EXCLUSIVE! JORMA KAUKONEN INTERVIEW CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN
In a career that has already spanned a half-century, Jorma Kaukonen has been one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and rock. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy recipient, Jorma was at the forefront of popular rock and roll, one of the founders of the San Francisco sound and a progenitor of Psychedelic Rock. He is a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna. Jorma Kaukonen is a music legend and one of the finest singer-songwriters in his field. He continues to tour the world bringing his unique styling to old blues tunes while presenting new songs of weight and dimension. His secret is in playing spontaneous and unfiltered music, with an individual expression of personality. In 2016, Jorma, Jack Casady and the other members of Jefferson Airplane were awarded The GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to American music.
In 1965, met Paul Kantner and was invited to join a new not-yet-named rock band Kantner was forming with Marty Balin. As a self-described blues purist, Kaukonen was initially reluctant, but found his imagination excited by the arsenal of effects available to electric guitar, later remarking that he was "sucked in by technology." With the group still looking for a name, Kaukonen suggested Jefferson Airplane, inspired by an eccentric friend who had given his dog the name "Blind Lemon Jefferson Airplane." Jorma invited his old musical partner Jack Casady to come out to San Francisco and play electric bass for the new band, and together they created much of Jefferson Airplane’s signature sound.
A pioneer of counterculture-era psychedelic rock, the group was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve international mainstream success. Their 1967 record Surrealistic Pillow is regarded as one of the key recordings of the "Summer of Love."
Jorma and Jack would jam whenever they could and would sometimes perform sets within sets at Airplane concerts. The two would often play clubs following Airplane performances. Making a name for themselves as a duo, they struck a record deal, and Hot Tuna was born. Jorma left Jefferson Airplane after the band’s most productive five years, pursuing his full-time job with Hot Tuna. Over the past five decades Hot Tuna has performed thousands of concerts and released more than two-dozen records. The musicians who have performed with them are many and widely varied, as are their styles — from acoustic to long and loud electric jams, but never straying far from their musical roots. What is remarkable is that they have never coasted. Hot Tuna today sounds better than ever.
J O R M A
K A U K O N E N
AIN'T IN NO HURRY
AVAILABLE AT
AMAZON.COM
Purchase Jorma’s memoirs
Been So Long: My Life and Music
at amazon.com
“Been So Long is a survivor’s tale, well told and sprinkled with a bit of 1960s fairy dust.” —Wall Street Journal
"Jefferson Airplane guitarist Kaukonen’s candid and affectionate memoir resembles the rambling and free-flowing road trips he enjoys.... A mesmerizing storyteller, Kaukonen delivers a memoir as intricate and dazzling as his music." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“This is his searingly honest story, a tale of extraordinary success, excess and addictions” —Iain Patience, Blues Matters
“It's not only exciting, it's deeply honest, and it's full of experiences and thoughts ... amazing and timeless!"
—Uli Twelker, GoodTimes
“Jorma Kaukonen's Been So Long: My Life and Music stands apart.... an incredibly insightful look inside the life of a musician who was not only influenced by some of America’s greatest music but who also left an indelible mark on that very same musical landscape." —AXS
"It is thoughtful, insightful and downright fun.” Jesse Finkelstein, Blues Radio International
Nashville,
TN Jorma Kaukonen Jorma opens for Tommy Emmanuel
09/21/20 Diana Wortham Theatre
Asheville,
NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
09/22/20 Carolina Theatre
Greensboro,
NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
09/23/20 Brooklyn Arts Center
Wilmington,
NC Jorma Kaukonen also Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
09/25/20 City Winery
Atlanta,
GA Jorma Kaukonen
09/26/20 Songbirds Guitar Museum
Chattanooga,
TN Jorma Kaukonen
10/17/20 Fur Peace Station
Pomeroy,
OH Acoustic Hot Tuna RESCHEDULED from March 21. SOLD OUT
11/01/20 Fur Peace Station
Pomeroy,
OH Jorma Kaukonen Jorma opens for Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams. SOLD OUT
11/14/20 Fur Peace Station
Pomeroy,
OH Electric Hot Tuna SOLD OUT
12/18/20 Neptune Theatre
Seattle,
WA Acoustic Hot Tuna
12/19/20 Capitol Theatre
Olympia,
WA Acoustic Hot Tuna
05/28-30/21 Legend Valley
Thornville,
OH Jorma Kaukonen Dark Star Jubilee
07/08/21 Count Basie Theatre
Red
Bank, NJ Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/12/21 The Mahaiwe Theater
Great
Barrington, MA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/13/21 The Wilbur
Boston,
MA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/14/21 Flynn Theatre
Burlington,
VT Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/16/21 Paper Mill Island Amphitheater
Baldwinsville,
NY Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/17/21 Penn’s Peak
Jim
Thorpe, PA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
07/18/21 Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Munhall,
PA Electric Hot Tuna also David Grisman Trio
Hot Tuna discography
Hot Tuna (1970)
Pair a Dice Found (1990)
Live at Sweetwater (1992)
Live at Sweetwater Two (1993)
Live in Japan (1997)
And Furthurmore... (1999)
Steady as She Goes (2011)
Jorma Kaukonen studio albums
Quah (with Tom Hobson) (1974)
Jorma (1979)
Barbeque King (with Vital Parts) (1981)
Too
Hot to Handle (1985)
Embryonic Journey (with Tom Constanten) (1994)
The Land of Heroes (1995)
Christmas (1996)
Too Many Years (1998)
Blue Country Heart (2002)
Stars in My Crown (2007)
River
of Time (2009)
Ain't In No Hurry2015)
MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!
THE ROCK STAR
CHRONICLES
SERIES ONE
CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE
…Order yours today on
Hardcover or E-book
at bookbaby.com
Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.
CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA… JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER... RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER... ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY...
Paul Kantner is recognized worldwide for his innovations to the San Francisco music scene as the psychedelic captain for Jefferson Airplane.
After the Airplane disbanded, a savvy Kantner created a parallel rock
band, perhaps to mimic a parallel universe, but using a slight deviation
from the original trademark. Henceforth, Jefferson Starship is launched.
Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship are amazing stories, and
both bands have sustained one of the longest lasting relationships or
affiliations in rock history. Jefferson Airplane was formed in 1965, but the
group’s classic line-up would eventually evolve into Paul Kantner, Marty
Balin, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, Spencer Dryden and Jack Casady.
In 1966, the Airplane was spotlighted in an article in Newsweek
Magazine regarding the booming San Francisco music scene, which
contributed to a mass convergence of young people into the city and the
birth of the hippie culture, which ultimately led to the Summer of Love
(1967).
Jefferson Airplane scored huge commercial success with their second album, Surrealistic Pillow (1967). It was the first album to feature their new singer Grace Slick
(The Great Society). The album spawned the proverbial Top 40 classics,
“Somebody to Love” (#5 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100) and “White Rabbit”
(#8 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100). Both songs were originally recorded by
Grace Slick and The Great Society. The Jefferson Airplane became one of the hottest rock groups in America.
In 1968, legendary music promoter Bill Graham was fired as the band’s manager.
Between 1967 and 1972, The Jefferson Airplane churned out eight consecutive Top 20 albums in the U.S. with Surrealistic Pillow and Crown of Creation landing in the Top 10.
Their controversial anti-war inspired release Volunteers (1969) featured, “Wooden Ships” a tune penned by Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills and David Crosby. (The song was also recorded by Crosby, Stills & Nash
on their debut album). It was supposedly written on David Crosby’s boat
while in Florida. Both versions of “Wooden Ships” were performed at
Woodstock.
The Jefferson Airplane became the only band to perform at The Monterey Pop Festival (1967), Woodstock (1969), and the Altamont Free Concert (Headlined by The Rolling Stones -1969) … three of the most recognized music festivals of all-time.
Paul Kantner and Grace Slick began a relationship in 1970.
Later that year, Kantner released his first solo effort, a concept album entitled, Blows Against the Empire. It was released as … by Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship. It would be the first studio album to use the Jefferson Starship trademark.
Paul Kantner and Grace Slick gave birth to their daughter China Wing Kantner in 1971. (China became an actress on television, cinema, and the stage).
In 1972, after recording Long John Silver, and followed with a series of concerts, Jefferson Airplanecalled it quits. After the break-up, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady continued their success with its spin-off band Hot Tuna. Jefferson Airplane briefly reunited in 1989 with all its original members except for Spencer Dryden. A self-titled album was followed with a successful concert tour.
Jefferson Starship officially launched in 1974. The
line-up included Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg, John
Barbata, Papa John Creach, Pete Sears and Craig Chaquico.
The band’s first album Dragon Fly landed at #11 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Marty Balin contributed his lyrics on “Caroline.” Balin officially joined Jefferson Starship in 1975.
Jefferson Starship’s subsequent release Red Octopus became
the bands bestselling album. The album reached #1 on the Billboard 200.
The album produced the hit single “Miracles” (#3 Hit on Billboard
Chart) penned by Marty Balin and “Play On Love” written by Grace Slick
(#49 Billboard Hot 100). Fiddler, Papa John Creach left the group in
1975.
Jefferson Starship continued their incredible string of commercial successes with the release of Spitfire in 1976. The album reached platinum and included the hit tune, “With Your Love” (#12 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100).
In 1978, the bands next release Earth charted
at # 5 on the Billboard charts. “Count On Me” yet another hit single
peaked at #8 on the charts. Jefferson Starship became a mainstay on both
Top 40 and AOR radio stations.
By 1979, Paul Kantner’s uncanny ability to helm two independent and
commercially successful Mega-Groups became even more apparent after a
huge lineup change. Grace Slick and Marty Balin had left the band in
‘78. Kantner spotlighted a new lead singer Mickey Thomas
(Elvin Bishop Group –Mickey sang “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”).
John Barbata was in a serious car accident and was replaced with
legendary drummer Aynsley Dunbar (previously in Journey).
Even without key band members, Kantner and his Jefferson Starship produced yet another monstrous album entitled, Freedom at Point Zero. The album spawned the hard-driving rocker “Jane” (#14 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100).
Grace Slick returned to Jefferson Starship in 1981 and contributed on their next three albums, Modern Times (1981) which generated the hit, “Find Your Way Back” (#29 Hit on Billboard’s Hot 100), Winds of Change (1982), and Nuclear Furniture (1984).
Jefferson Starship maintained their status as one of the most
commercially-successful rock groups over the airwaves and on the
worldwide concert circuit. And continuing to churn out added hits like …
“Winds of Change” (#38 Hit), “Be My Lady” (#28 Hit), and “No Way Out”
(#23 Hit).
Drummer Aynsley Dunbar left the band in 1982 and was replaced with Donny Baldwin (Elvin Bishop Group).
Paul Kantner left Jefferson Starship In 1984; a
lawsuit by Kantner was settled out of court over the use of the
Jefferson Starship name. An agreement was signed by all band members not
to use the names “Jefferson” or “Airplane” unless all members of
Jefferson Airplane, Inc. agreed.
Under the name “Starship” the lineup of Grace Slick, Mickey Thomas,
Donny Baldwin, Craig Chaquico, and Pete Sears released their platinum
debut album Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985) which produced three
#1 Hits on Billboard’s Top 100 … “We Built This City,” “Sara,” and
“Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now.” By the late 80’s, band members began
departing and the name would eventually be changed to ‘Starship’
featuring Mickey Thomas.
In 1985, Kantner formed KBC Band
with former Jefferson Airplane mates Marty Balin and Jack Casady. The
band released a self-titled album and toured between1985-1987. Kantner
then left to visit with the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. (Kantner continues
to write about his exploits with the Sandinistas in a series of
novels).
In 1992, Paul Kantner re-launched Jefferson Starship as
‘Jefferson Starship -The Next Generation’ and the band grew stronger
than ever. (Kantner eventually dropped ‘The Next Generation’). Marty
Balin rejoined the band in 1993; he departed in 2003 but still
contributes from time to time. Grace Slick has also made contributions
to the group over the years.
In 2008, Jefferson Starship released their tenth studio album, Jefferson’s Tree of Liberty followed by a worldwide tour.
In 2009, Jefferson Starship headlined ‘The Heroes of Woodstock’
tour. Most of the concert dates featured … Jefferson Starship, Big
Brother and the Holding Company, Canned Heat, Ten Years After, Tom
Constanten (The Grateful Dead). Other dates included Melanie, Edgar
Winter, John Sebastian, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Mountain, Levon
Helm Band, and Country Joe McDonald.
Today … the current Jefferson Starship is Paul
Kantner (vocals/guitars), David Freiberg (vocals/guitar), Cathy
Richardson (vocals), Slick Aguilar (lead guitar), Chris Smith
(keyboards), and Donny Baldwin (drums). The band also invites past
members to perform occasionally. Jefferson Starship recently released a 4-CD set entitled, Tales From The Mothership. The
CD was recorded live at the ‘Roswell UFO Festival’ in Roswell, New
Mexico on July 3rd 2009. Jefferson Starship was dubbed “Grand Martians”
for that year’s parade. The setlist included many of their classic hits
plus material that has never been performed live.
I caught up with Paul Kantner recently while in between a lengthy
worldwide concert tour that will include Florida dates. Here’s my
interview with the legendary captain of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship … PAUL KANTNER. Ray Shasho: Hi Paul! This is a rather lengthy tour that you’re on …how’s it going out there so far? Paul Kantner: “Yea, we’re
gearing up for it, we’re everywhere from Tel Aviv to Scotland and
everywhere in between, so we’re looking forward to it. But it is a good
long tour actually.” Ray Shasho: Do you still enjoy doing the long tours? Paul Kantner: “This is the longest tour
we’ve done in the last twenty years. We just had the chance to go to
Europe a lot …and here we are. We’re going to Rome, several places in
Italy, and we’re going to Israel for the first time, all through
Scotland, the UK, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, and
we’ll be going to Japan later in the year.” Ray Shasho: Paul, I’d like to
personally commend you and the band for not continuing on with the
Airplane name after the group disbanded. Bands are continuing to use the
original band name without key band members involved. Paul Kantner: “It’s much
like when a good writer dies, they get some lesser author to recreate
his style and put out books under his name, and I always hate that.” Ray Shasho: Let’s talk about Jefferson Starship’s most recent release, Tales from the Mothership. Paul Kantner: “That’s also oddly enough the
name of the book that I’m writing about my ventures within the world,
and all my bands. But yea, that’s our 4- CD set; we did a special
concert down in Roswell, recorded it, finally got it together and put it
out.” Ray Shasho: Why Roswell, New Mexico? Paul Kantner: “I’m a science fiction freak
from way back. My mother died when I was young and I had to go to
Catholic military all-boy boarding school, and that was pretty much of a
shock for the second grade. Fortunately, I got left in the library one
day and down on the bottom shelf was C.S Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet.
I just started getting into that and fortunately it saved me from my
years in boarding school there and gave me a bit of an imagination to
work with … and I haven’t looked back since. So science fiction is sort
of the underlining reason for wanting to go to Roswell.” Ray Shasho: Your Sci-fi influence was certainly apparent on your solo album, Blows Against the Empire. Paul Kantner: “I had done some science
fiction songs earlier with Jefferson Airplane … Notably, “Wooden Ships,”
“Crown of Creation,” and a song called “Have You Seen the Saucers,” all
were sort of based in science fiction, but it came together on that
album in a particular unique way that turned out really good.” Ray Shasho: Blows Against the Empire was about a group of people “escaping” earth in a hijacked starship? Paul Kantner: “I debate with you on the
word “escaping.” For me it’s more “exploring,” An adventure within the
parameters that surround you and with the available tools that you have.
It had nothing to do with escape at all anymore than San Francisco did
in the 60s. We weren’t trying to escape, some reason being able to
fashion our own particular culture around ourselves. Not just ourselves
but around the whole city at the time. We were lucky enough to succeed
and not get arrested in the process …and here we are now.” Ray Shasho: So are you a UFO enthusiast? Paul Kantner: “I like the idea. Way back in
… I think 1947, George Adamski’s book about UFO’s, where it landed for
some reason onto my bookshelf shortly thereafter … it’s just part of my
science fiction heritage. I always keep an eye out for that sort of
thing … unfortunately I’ve not seen any and they’re probably wise enough
not to contact me. But I like the concept quite a lot.” Ray Shasho: What was Roswell like … was there heavy security guarding certain areas around town? Paul Kantner: “It’s just a funky little
town out in the desert and there’s really not much to do about it. But
there’s no big deal about the security, it’s pretty casual.” Ray Shasho: You didn’t try to get into Area 51? Paul Kantner: “No… I’ve done that before, even got
arrested for trying to sneak in with Carl Sagan one year; we were
protesting outside at one of the places out there.” Ray Shasho: I’ve chatted with Gregg Rolie (Santana), Johnny Winter and Henry McCullough (Joe Cocker) about Woodstock …now it’s your turn. Paul Kantner: “I had the best time myself. I got
plastered when the stage started to slip a little. I’m sitting there on
the stage and Chip Monck whose running everything says we’ve got to get
everyone off the stage its slipping a little, and I look up at him and
say … I can’t move. And I didn’t mean it as an arrogant rock star … I
mean I was glued to the stage with all of my being, and going through
the stage miles and miles into the earth. I was totally immobile and I
think he just thought I was an A-Hole and didn’t want to bother with me.
In any case, while the stage was slipping, I was just sitting there
flying … and I got away with it.”
“We came on just after sunup in the morning and it was interesting
haven been up all night and suppose to have gone on at ten o’clock the
previous night, so we were out there at ten in the morning at our most
vulnerable if you will. I didn’t know at the time how we played, but
have heard it since and it came off pretty well considering.”
“We were there several days before it even started just wondering
around aimlessly, figuring out what was what, and then hung around the
whole next day after our set. Then we did the Dick Cavett Show and did a
whole bunch of stuff there.”
“It was all quite a good adventure for me.” Ray Shasho: Was the ‘Heroes of Woodstock’ tour a lot of fun? Paul Kantner: “Every place we play is fun.
There’s a certain adventure of going out on stage, and we don’t quite
know what we’re going to be doing, and we play the songs different quite
a lot in many ways, so there’s a bit of adventure and exploration and
just the architecture of music, even to this day is something that I
don’t understand … why music works that way it does. After all these
years why this combination of notes, elements, and melodies, influences
people so emotionally, myself included, and that keeps me at the helm as
it were all the time.” Ray Shasho: I saw Jefferson
Starship headline for Jeff Beck and the Jan Hammer Group at a sold-out
Capitol Centre in Maryland … somewhere in the 70s. Paul Kantner: “I remember those guys
opening for us they were quite good. I’ve always liked the idea of
having really good people opening for us when we played and I do that to
this day. Some people like to have a crappy band open for them so
they’ll sound better, but for me, we really drive when a good band kicks
ass before us and it just makes us play better in the long run.” Ray Shasho: Red Octopus was a huge selling album … why do you thing that was? Paul Kantner: “I never have a clue. (All
laughing) We just put out albums and what we’re doing at the time, and
they go this way and that way… that one went a lot that way and turned
out quite good. We never plan anything and it just comes out when we’re
done with it. I’m working on a couple of albums right now … a rock ‘n’
roll album from Jefferson Starship and a sort of a half folk music kind
of an album … in the adventure mode of Tree of Liberty, sort of
like the way we started playing in the earlier days. I enjoyed
thoroughly going back to that approach; I love acoustic twelve string
guitars, banjos, grand pianos, and voices are probably my best area to
work in.” Ray Shasho: I play mostly electric guitar and have always thought that the banjo was a tough instrument to play. Paul Kantner: “The basics are quite simple
actually. I had the adventure of learning with Pete Seeger’s ‘How to
Play the Five-String Banjo’ book, which got me going right off and it’s a
very good book for that. I have two banjos and I’m looking at one right
now sitting at my home that someone made for me. It’s a fine instrument
and I’ve learned a certain way of playing that suits me quite well.” Ray Shasho: I chatted earlier this
year with Roger McGuinn about the old traditional folk songs and how
much we miss hearing them, but also about just keeping younger and
future generations aware of the genre. Do you talk with Roger? Paul Kantner: “We’ve been playing with
Roger since we both started … we did shows together when he was in The
Byrds and we were Jefferson Airplane and have continued to do shows with
him since. We both come out of folk music.”
“But that’s partly what I tried to do on Tree of Liberty,
the resurgence of that sort of feeling and we succeeded pretty well I
like to think. And Roger in his own way has succeeded pretty well. Both
of us ended up playing Rickenbacker 12-strings which I play to this day.
It’s one of my favorite instruments and almost all I play when we’re
playing electrically.”
“I’ve actually stole some chord changes from Tammy Faye Bakker’s band
in my day, and have found their way into our songs one way or another.
(Laughing)”
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~~Pacific Book Review says Ray Shasho is a product
of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts
around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television,
politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically
analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to
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It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids,
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