Covid Chronicles (15): the cuttings. And Jefferson Starship memories

 

I'd run out of excuses ...it was time to deal with the dusty folder of discoloured newspaper cuttings that had been kicking around in the attic for decades. 

The bulging folder dated back to circa 1973, when I could finally afford to buy the Melody Maker every week, and before I lost interest later in the 1970s. There were a few later items from diverse sources (Rolling Stone, The Independent among others). Mostly it was album and concert reviews, as well as interviews, relating to specific bands: Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Frank Zappa, Beefhart, Quintessence, John Cipollina, (bizarrely) the Alex Harvey Band.

I came to a whole page from Melody Maker with no obvious headline of interest and scanned it to see why it had been carefully archived. And was surprised to see this letter from a "M Rivett"!

I'd actually forgotten that this band had been a significant force in the 1970s, even though Jorma and Jack were absent. Of course the Doors were finished, Quicksilver Messenger Service were history. And there wasn't much that interested me in the UK's rock scene: it was all a bit pompous. But I think my letter was probably more to do with wanting to see Grace Slick than anything else! 

They did eventually come to Europe in 1978. As soon as we heard they were playing Knebworth my brother and I got tickets. We sat through Tom Petty, Devo, and I don't know who else. In preparation for the Starship, and keenly anticipating Gracie, Mark and I began making our way forward as the band before them left the stage. It wasn't easy picking a route through the packed humanity from our modest spot near the back all the way to the front, but eventually we found a vague gap not too far from the stage. 

On they came: Marty Balin! Paul Kantner!, Craig Chaquico! But where's Grace?!

At first I couldn't believe she wasn't there, but, as we found out later, she'd basically quit the band and flown home after the disastrous Hamburg gig, courtesy of her alcohol problem. We enjoyed it anyway and left mid-way through the headliners (the awful Genesis).

Paul Kantner, Dingwalls,
Camden Lock, 22/11/06

In 1984 Kantner quit and the band was basically "taken over by aliens". It wasn't till 28 September 1995, with Kantner's re-formed band that I had the chance to see them again at the Bottom Line in Shepherds Bush - though supporting band The Cosmic Charlies were as much of a draw by then. The female vocalist was the very special Diana Mangano, who unfortunately had a sore throat and wasn't able to show her fabulous voice and a magnetic stage presence.

Eventually they toured smaller venues in Europe on a regular basis and I was privileged to see many of my favourite songs performed by Kantner, Balin, Freiberg and others several times between 2002 and 2009. It's 5 years ago, this month, that Paul Kantner died. One of the greats.

Diana Mangano and fan

(Oh, and I got to kiss Diana after one of the gigs!)