Died On This Date (January 28, 2016) Paul Kantner / Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship

Paul Kantner
March 17, 1941 – January 28, 2016

Paul Kantner was the original lead guitarist for influential ’60s counterculture rock band, Jefferson Airplane.  Although the group was founded by singer, Marty Balin, Kanter quickly took over running things, and when Balin left, he lead its new incarnation, Jefferson Starship to even greater heights.  Formed in San Francisco in 1965, Jefferson Airplane was arguably the flash point of what would become known as psychedelic rock – rock music that was created to help enhance the experience of acid, and in particular, LSD.  Along with bands like the Grateful Dead the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Big Brother and the Holding Company, Jefferson Airplane came to represent all that was associated with the Summer of Love.  But of all the bands on the scene, it was Jefferson Airplane that was the first to gain worldwide fandom and huge success.  Besides being the only band to play at all three major American rock festivals of the era – Monterey, Woodstock, and Altamont, they scored early hits with “White Rabbit” and “Somebody To Love.”  In spite of their initial success, the band suffered from turmoil from within.  When the original Jefferson Airplane disbanded in the early ’70s, Jefferson Starship resurfaced and went to release such hit albums as Red Octopus, Earth, Spitfire and Freedom at Point Zero.  Their hit singles during this period included, “With Your Love,” “Jane,” “Miracles,” and “Count on Me.” They broke up in 1984, but Kantner and Balin reformed it in 1991, with Kanter continuing to perform and record under this moniker as recently as 2013.  In 1996, Kantner and his Jefferson Airplane band mates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   In March of 2015, Kantner suffered a serious heart attack but was able to take the stage with the band later that year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jefferson Airplane.  In January of 2016, Kantner again suffered a heart attack but this time it led to his death just days later. He died of multiple organ failure on January 28, 2016.  He was 74.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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