Unfortunately, Kantner didn't get the press that David Bowie or Glenn Frey got with their passings earlier in January. That is probably because although Kantner was the mastermind behind the formation of the band (and its later continuation as Jefferson Starship), he was more often in the background behind lead singers Slick, and Marty Balin (and later, Mickey Thomas). He was, however, the heart and soul of the band.
Thanks to Kantner, the Airplane merged psychedelic rock with acid and harder rock, a transition that was pretty hard to do in the late 1960's. He was also noted for doing side projects in the early 1970's, both solo, with his girlfriend Grace Slick (with whom they had a daughter, China, who was later an MTV VJ), and with assorted musicians, both in and out of the Airplane.
By the mid 1970's, the Airplane transformed into the sleeker, ultra-modern Jefferson Starship, and had much further success. Again, although Marty Balin was the voice of the band (along with Slick), Kantner was the mastermind behind the band. The Starship's success continued into the 1980's, and although Balin left (and was replaced by Mickey Thomas, who was originally the vocalist with the Elvin Bishop group (of "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" fame), and Slick left briefly, it was Kantner who guided the band into the new era.
By the mid-1980's however it appeared the band was getting more commercial, at which time, Kantner felt it was time to leave. He prohibited the other band mates from using the Jefferson Starship moniker; hence it was renamed Starship, and the charter members began leaving one-by-one. With other original members, Kantner first formed the KBC Band (with Balin and Airplane member Jack Casady), and later an Airplane reunion, as well as reforming the Jefferson Starship, and he performed right up until his death.
Kantner may not have gotten all the accolades, but without him there'd be no Jefferson Airplane. He will be missed.
THE SNS ADVENTURE: Back in 2012, after the Sandy relief concert at Madison Square Garden, Chris Martin tweeted my blog which recapped that show, which contained many classic rock acts and some newer ones. Perhaps Martin should tweet it again, as his band Coldplay notches its first SNS #1, as "Adventure of a Lifetime" rises to the top spot, replacing "Queen of Peace" by Florence + the Machine, which drops to #3 after a five-week run at the top. It's the lead single from their seventh album, A Head Full of Dreams, and it is a new direction for the band. They will continue to be in the spotlight as they will be headlining the halftime show at this weekend's Super Bowl 50, with special guest Beyoncé.
BRIEFLY, NEW STUFF: Florence Welch may have lost the top spot on my list, but her and her band come right back with their latest single, "Delilah", the fourth release from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, and it is another winner. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats follow up their #1 "S.O.B" with "Look It Here" which has traces of soul and blues of their previous hit. Both are from their self-titled album. Mike Posner, one of the first pop artists to score on my blog, with "Cooler Than Me" back in 2010, releases his first new song since then, as "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" enters my list, and pretty much picks up where he left off back then.
LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND: This coming weekend is my annual ski weekend with friends, this time up in North Creek, NY, in the Adirondacks. Along with a great time, the several days as featured much new music, some enhanced on the trip, or the discovery of new music. Next week's blog will feature any new songs that come out of the weekend. Also next weekend, I will offer some insight on some of the Grammy categories.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
January 31,
2016
| This Week | Last Week | ARTIST-Title | Weeks on List |
| 1 | 2 | NUMBER ONE:
"Adventure of A
Lifetime"
Album: A Head Full of Dreams
|
9 |
| 2 | 9 | Elle King - Under the Influence | 4 |
| 3 | 1 | Florence + the Machine - Queen of Peace | 14 |
| 4 | 3 | The Dreamers - Wolves (You Got Me) | 12 |
| 5 | 4 | Smash Palace - Haddontown | 13 |
| 6 | 7 | Iration - 867 | 10 |
| 7 | 11 | Mutemath - Monument | 10 |
| 8 | 5 | Leila Hegazy - Maybe If We Try | 11 |
| 9 | 18 | Adele - When We Were Young | 4 |
| 10 | 15 | Cage the Elephant - Mess Around | 13 |
| 11 | 6 | Gwen Stefani - Used to Love You | 11 |
| 12 | 8 | Thomas Rhett - Crash and Burn | 15 |
| 13 | 10 | Zac Brown Band - Loving You Easy | 14 |
| 14 | 13 | St. Paul & the Broken Bones - Broken Bones & Pocket Change | 18 |
| 15 | 57 | TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
"Give It All"
Album: What Went Down
|
2 |
| 16 | 16 | Brick + Mortar - Train | 10 |
| 17 | 19 | The Revivalists - Keep Going | 12 |
| 18 | 21 | Phoebe Ryan - Ignition/Do You | 10 |
| 19 | 17 | The Decemberists - Philomena | 14 |
| 20 | 12 | Selena Gomez - Same Old Love | 14 |
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