Starship

Starship is an American pop rock group and a continuation of Jefferson Starship. It forms in 1984 after Paul Kantner leaves Jefferson Starship and the remaining members choose a new name following a dispute over the use of the Jefferson name. The group is based in the United States and is active from 1984 to 1988 in its original run.

Line-up and formation

The band includes Grace Slick, Mickey Thomas, Mark Morgan, Jeff Tamelier, Phil Bennett, John Roth, Jeff Adams, Donny Baldwin, Craig Chaquico, David Freiberg, Paul Kantner, Pete Sears and Darrell Verdusco at different points. David Freiberg leaves as the group takes shape, and Grace Slick later departs in 1988. Mickey Thomas becomes the central and most consistent member.

Style and sound

Starship moves away from the more experimental and progressive direction associated with Paul Kantner and toward a sleeker arena rock sound. Its genre tags include acid rock, AOR, arena rock, hard rock, pop and pop rock.

Albums and hit singles

The band releases Knee Deep in the Hoopla in 1985 and quickly scores major chart success. The album reaches number 7, goes platinum, and produces two number one singles: “We Built This City” and “Sara”. Other singles from the album include “Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter Tonight” and “Before I Go”. “We Built This City” is written by Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert and producer Peter Wolf, and is inspired by the Bay Area radio station KSAN-FM.

In 1987, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” appears in the film Mannequin and reaches number 1. The track features Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, with Craig Chaquico contributing the guitar solo. The next year, the group adds Mark Morgan on keyboards and Brett Bloomfield on bass, and “Wild Again” is used in the film Cocktail.

No Protection goes gold and includes “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”, “It’s Not Over (‘Til It’s Over)” and “Beat Patrol”. The closing track, “Set the Night to Music”, later becomes a hit when re-recorded by Roberta Flack and Maxi Priest. The band later releases Love Among the Cannibals in 1989.

Later activity

Starship disbands after its commercial prospects decline, but Mickey Thomas revives it in 1992 under the name Mickey Thomas’ Starship, later using the form Starship featuring Mickey Thomas. The group still performs under the Starship name with Thomas as the only constant member, and it releases new studio material after a long gap with “It’s Not the Same as Love”.