SiriusXM remembers Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane

Paul Kantner, rhythm guitarist, vocalist and founding member of psychedelic pioneers the Jefferson Airplane passed away Thursday, January 29th at the age of 74 from multiple organ failure and septic shock. Kantner had dealt with numerous health issues over the last few years, and earlier this week he had suffered a heart attack.

Though terrestrial classic rock radio would have you believe that the only songs the Jefferson Airplane ever recorded were “White Rabbit” and “Somebody to Love”, the band’s first five albums were classics of the psychedelic era. Paul Kantner is credited as co-writer on some of their most influential songs, including “Wooden Ships”, “The Ballad of You, Me and Pooneil”, “Today”, “Volunteers” “We Can Be Together” and “The Farm”. Kantner would stick with the band when it moved into its more pop-oriented incarnation, Jefferson Starship, a brand that he would keep running into the 2000s.

Paul Kantner was a fan of science fiction, which he would demonstrate on his solo album Blows Against The Empire, which would feature fellow Airplane and Starship member, Grace Slick. Credited to Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship, the 1970 release was a concept album that was described as the story of “a counter-culture revolution against the oppression of “Uncle Samuel” and a plan to steal a starship from orbit and journey into space in search of a new home.”

Here are some of the greatest moments of Paul Kantner’s career, much of which you can hear on Classic Vinyl, Classic Rewind and Deep Tracks.