Paul Kantner 1941-2016

Paul Kantner, the singer-guitarist-songwriter who co-founded Jefferson Airplane and later Jefferson Starship, has died of multiple organ failure and septic shock.  He had suffered a heart attack earlier this week.  He is survived by his daughter China, whose mother is his former bandmate Grace Slick, and his sons Gareth and Alexander.

Paul Lorin Kantner was born in San Francisco to Paul Schell Kantner and the former Cora Lee Fortier.  While attending Catholic boarding school, he became interested in both music and science fiction.  He went to college for three years before dropping out to devote himself to music.

In 1965, Kantner co-founded Jefferson Airplane with singer Marty Balin, who also played an occasional guitar.  For the band's first album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, they were joined by lead guitarist Jorma Kaukonen, bassist Jack Casady, singer Signe Anderson, and Skip Spence, who was persuaded to play drums even though he was a guitarist.  Afterwards Anderson and Spence left the group, and were replaced by singer Grace Slick, who also played keyboards, and drummer Spencer Dryden.  The band would last until 1972 and at various times would include violinist Papa John Creach, drummer-singer Joey Covington, drummer John Barbata, and singer David Freiberg.  Although Kantner initially wanted to create a folk-rock group, Jefferson Airplane's music has been called "psychedelic rock".

In 1970, Kantner recorded the sci-fi-themed solo album Blows Against The Empire, with its musicians collectively credited under the name Jefferson Starship.  In a joint effort, he and Slick, who had become lovers, recorded the album Sunfighter.  After the breakup of Jefferson Airplane, Kantner, Slick and Freiberg recorded Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun, named after the nicknames musician David Crosby gave Kantner and Slick.  In 1974, Kantner, Slick, Freiberg, Barbata and Creach formed the first official lineup of Jefferson Starship, along with lead guitarist Craig Chaquico and British musician Peter Sears, who would alternate with Freiberg on bass and keyboards.  This new group would later take in Marty Balin, who after several years would leave and be replaced by Mickey Thomas.  Barbata would also leave, and be replaced by Aynsley Dunbar and later by Don Baldwin.  In 1984, Kantner left Jefferson Starship and later successfully sued to have "Jefferson" removed from the band's name.  For a few years, they continued under the name Starship.

In 1989, Kantner, Balin, Slick, Kaukonen and Casady formed a short-lived reunion of Jefferson Airplane.  In 1992, Kantner reestablished Jefferson Starship, which would frequently change personnel and at various times include members from Jefferson Airplane and the earlier incarnations of Jefferson Starship.  The last album to be recorded by this group is Jefferson's Tree of Liberty in 2008.

Read more at SFGate, The New York Times, The Guardian, Ultimate Classic Rock and Billboard.

As a band member, Paul Kantner's role was mainly rhythm guitar, harmony vocals and songwriting.  He also occasionally played banjo, harmonica and keyboards, and sang lead vocals.  On Jefferson Starship's 1974 album Dragon Fly, Kantner sang lead on Ride the Tiger.