RIP Paul Kantner: 7 Things to Honor the Jefferson Airplane Musician by

Jefferson Airplane co-founding member Paul Kantner died on Thursday.

Paul Kantner

The singer-guitarist and San Francisco native passed away at age 74 due to multiple organ failure and sept shock after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week.

Here are sec things to know about him:

  • He co-founded Jefferson Airplane and its more successful spinoff Jefferson Starship.
  • The late 60s psychedelic sound was pioneered by Kantner. Jefferson Airplane had five albums that went gold.
  • The band played in Woodstock at the peak of their career, a concert only rivaled by the Altamont Speedway Free Festival with the Rolling Stones in 1969.
  • Kantner and his bandmates often quarreled, leading to a number of internal changes throughout the years.
  • He released a solo album called “Blows Against the Empire” with singer Grace Slick before the band broke up.
  • Jefferson Starship included Slick and it spawned a number of hits such as “We Built This City” and “Miracles,” achieving double platinum with “Red Octopus” in 1975.
  • Kantner and Jefferson Airplane were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

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