GRACELESS EXIT FROM STARSHIP

Rip It Up, Issue 14, 1 August 1978, Page 4

GRACELESS EXIT FROM STARSHIP

It appears that Grace Slick, one of the founding members of Jefferson Starship, has quit the band.

Her decision was brought on when, at a German rock festival, Slick became seriously ill with what was at first thought to be a ruptured appendix. After examination by a doctor it was decided that Slick could perform at that day’s show if she acted cautiously. But Slick refused and told Starship founder and ex-husband Paul Kantner that she didn't want to play with the band ever again. She reportedly said: “I'm fed up with rehashing the 60s. I’m fed up with the bitchery in ths band. I don’t like the sound and there hasn’t been any publicity for this f**king tour.” As a result, Jefferson Starship pulled out of the festival. The crowd at the Loreley Ampitheatre outside Weisbaden, who had already been promised the Atlanta Rhythm Section, only to have them not appear, rioted at the announcement of Starship’s cancellation. They invaded the stage and took to the equipment with axes, while others heaped gear into a pile, poured petrol over it and set it ablaze. Others from the audience dismantled the stage and smashed lighting equipment. Jefferson Starship lost nineteen guitars and suffered damage amounting to $200,000! At a gig the following day in Hamburg, Grace Slick had become seriously unbal-

anced by alcohol. Commented bassist Pete Sears: "She shouldn’t drink at all. She’s an alcoholic. Just a single drop will send her over the top.” At the concert, Slick wandered around in the audience, missed many of her cues and sang from the lap of a man in the audience. It was after this show that Slick quit and flew out for the States. Meanwhile the band who had one show left to perform at Britain's Knebworth Festival, worked at restructuring the show. Marty Balin took over some of Grace’s vocal parts, while both David Freiberg and Johnny Barbara sang lead on others. But by all accounts the show went very well, and while in Britain they assured reporters they’d be returning to Britain as soon as possible with Grace Slick to compensate for her absence at the Festival.