Jefferson Starship/Starship
Jefferson Airplane was fantastic. The first mutation, Jefferson Starship was a major step down but at least Marty Balin returned every so often with a song or a vocal to help things along. After some legal tumbles over who owned the name "Jefferson" it was dropped. Jefferson Starship/Starship revolved around the ever present Paul Kantner/Grace Slick axis along with guitarist Craig Chaquico and later, vocalist Mickey Thomas. Thomas, once a member of Elvin Bishop's Band, sang the hit "Fooled Around and Fell In Love." He also killed time in the '80s doing a duet with Donna "Disco" Summer.
In true corporate Rock fashion this band could crank out rock-by-the-numbers. "We Built This City" and "Find Your Way Back" were hits but "Jane" was the best of the lot. Chaquico was last spotted playing "new age" guitar.
The albums are reckless wrecks with "Red Octopus" being the most solid and memorable of the lot. The "Gold" compilation culls Jefferson Starship's best material on to one CD.