Marty Balin, Jefferson Airplane Cofounder, Dies at 76

UncleScoopy

He will no longer be “comin’ back to me.”

Balin was the alternate vocalist for the Airplane, the one who was not Grace Slick.

He sang the lead on some of their best songs, usually the sad, tender ballads. He then sang lead on the biggest hits of Jefferson Starship, “Miracles” and “With Your Love.”

I wore this album out, back in the day:

2 thoughts on “Marty Balin, Jefferson Airplane Cofounder, Dies at 76”

  1. They were already the Starship by the time I heard of them, their image was always sort of prog rock / laid back top 40.
    But there are bootlegs out there. Their early days live shows really cranked.

  2. I’ve seen at least two sources stating that Marty was the only core member of the Airplane who never slept with Grace (both Jorma and Jack had one-offs). Always bad blood there, Balin once proclaiming “I wouldn’t let Grace Slick blow me”. I guess it’s a pisser when a band founder gets totally eclipsed by the hired help or, as in other cases, by an older brother (that’s Sir Raymond Davies to you, Dave) or younger brother (John Fogerty) he talked into joining.

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