Starship is an American hard rock band from San Francisco, California. Formed as a successor to Jefferson Starship, the group originally featured vocalists Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, guitarist Craig Chaquico, bassist Pete Sears, drummer Donny Baldwin and keyboardist David Freiberg – all were members of Jefferson Starship until October 1984, when rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Kantner (who had left in June) sued the band for the use of the name, forcing them to begin operating as simply Starship.[1][2] Freiberg left shortly after the group's formation, however, due to the dominance of keyboards in the band's sound.[3] Sears left early into sessions for the group's second album No Protection, citing an opposition to the band's continued evolution into what he described as a "vacuous, sterilized, escapist" musical style.[4][5]
.jpg)
Bottom: A lineup of Starship featuring Mickey Thomas performing live in 2010.
Slick also departed Starship in early 1988, leaving Thomas as the band's sole lead vocalist.[6][7] Bassist Brett Bloomfield and keyboardist Mark Morgan were added to the group's lineup in time for the recording of Love Among the Cannibals,[2] having both performed as touring members since the previous year.[8] Baldwin was next to leave, after seriously injuring Thomas in a bar fight before a show on September 24, 1989; the fight was initially not revealed to involve the drummer, but within a few weeks of the incident he was dismissed from the group.[9] Once the vocalist had recovered, the tour resumed in early 1990 with Kenny Stavropoulos on drums. After the tour's conclusion in the summer of 1990, Chaquico, Bloomfield, Morgan, and Stavropoulos left the band.[7] Thomas added producer Peter Wolf[10] on keyboards and continued to record by utilizing session musicians. After the release of the greatest hits compilation Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979–1991) in the spring of 1991, the band was let go by RCA.[10] Starship became inactive at this time.[2]
In early 1992, Thomas reformed the band under the name "Mickey Thomas' Starship" (later "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas"),[2] with a lineup also including guitarist Jeff Tamelier, bassist Bobby Vega, drummer T. Moran, keyboardist John Lee Sanders, saxophonist Bill Slais, trumpeter Max Haskett and former touring vocalist Melisa Kary.[11][12] The following year, Vega was replaced by the returning Bloomfield.[12] In 1995, Darrell Verdusco replaced Moran on drums.[13][14] Sanders, Slais and Haskett also left in 1995, with Phil Bennett taking over on keyboards.[15][14] Tamelier was replaced by Erik Torjesen in 1996, who performed with the group until 2000 when he was diagnosed with cancer (he died the following March).[16] John Garnache replaced Bloomfield on bass in 1997. Torjesen was replaced by Mark Abrahamian in 2000,[17] while Jeff Adams replaced Garnache the same year.[18] Stephanie Calvert joined in 2006.[18] Abrahamian died on September 2, 2012, after suffering a heart attack after a show.[17] He was replaced the following month by Winger guitarist John Roth.[19][20] In September 2021, vocalist Cian Coey replaced Calvert.[21]
Members
editCurrent
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Thomas |
|
|
all Starship releases | |
| Darrell Verdusco | 1995–present |
|
| |
| Phil Bennett | 1995–present |
| ||
| Jeff Adams | 2000–present |
|
| |
| John Roth | 2012–present |
|
Loveless Fascination (2013) | |
| Cian Coey | 2021-present | lead and backing vocals | none |
Former
edit
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Chaquico | 1984–1990 | lead guitar |
| |
| Donny Baldwin | 1984–1989 |
| ||
| Grace Slick | 1984–1988 | lead and backing vocals |
| |
| Pete Sears | 1984–1987 |
|
Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985) | |
| David Freiberg | 1984–1985 |
|
none | |
| Brett Bloomfield |
|
|
| |
| Mark Morgan | 1987–1990 | keyboards | Love Among the Cannibals (1989) | |
| Melisa Kary |
|
lead and backing vocals | Live at the Stanley Cup (1997) | |
| Christina Marie Saxton |
| |||
| Kenny Stavropoulos | 1990 |
|
none | |
| Peter Wolf | 1990–1991 |
|
"Good Heart" (1991) | |
| Jeff Tamelier | 1992–1996 |
|
none | |
| T. Moran | 1992–1995 | drums | ||
| John Lee Sanders |
| |||
| Bill Slais |
| |||
| Max Haskett | trumpet | |||
| Bobby Vega | 1992–1993 | bass | ||
| Erik Torjesen | 1996–2000 | lead guitar | Live at the Stanley Cup (1997) | |
| John Garnache | 1997–2000 | bass | none | |
| Mark Abrahamian | 2000–2012 (his death)[24] | lead guitar[24][25] | Greatest Hits (2003) | |
| Stephanie Calvert | 2006–2021 | lead and backing vocals | Loveless Fascination (2013) |
Timeline
edit
Lineups
edit| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| June 1984 – early 1985 |
|
none |
| Early 1985 – May 1987 |
|
|
| May 1987 – February 1988 |
|
|
| February 1988 – October 1989 |
|
|
| October 1989 – summer 1990 |
|
none |
| Summer 1990 – spring 1991 |
|
|
| Band inactive spring 1991 – early 1992 | ||
| Early 1992 – summer 1993 |
|
none |
| Summer 1993 – 1995 |
| |
| 1995–1996 |
| |
| 1996–1997 |
|
|
| 1997–2000 |
|
none |
| 2000–2006 |
|
|
| 2006 – September 2012 |
|
none |
| October 2012 – September 2021 |
|
|
| September 2021 – present |
|
none |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Jefferson Starship: Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Ruhlmann, William. "Starship: Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Barthel, John (September 4, 1997). "David Freiberg Interview". penncen.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Tannenbaum, Rob (August 31, 2016). "An Oral History of "We Built This City," the Worst Song of All Time". GQ. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Giles, Jeff (August 15, 2014). "How Jefferson Airplane Became Jefferson Starship - And Then Just Starship". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Walton, Charles (January 31, 2016). "Prairie Meadows in Altoona will host Starship featuring Mickey Thomas on Feb. 13". AXS. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b DeRiso, Nick (January 30, 2022). "35 Years Ago: How "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Split Starship". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
- ^ Wilker, Deborah (November 25, 1988). "Fake Starship Returns". Sun-Sentinel. Tronc. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ DeRiso, Nick (September 24, 2015). "26 Years Ago: Starship Fight!". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City, New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671034047. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ "Mickey Thomas' Starship joins '92 celebration". Lassen County Times. August 11, 1992. p. 64. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Ellingsen, Linda (November 25, 1994). "'Starship' Is Still Flying, Landing In Everett Next". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ "Darrell Verdusco - Drums". Starship. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Suto, Joseph (October 10, 2019). "Thomas Brings Starship Back To The Falls". Rockshowcritique.com. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
- ^ "Phil Bennett - Keyboards, Background Vocals". Starship. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ "Torjesen, Erik". San Francisco Chronicle. March 29, 2001. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b "Starship Guitarist Mark Abrahamian Dead at 46". Rolling Stone. September 4, 2012. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Suto, Joseph (June 12, 2016). "Thomas & Starship Take Fans Through Time Machine". Rock Show Critique. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Wood, James (October 25, 2013). "Mickey Thomas Talks New Starship Album, 'Loveless Fascination,' And Remembers Guitarist Mark Abrahamian". Guitar Aficionado. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ Starship (October 8, 2012). "John Roth, welcome to the Starship family!". Facebook. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
- ^ "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas at the Grove of Anaheim". Music Connection Magazine. February 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
- ^ Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
- ^ "Starship [US] Pop/Rock". Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
- ^ a b "Starship Guitarist Mark Abrahamian Dies". Billboard magazine. September 4, 2012. Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
Mark Abrahamian, the lead guitarist for the rock group Starship, died of a heart attack after a concert in Norfolk, Neb., his road manager said. He was 46. Road manager Scott Harrison said Abrahamian collapsed after a performance Sunday night.
- ^ "Mark Abrahamian". Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
Born February 23, 1966, Mark Abrahamian was taught to play guitar at the age of 9 after being prompted by his mother to "pick something to do this summer."