

[cjj]

+1

As a kid who grew up in the 60's, I never really got into the hippie culture, probably mostly because my dad was in the military and wouldn't put up with it. I understood it (or so I thought), but never really latched on to it. I think a lot of those who did, realized after they had to actually survive and perform in the "real world" that the idealistic dream that was the hippie lifestyle, didn't really work. Nice idea, but unless your entire ambition in life is just to sit and veg, you just aren't going to accomplish much with that attitude. I think that is why so many people who embraced that lifestyle at youths, are so against it as adults...

[kiramdear]

I'm enjoying this thread. All the posts are very apt for a topic about one of the biggest hippie bands ever. Maybe the biggest, even, because they they had a philosophical ax to grind in their songs' lyric content, whereas The Dead or Santana and others didn't feel as much need to go there explicitly. The Airplane's work truly enbodied the manifesto of the hippie culture, if anyone was looking for that. It was all really chaotic from moment to moment, and there was no consensus or clear leadership structure. It was meant to be just what one made of one's personal freedom once gained, for better or worse ...

[collin]

The Airplane's work truly enbodied the manifesto of the hippie culture, if anyone was looking for that. It was all really chaotic from moment to moment, and there was no consensus or clear leadership structure. It was meant to be just what one made of one's personal freedom once gained, for better or worse ...

Yep, definitely. They were subtly political, without being too "Abbie Hoffman," ya know?

All the more sad when you think about what the Airplane became in later years. ......even sadder than Fleetwood Mac's story!

[beatlefreak]

I finally got around to listening to the new Woodstock Experience release on them. What a great Woodstock set! It's about a hundred minutes long, with Kantner playing a six string Rick in the first half, then switching to 12 string (which sounds somewhat out of tune)for the second half. Highly recommended!

[firstbassman]

I finally got around to listening to the new Woodstock Experience release on them. ... with Kantner playing a six string Rick in the first half, then switching to 12 string

Huh? I never recall seeing Paul play a six-string RIC. Is that in the liner notes?

The only six-string I'm aware of that Kanter played at Woodstock was a Gibson 335-type during Jorma's "Uncle Sam Blues."

which sounds somewhat out of tune

Yeah, as we all know that tends to happen.

In Paul's defense, the band waited all night in the cold to go on just after at dawn. Who know what would have happened to the strings in all that time.


And don't you remember the Kaukonen quote I once posted.

I asked Jorma once - what did you guys do before everyone had those little battery tuners?

He said "It was easy."

"Easy?" I asked. "How was it easy?"

Simple," he said. "We'd just play out of tune!"

[wj350]

Grace was *the* First Lady of Rock in my book...

[kiramdear]

Grace was *the* First Lady of Rock in my book...

Well, especially after we lost Janis.

[firstbassman]

I always thought of both of them together.

I have never really gotten over, btw, Janis' death.
A real freakin' great loss.


Stephen Stills' "Rock and Roll Woman" (it is reported) was written about Grace.

[firstbassman]

BUMP.


Kris . . . ?

I finally got around to listening to the new Woodstock Experience release on them. ... with Kantner playing a six string Rick in the first half, then switching to 12 string

Huh? I never recall seeing Paul play a six-string RIC. Is that in the liner notes?

The only six-string I'm aware of that Kanter played at Woodstock was a Gibson 335-type during Jorma's "Uncle Sam Blues."

[pshaffer]

New poster here......briefly - I was also under the spell of the Airplane -the music was SO different, and jorma and jacks playing somehow resonates with whatever is in my head much better than any other musicians.

I have an number of Airplane stories, from when I saw them, which I won't bore you with now. More recently, I have gone to the FurPeaceRanch several times to learn at the feet of the masters, so to speak, and it has been a wonderful experience. Have taken lessons from Jorma and Jack, both. They are, besides being two of the best musicians on the planet currently, really down to earth human beings. So, while I have felt a bit intimidated, Jorma is conscious of that dynamic and really makes an effort to make you comfortable. Great Guy.

Re: videos: Sadly, none of the videos I have seen of their performances live up to what I saw in person. In particular, the woodstock videos just make me sad. Except one. There is one, on a compilation video of a bunch of miscellaneous videos from the time, including things like the Smothers brothers appearances. On this video, there is a performance of Ballad of you and me and Pooneil that is how I remember it. Jack takes off on a solo that just leaves you shaking your head in wonder. Video's name : Fly Jefferson Airplane.

[firstbassman]

More recently, I have gone to the FurPeaceRanch several times to learn at the feet of the masters, so to speak, and it has been a wonderful experience. Have taken lessons from Jorma and Jack, both. They are, besides being two of the best musicians on the planet currently, really down to earth human beings.

Welcome.
Fellow FPR Repeat Offender here.
Though don't know if "down to earth" is the first phrase I would use to describe Jack.

There is one, on a compilation video of a bunch of miscellaneous videos from the time, including things like the Smothers brothers appearances. On this video, there is a performance of Ballad of you and me and Pooneil that is how I remember it. Jack takes off on a solo that just leaves you shaking your head in wonder. Video's name : Fly Jefferson Airplane.

[/quote]


The "Pooneil" and bass solo clip . . .





. . . is from a NET broadcast Night at the Family Dog.

[manta]

While I get the feeling from JH that the LE Signature series has seen its day, I have been lobbying on the Rickenbacker Forum for a few years now for a Paul Kantner LE RIC. That jangly background is the signature of the San Francisco sound and was the inspiration for many summers of love. I think a Kantner RIC would be a fitting tribute to the era, the band and the still RIC playing musician.

Manta

[jps]

That jangly background is the signature of the San Francisco sound and was the inspiration for many summers of love. I think a Kantner RIC would be a fitting tribute to the era......

Manta

Bob Weir also played a Rick in the '60s.

[FretlessOnly]

Just loving the Pooneil clip and Jack's mad bass work. And Spencer Dryden was a vastly underrated drummer. Listen to the way he pushes Jack during that solo section and yet keeps the time spot on. Years of playing jazz will do that for you (or not!).

To me, the Airplane often sounded out of tune live (perhaps due to Grace and her Schlitz malt liquor, and I love me some Grace, don't get me wrong; but the sheer volume and hard playing will do that), but they sure could exude some great energy. They were my favorite band from about '82-'83, and despite their live "inadequacies" they really put out some great studio work.

One live exception is Eskimo Blue Day from Woodstock. Just a killer track and Jack has the bass humming as usual. A big influence on my love of bass and my style. Bless it's Pointed... has some fine moments also.

I have all of the Airplane's regular releases on 12" LP, including a '72 pressing of Long John Silver that has the album cover that folds up into a tray to sort out all your marbles or spare change, or whatever it was folks needed a tray for back in those days.