To me, Jack Bruce's playing is the heaviest I've ever heard. I agree that sometimes his playing does sound speed-effected, like a hyperactive little kid. But this resulted in endlessly creative improvisation and variation. The two Jack's are great and I'll take them over guys like Les Claypool anyday.

Then there was that other SF band's bass player, one Phil Lesh. I like him on record a lot and live, he had great moments. I have to put him up there for one of the best bass players I have ever seen. Can't sing a lick though. Wait, what about Entwhistle? When you could hear him through the din or Moonie and Townsend, the guy was totally amazing.

Phil Lesh is great, one of my favourites too. Very creative and exploratory. And Entwistle, man, sometimes I think he's the greatest in rock history.

Damn I wish I was born a couple dozen years earlier so I coulda seen some of these bands live.

Weird:  Hopefully, the Vault will able to release some DVDs of these groups circa 1966-70, the prime years of the "SF Sound" and when LSD was really influencing how music was written and played.  Yes, there is no substitute for being there, but I'd like to recapture some of those times by watching a video.  BTW, I was lucky enough to be born at the "right" time and in in a 1.5 year period saw:  Paul Butterfield, Country Joe and the Fish, the Electric Flag, BB King, The Who, Quicksilver, Janis with Big Brother, Steve Miller, Moby Grape, The Band, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, the Dead, and The Doors.  Pretty lucky was I. 

I have to admit to liking some of the newer stuff that he sings on.  Phil & Friends stuff.....it's quirky and in the spirit of the G.D.  I mean....i tend to love Jorma Kaukonens singing as well cause it's strange and sometimes it makes me laugh.  Candyman always brings me a laugh...love it.  entwistle has definitely blown my mind once or thrice!

HOT TUNA                                                      

 

Agree with that. Nobody's mentioned Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun - not as good as the best of the Airplane, but better than anything that came after. Got some great songs on it like Sketches of China and White Boy.

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phillanth:

Agree with that. Nobody's mentioned Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun - not as good as the best of the Airplane, but better than anything that came after. Got some great songs on it like Sketches of China and White Boy.

 

"Fat" with the pointer sisters. just got that cd last year with the 1st starship. stopped listening to their music after the city song.

the quality on them were definately nowhere near the vinyl.  

I saw the '89 reunion in Detroit, and they did bring it.  Original drummer Spencer Dryden elected to not join the tour, due, I believe to bad health at the time.  He was replaced by one of rock's current great session drummers, Kenny Aaronoff (John Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge, Iggy Pop, etc.).  I remember it to be a very tight show, with beautiful harmonies, and all the hits, interspersed with stuff from their then new album ("Planes?").  I very much wish Grace would reconsider.  Such a volume of incredible music and messages to be heared by new generations of listeners who missed an era of music due to corporate radio ownership, and new artists having no forum (except for the internet) to get their music heard by the masses.  I've caught some of the regrouped Kantner/Balin/Aguilar recent live shows, and they are tough with poor sound quality and sometimes wildly off harmonies. 

Completely agree on Airplane vs. Starship. Different animals, but the former just has so much more of a diverse and high quality body of work.  I always thought a great performer who could fill Grace's spot would be Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde.  Tremendous singer/songwriter in her own right, with Grace's same anger and anti-establishment spirit.  Check out their work if you haven't already.