Starship (band)

Not to be confused with Jefferson Starship.

Starship is an American rock band from San Francisco, California. Initially a continuation of Jefferson Starship, it underwent a change in musical direction, the subsequent loss of personnel, and a lawsuit settlement that led to a name change. Starship's 1985 album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, was certified platinum by the RIAA, and included two singles that went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart: "We Built This City" and "Sara".^[1] Their follow up album, No Protection, released in 1987, was certified gold and featured the band's third number one single, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now".^[1] After a short hiatus in the early 1990s, the band reformed in 1992 as "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas" and resumed touring.

Starship
Starship featuring Mickey Thomas performing in 2010
Background information
Also known as	Starship featuring Mickey Thomas (1992–present)
Origin	San Francisco, California, US^[1]
Genres	Rock, arena rock, pop rock^[1]
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Grunt RCA Rhino
Members	Mickey Thomas Phil Bennett Darrell Verdusco Jeff Adams John Roth Cian Coey
Past members	Donny Baldwin Craig Chaquico David Freiberg Pete Sears Grace Slick Brett Bloomfield Mark Morgan Kenny Stavropoulos Peter Wolf Max Haskett Melisa Kary T. Moran John Lee Sanders Bill Slais Jeff Tamelier Bobby Vega Christina Marie Saxton Erik Torjesen John Garnache Mark Abrahamian Stephanie Calvert

History

1984–1988: Origins, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, and No Protection

 

Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas onstage in 1985

In June 1984, Paul Kantner, the last remaining founding member of Jefferson Airplane, left Jefferson Starship. In October 1984, Kantner took legal action over the Jefferson Starship name against his former bandmates. In March 1985, Kantner settled out of court and signed an agreement that neither party would use the names "Jefferson" or "Airplane" unless all members of Jefferson Airplane Inc. (Bill Thompson, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady) agreed. Jefferson Starship briefly performed as "Starship Jefferson" while legal proceedings occurred, before settling on the shortened name "Starship".^[2]

David Freiberg stayed with the band after the lawsuit and attended the first studio sessions for the next album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla. He became frustrated with the sessions because all the keyboard work in the studio was being done by Peter Wolf (who had played on the sessions for Nuclear Furniture and briefly joined the band on the road for the follow-up tour) and that was the instrument Freiberg was supposed to be playing.^[3] Freiberg was dismissed from the band in 1985.^[4][5] The album was finished with the five remaining members, consisting of Slick, co-lead singer Mickey Thomas, guitarist Craig Chaquiço, bassist Pete Sears, and drummer Donny Baldwin. In 1984, Gabriel Katona (who had previously played in Rare Earth and Player) joined the band to play keyboards and saxophone on the road with them through to the end of the 1986 tour.^[6] Knee Deep in the Hoopla was released in September 1985 and scored two number-one hits. The first was "We Built This City", written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf and was engineered by Grammy-winning producer Bill Bottrell and arranged by Bottrell and Jasun Martz; the second was "Sara". The album itself reached No. 7, went platinum, and spawned two more singles: "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight" (#26), and "Before I Go" (#68). The band had not had a number-one hit record since previous incarnation Jefferson Starship released Red Octopus in 1975.

 

Craig Chaquico with Starship in 1986

In 1986, the group recorded "Cut You Down to Size" for the film Youngblood. By the time the 1987 sessions for the album No Protection began, bassist Pete Sears had left the band.^[7][8] Sears went on to play keyboards with former Jefferson Airplane members Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady in Hot Tuna for ten years. In early 1987, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now", recorded while Sears was still with the band, appeared in the film Mannequin and reached No. 1 on the U.S. and British charts.^[9] At that time, the song made Slick the oldest female vocalist to sing on a number-one Billboard Hot 100 hit, at the age of 47 (she held this record until Cher broke it at the age of 52, in 1999 with "Believe").^[9] "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song in 1988.^[10] No Protection was released in July 1987, and also featured the singles "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)" (#9), and "Beat Patrol" (#46). The last song on the album, "Set the Night to Music", would later become a hit in 1991, re-recorded as a duet by Roberta Flack and Maxi Priest. Following the completion of the album sessions in 1987, Brett Bloomfield was brought in to replace Sears and Mark Morgan joined the band on keyboards.

Slick left Starship in February 1988, going on to join the reformed Jefferson Airplane for an album and tour in 1989, before retiring from music.^{[11][12][13][9]} As Kantner, Sears and Freiberg had left the band, all the new and remaining members were more than a decade younger than she was. Slick has been quoted as saying that "old people don't belong on a rock and roll stage".^[14]

1988–1992: Love Among the Cannibals and inactivity

With Thomas the sole lead singer, the revamped lineup recorded Love Among the Cannibals from 1988 to 1989, and it was released in August 1989. The song "It's Not Enough" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.^[15] "Wild Again" (which reached No. 73 on the Billboard singles chart) was also used in the film Cocktail. The band went on another tour to support the album; recruiting backing singers Christina Marie Saxton and Melisa Kary to fill the gap left by Slick's departure. On September 24, 1989, while the band was in Scranton, Pennsylvania for a show, Baldwin and Thomas got into a violent altercation during which Thomas was seriously injured and required facial surgery, and three titanium plates implanted in his skull.^[1][16] Baldwin resigned from the band immediately afterward; he would later join the revived Jefferson Starship in 2008.^[17] The remainder of the tour was postponed until Thomas had recovered and was able to tour again.

After Thomas was well enough to tour, the band continued to tour in support of Cannibals. Kenny Stavropoulos was recruited to be the band's new drummer.^[18] After the Cannibals tour wound up in 1990, Chaquico, the last remaining original Jefferson Starship member, handed in his notice. Thomas attributes the comparative lack of commercial success of the last album to the interruption of the tour, among other factors. Cannibals remains his personal favorite Starship album.^[19] Brett Bloomfield, Mark Morgan, and Kenny Stavropoulos also departed the group in 1990.^[9] Peter Wolf was added as a member on keyboards at this time.^[20] The band recorded new music with Thomas and Wolf supplemented by studio musicians from late 1990 through early 1991. In May 1991, RCA assembled a compilation album, Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979–1991). The collection also included two new tracks, "Don't Lose Any Sleep" with Thomas and Chaquico (recorded before Chaquico had left) and "Good Heart" (#81) with Thomas, Wolf, and session musicians. A third track originally recorded during this time period, "Keys to the City", was released in October 2012 on the album Playlist: The Very Best of Starship. Shortly after the release of the 1991 greatest hits album, manager Bill Thompson decided to fire the group and told RCA that the band was done making records.^[21][20] The band was let go by RCA,^[20] and Starship became inactive.^[1]

1992–present: Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

In early 1992, Thomas obtained the usage rights to the name and revived Starship as "Mickey Thomas' Starship" before changing the billing name to "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas", and has toured steadily ever since.^[1][7][22] Although Thomas has toured with mostly new band members, bassist Brett Bloomfield returned to Starship for several years in the 1990s.^[23][24] Melisa Kary and Christina Marie Saxton, who had both performed with the group as backing singers on tour in 1989 through 1990, also had stints as official members in the revived band.^[22] Drummer Darrell Verdusco (formerly of KBC Band), and keyboard player Phil Bennett joined the band in 1995.^[25] The band recorded the album Live at Stanley Cup in 1997. Jeff Adams came aboard on bass in 2000.^[25]

In 2003, "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas" released a DVD documentary Starship: Greatest & Latest.^[26] The album accompanying this release contained re-recordings of some of the Starship's biggest hits, songs originally from Thomas's tenure in Jefferson Starship, as well as "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" which Thomas originally sang during his time in the Elvin Bishop Group in 1976.^[1] Female vocalist Stephanie Calvert joined the band in 2006.^[25] A live album titled Layin' it on the Line Live in Las Vegas was released in 2007. The band released the non-album single "Get Out Again" in 2007. The compilation album Playlist: The Very Best of Starship, was released in October 2012, and included the newly recorded song, "Karma (Everything You Do)".^[27]

Starship's first new studio album of original music in over two decades, Loveless Fascination produced by Jeff Pilson of the band Foreigner, was released on September 17, 2013.^{[28][29][30][31][32]} "It's Not the Same As Love" was released as a single from the album.^[33] The band performed at the Streamy Awards on September 8, 2014.^[34] The non-album single "My Woman" was released in 2016. On February 1, 2019, Rhino Entertainment acquired the rights to the Starship catalog for all the albums released between 1985 and 1991.^[35]

In 1999, former Starship trumpet player Max Haskett, who performed with the band from their reformation in 1992 until the following year, died from pancreatic cancer.^[36][37] Lead guitarist Erik Torjesen, who performed with the band from 1996-2000, died of cancer at age 34 in 2001.^[38] Lead guitarist Mark Abrahamian died from a heart attack, at age 46, following a concert on September 2, 2012.^[39][40] Abrahamian was replaced as guitarist by John Roth.^[28]

In August 2021, vocalist Cian Coey began filling in for Stephanie Calvert at concert dates. On October 31, 2021, Calvert revealed on her social media that she was dismissed from the band on September 7, 2021. Although no statement was issued by the group, the biography section of the official Starship website was updated, removing Calvert and listing Coey as a band member.^[41][42][43]

Band members

Main article: List of Starship members

Current members

• Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1984–1991, 1992–present)
• Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals (1995–present)
• Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals (1995–present)
• Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals (2000–present)
• John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Cian Coey – lead vocals (2021-present)

Discography

Main article: Starship discography

• Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)
• No Protection (1987)
• Love Among the Cannibals (1989)
• Loveless Fascination (2013)

Notes and references

1. Ruhlmann, William. "AllMusic Starship Biography". AllMusic. from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
2. Tamarkin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City: Atria. p. 330. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
3. Barthel, John (September 4, 1997). . Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Well, because they want me in, and I didn't want to be there because they were doing 'We Built This City' and all. It was at the point where they were going to the studio, and nobody in the band was playing anything. Maybe if they needed a guitar… Craig would play it. It was all producing and it was all hot stuff keyboard players and that is what I was basically playing with them…you know…and that wasn't me. Why have me around? Why should I be around?
4. Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City: Atria. p. 330. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
5. Price, Robert (October 3, 2013). . New Jersey Herald. Keith Flinn. Archived from the original on July 7, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
6. Pulitzer, J. (July 5, 1985). "A Memorable Stoll of Hits By Starship". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lee Enterprises. from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
7. 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 September 16, 2017.
8. Selvin, Joel (October 8, 2001). "Profile-Pete Sears-Starship Veteran Back on Course-Keyboardist's New CD Features All-star Support". SFGate.com. from the original on February 14, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
9. 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.
10. "The 60th Academy Awards (1988) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
11. Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. New York City: Atria. p. 339. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
12. Ruhlmann, William. "Grace Slick Artist Biography". AllMusic. from the original on April 12, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
13. Catlin, Roger (February 16, 1995). "Starship's Enterprises". Hartford Courant. Hartford, CT. from the original on July 8, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
14. "Jefferson Airplane". Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Centennial Edition. Nicolas Slonimsky, Editor Emeritus. Schirmer, 2001.
15. Viglione, Joe. "Love Among the Cannibals - Starship | AllMusic". AllMusic. from the original on September 20, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
16. Deriso, Nick (September 24, 2015). "How a Brutal Fight Changed Starship Forever". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
17. Liberatore, Paul (May 18, 2013). . Marin Independent Journal. MediaNews Group. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
18. "Kenny Stavropoulos Biography". Encyclopedia Metallum. from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
19. Grossi, Fabrizio. . melodicrock.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
20. Tamarakin, Jeff (2003). Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flight of Jefferson Airplane. Simon and Schuster. p. 351. ISBN 0-671-03403-0.
21. Ruhlmann, William. "AllMusic Starship Greatest Hits: Ten Years and Change 1979-1991". AllMusic. from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
22. Neill, Logan (July 21, 1995). "Starship Continues Journey". tampabay.com. Times Publishing Company (published October 4, 2005). from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
23. "Brett Bloomfield Biography". Encyclopedia Metallum. from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
24. Catlin, Roger (January 8, 1998). "Starship: It's Been A Long Trip". Courant.com. from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
25. 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.
26. "Starship: Greatest & Latest". allmovie.com. from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
27. Erlewine, Stephen. "Playlist: The Very Best of Starship". AllMusic. from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
28. Wood, James (October 25, 2013). . Guitar Aficionado. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
29. Deriso, Nick (August 17, 2013). "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas - Loveless Fascination (2013)". SomethingElseReviews.com. from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
30. Reilly, Dan (June 28, 2013). "Starship Working on New Album, 'Loveless Fascination'". Rolling Stone. from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
31. Derrough, Leslie (November 25, 2013). "Mickey Thomas is the Voice We All Know and Love (Interview)". Glide Magazine. from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
32. Deriso, Nick (June 28, 2013). "Mickey Thomas At Work on New Starship Album With Foreigner's Jeff Pilson". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on July 11, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
33. Wardlaw, Matt (October 27, 2013). "Starship's Mickey Thomas Explains How He Restored the Band's Classic Sound". Ultimate Classic Rock. Loudwire. from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
34. "Tyler Oakley, Bethany Mota, Pitbull and More Grab Streamys". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. September 8, 2014. from the original on November 18, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
35. "Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna Reissues Coming From Rhino". Variety. February 1, 2019. from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
36. Sullivan, James; Heller, Greg; Hildebrand, Lee, eds. (September 26, 1999). "Giving Garage Bands a Chance". SFGate.com. from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022. Trumpeter Max Haskett, 52, a longtime Bay Area music-scene veteran who played with dozens of bands including Cold Blood, Pacific Brass and Electric, Todd Rundgren and most recently David Martin's House Party, died September 15 of pancreatic cancer.
37. "Max Haskett". AllMusic. from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
38. "TORJESEN, Erik". San Francisco Chronicle. March 29, 2001. from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
39. "Mark Abrahamian Dead -- Starship Guitarist Dies Following Concert". TMZ. September 3, 2012. from the original on March 19, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
40. "Guitarist dies after concert". NorfolkDailyNews.com. September 3, 2012. from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
41. "History + the Band". Starship. from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
42. Hillis, Roger (January 20, 2022). "Springfest Headliner, Brad Paisley Concert on Cards for Spring at the Beach". Delmarvanow.com. from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
43. "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.

External links

• Official Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas Web Site
• Starship biography on MP3.com