Editing Jefferson Airplane (section)

== History ==

=== Formation (1965–1966) ===

The band was founded in San Francisco in 1965 by vocalist and rhythm guitarist '''Marty Balin''' 
and guitarist '''Paul Kantner'''. Balin had previously run a folk club called the Matrix in 
North Beach. The original lineup also included lead guitarist '''Jorma Kaukonen''', bassist 
'''Jack Casady''', drummer '''Skip Spence''', and vocalist '''Signe Toly Anderson'''.

The band took their name from a piece of slang — a "Jefferson Airplane" referred to a 
split matchstick used to hold a too-short marijuana cigarette. They became regulars at the 
Fillmore Auditorium and quickly built a following within the burgeoning Haight-Ashbury scene.

Their debut album, ''[[Jefferson Airplane Takes Off]]'' (1966), was recorded for RCA Victor 
and featured Anderson on lead vocals. It was a respectable commercial entry, though it gave 
little indication of the impact to come.

=== Breakthrough with ''Surrealistic Pillow'' (1967) ===

The most transformative change to the lineup came when Signe Anderson left the band following 
the birth of her child, and Skip Spence departed to form [[Moby Grape]]. Anderson was replaced 
by '''Grace Slick''', formerly of The Great Society, who brought with her two songs from that 
band: "[[Somebody to Love]]" and "[[White Rabbit]]". Drummer '''Spencer Dryden''' joined 
simultaneously.

The resulting album, ''[[Surrealistic Pillow]]'' (1967), became one of the defining records 
of the psychedelic era. (See dedicated section below.)

=== Peak years (1968–1969) ===

The band released a string of increasingly experimental albums following their commercial peak. 
''[[After Bathing at Baxter's]]'' (1967) was a sprawling, avant-garde departure, divided into 
"suites" and featuring extended improvisation. ''[[Crown of Creation]]'' (1968) was more 
structured and drew on science fiction themes.

''[[Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)|Volunteers]]'' (1969) was their most overtly 
political record, released in the immediate aftermath of Woodstock, where the band had 
delivered a chaotic but memorable dawn performance. The title track became an anthem of 
the era's radical politics.

=== Decline and dissolution (1970–1972) ===

Internal tensions mounted in the early 1970s. Marty Balin, a founding member, largely 
withdrew from the band by 1971 following creative disagreements. Kaukonen and Casady 
devoted increasing energy to their blues-oriented side project, [[Hot Tuna]]. 

The album ''[[Bark (album)|Bark]]'' (1971) was the first released on the band's own 
Grunt Records label, but it met with diminished commercial and critical returns. 
''[[Long John Silver (album)|Long John Silver]]'' (1972) followed before the band 
officially dissolved. 

Kantner and Slick continued under the name '''Jefferson Starship''', which achieved 
considerable commercial success through the late 1970s and beyond.