List of Starship members

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]

Top: A lineup of Jefferson Starship performing live in 1984, shortly before Paul Kantner and David Freiberg left and the band became Starship.
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

^[22][2][23]

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Mickey Thomas	1984–1991 1992–present	lead vocals rhythm guitar	all Starship releases
	Darrell Verdusco	1995–present	drums backing vocals	Live at the Stanley Cup (1997) Greatest Hits (2003) Loveless Fascination (2013)
	Phil Bennett	1995–present	keyboards backing vocals
	Jeff Adams	2000–present	bass backing vocals	Greatest Hits (2003) Loveless Fascination (2013)
	John Roth	2012–present	lead guitar backing vocals	Loveless Fascination (2013)
	Cian Coey	2021-present	lead vocals	none

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Craig Chaquico	1984–1990	guitar	Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985) No Protection (1987) Love Among the Cannibals (1989)
	Donny Baldwin	1984–1989	drums electronic drums backing vocals
	Grace Slick	1984–1988	lead vocals	Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985) No Protection (1987)
	Pete Sears	1984–1987	bass synthesizers	Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)
	David Freiberg	1984–1985	keyboards backing vocals	none
	Brett Bloomfield	1987–1990 1993–1997	bass backing vocals	Love Among the Cannibals (1989) Live at the Stanley Cup (1997)
	Mark Morgan	1987–1990	keyboards	Love Among the Cannibals (1989)
	Melisa Kary	1989–1990 (touring only) 1992–2000	lead vocals	Live at the Stanley Cup (1997)
	Christina Marie Saxton	1989–1990 (touring only) 1996–2006
	Kenny Stavropoulos	1990	drums backing vocals	none
	Peter Wolf	1990–1991	keyboards electronics	"Good Heart" (1991)
	Jeff Tamelier	1992–1996	lead guitar backing vocals	none
	T. Moran	1992–1995	drums
	John Lee Sanders		keyboards saxophone
	Bill Slais		saxophone keyboards
	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 vocals	Loveless Fascination (2013)

Timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
June 1984 – early 1985	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Pete Sears – bass, synthesizers David Freiberg – keyboards, bass, vocals Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Gabriel Katona – keyboards, saxophone (1984–1986 tours)	none
Early 1985 – May 1987	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Pete Sears – bass, synthesizers Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Gabriel Katona – keyboards, saxophone (1984–1986 tours)	Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)
May 1987 – February 1988	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Brett Bloomfield – bass Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizers	No Protection (1987)
February 1988 – October 1989	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizers Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Melisa Kary – vocals (1989) Christina Marie Saxton – vocals (1989)	Love Among the Cannibals (1989)
October 1989 – summer 1990	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizers Kenny Stavropoulos – drums Touring personnel Melisa Kary – vocals Christina Marie Saxton – vocals	none
Summer 1990 – spring 1991	Mickey Thomas – vocals Peter Wolf – keyboards, electronics Studio musicians Martin Page – background vocals (1991 – Track: "Good Heart") Peter Maunu – guitar (1991 – Track: "Good Heart")	"Good Heart" (1991)
Band inactive spring 1991 – early 1992
Early 1992 – summer 1993	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Bobby Vega – bass, backing vocals John Lee Sanders – keyboards, saxophone T. Moran – drums Bill Slais – saxophone, keyboards Max Haskett – trumpet	none
Summer 1993 – 1995	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals John Lee Sanders – keyboards, saxophone T. Moran – drums Bill Slais – saxophone, keyboards
1995–1996	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals
1996–1997	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Erik Torjesen – lead guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals	Live at the Stanley Cup (1997)
1997–2000	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Erik Torjesen – lead guitar John Garnache – bass Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals	none
2000–2006	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Mark Abrahamian – lead guitar Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals	Greatest Hits (2003)
2006 – September 2012	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Stephanie Calvert – lead vocals Mark Abrahamian – lead guitar Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals	none
October 2012 – September 2021	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Stephanie Calvert – lead vocals John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Cian Coey – lead vocals (substitute for Calvert in August-September 2021)	Loveless Fascination (2013)
September 2021 – present	Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Cian Coey – lead vocals John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals	none

See also

• List of Jefferson Airplane members
• List of Jefferson Starship members

References

1. Ruhlmann, William. "Jefferson Starship: Biography & History". AllMusic. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
2. Ruhlmann, William. "Starship: Biography & History". AllMusic. from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
3. Barthel, John (September 4, 1997). . penncen.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
4. Tannenbaum, Rob (August 31, 2016). "An Oral History of "We Built This City," the Worst Song of All Time". GQ. from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
5. Giles, Jeff (August 15, 2014). "How Jefferson Airplane Became Jefferson Starship - And Then Just Starship". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
6. Walton, Charles (January 31, 2016). "Prairie Meadows in Altoona will host Starship featuring Mickey Thomas on Feb. 13". AXS. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
7. DeRiso, Nick (January 30, 2022). "35 Years Ago: How "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" Split Starship". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
8. Wilker, Deborah (November 25, 1988). "Fake Starship Returns". Sun-Sentinel. Tronc. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
9. DeRiso, Nick (September 24, 2015). "26 Years Ago: Starship Fight!". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
10. Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City, New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0671034047. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
11. "Mickey Thomas' Starship joins '92 celebration". Lassen County Times. August 11, 1992. p. 64. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
12. Ellingsen, Linda (November 25, 1994). "'Starship' Is Still Flying, Landing In Everett Next". The Seattle Times. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
13. "Darrell Verdusco - Drums". Starship. from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
14. Suto, Joseph (October 10, 2019). "Thomas Brings Starship Back To The Falls". Rockshowcritique.com. from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
15. "Phil Bennett - Keyboards, Background Vocals". Starship. from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
16. "Torjesen, Erik". San Francisco Chronicle. March 29, 2001. from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
17. "Starship Guitarist Mark Abrahamian Dead at 46". Rolling Stone. September 4, 2012. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
18. Suto, Joseph (June 12, 2016). "Thomas & Starship Take Fans Through Time Machine". Rock Show Critique. from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
19. Wood, James (October 25, 2013). . Guitar Aficionado. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
20. Starship (October 8, 2012). "John Roth, welcome to the Starship family!". Facebook. from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
21. "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas at the Grove of Anaheim". Music Connection Magazine. February 3, 2022. from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
22. Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
23. "Starship [US] Pop/Rock". Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible. from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
24. "Starship Guitarist Mark Abrahamian Dies". Billboard magazine. September 4, 2012. 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.
25. . 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."

External links

• Starship official website