Starship—Band History
Final Evolution of San Francisco Rockers
Aug 24, 2009 Greg Gildersleeve
In 1985, the band that had begun 20 years earlier as Jefferson Airplane bounced back from yet another cataclysmic internal struggle. Co-founder and last original member Paul Kantner had left the band and sued over ownership of its second name, Jefferson Starship. Pressing forward, the band settled on the abbreviated name Starship and an abbreviated, five-piece lineup:
- Grace Slick, vocals
- Mickey Thomas, vocals
- Craig Chaquico, guitar
- Pete Sears, bass
- Donny Baldwin, drums
Only Slick had been a member of Jefferson Airplane. Her iconic presence in the group continued to attract media attention, even though the hit singles were now sung by relative newcomer Thomas, whose contract with the group reserved this role for him.
A Georgia native with a background in soul and gospel music, Thomas had helped revitalize Jefferson Starship when he joined the band in 1979. Two years later, he found himself sharing the stage with Slick, whose unique singing voice and controversial behavior had been the band’s biggest draw and who had returned to the band after a hiatus of nearly three years.
Of the other members, Chaquico and Sears had both been part of Jefferson Starship since that group’s first album in 1974, and Baldwin, the latest in a succession of drummers, had joined in 1982.
“We Built This City”
Pop music in the 1980s had little room for ‘60s counterculture flag wavers, so the group abandoned science fiction epics and political commentary in their lyrics. Instead, they turned to songwriters outside the group for radio-friendly material. Their first single, “We Built This City,” was co-written by Elton John’s longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin.
With its infectious melody and nonsensical lyrics, “We Built This City” became an anthem for the MTV generation: ear candy that celebrated style over substance. (In 2004, Blender Magazine and VH1 gave it the dubious honor of Most Awesomely Bad Song Ever.)
For Starship, however, “We Built This City” accomplished something no previous version of the band had ever managed: a Number One hit single on Billboard Magazine.
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now—Except Us
Starship went on to enjoy further hits: “Sara” (# 1, 1986), “Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter Tonight” (1986) and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (#1, 1987)—the theme from the movie Mannequin and the biggest hit of the band’s career. Starship’s first two albums, Knee Deep in the Hoopla (# 7, 1985) and No Protection (# 12, 1987) charted higher than any album by the group since 1979.
However, such hits were crafted by not only outside writers but also producer Peter Wolf (an Austrian musician; not the J. Geils Band singer), rendering the musicians superfluous. Bass and keyboard player David Freiberg—who had penned the 1979 hit “Jane” but whose songwriting credits disappeared from subsequent albums—was asked to leave prior to Hoopla. Sears, who with his wife Jeanette had written such staples as “Save Your Love” and “Stranger,” followed him out in 1987.
Then, in 1988, “the incredible shrinking Starship” (as Chaquico once described the band on MTV) lost yet another member—Grace Slick.
In Jeff Tamarkin’s book, Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane (Atria, 2003), Slick candidly discusses her reasons for leaving: “I was damn near 50, and I’m singing ‘nothing’s gonna stop us now.’ I know goddamn well how fast a relationship can come apart. It’s distracting and disconcerting to me to be singing lyrics I don’t believe.” A decade older than her bandmates, Slick decided it was time to move on.
Love Among the Cannibals
Thomas, Chaquico, and Baldwin added bassist Brett Bloomfield and keyboard player Mark Morgan for Starship’s third album, Love Among the Cannibals (1989). Though “It’s Not Enough” charted at # 12, the album sold poorly.
Shortly after the album’s release, Baldwin was dismissed after assaulting Thomas; in 1990, Chaquico left to start a solo career. Starship’s final single (“Good Heart,” 1991) was recorded by Thomas and session musicians.
Airplane Reunion and Parallel Starships
In 1989, five members of Jefferson Airplane—Slick, Kantner, Marty Balin, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady—reunited for one album and tour. Later that year, Slick retired from music.
In 1992, Kantner launched a new version of Jefferson Starship, sometimes subtitled “The Next Generation.” This group, which at various times has included Balin, Casady, Freiberg, and Baldwin, has released albums sporadically. Their most recent effort, Jefferson’s Tree of Liberty, appeared in 2008.
Since 1992, Thomas has toured with his own version of Starship. No other members from the band’s hitmaking days remain.
Starship, which evolved out of Jefferson Starship (itself an evolution of Jefferson Airplane), achieved greater commercial success than either of its predecessor bands. However, the drive to create hit singles drove away key band members, alienated longtime fans, and ultimately brought about the group’s demise.
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