Paul Kantner would have been 85 years old today,. We lost him in 2016. Rest In Peace, Paul... Paul was a common sight around San Francisco during his life, particularly in at Cafe Trieste in North Beach, Home of the Beats. He was always affable to speak to. That aspect of his personality really manifested itself when he spoke to the Dew Crew at our previous Radio affiliation. We spent 90 minutes on the phone with Paul and he seemed to love every minute of it! We discussed his military academy upbringing where he escaped into Sci-Fi literature, and we talked about the Jefferson Airplane & Jefferson Starship's 19602/70s Rocket to the top of the charts despite their Folky, Countercultural beginnings.
Paul Kantner was one of the wisest, most acerbic and razor-witted Interviews the Dew Crew have ever done. So listen to Paul's visionary views and amazing Tales in this 24/7 Podcast Player:Cut
Thanks. I often wonder why PK's (and J.A./J.S.'s) music isn't more a part of the DBMB world. Perhaps it is the Mickey Thomas dreck era. But there is a buttload of great stuff.
Rusty, I can't tell you how many times I've referenced JA/JS who were both legendary in their day, only to have someone recant "We Built This City" Mickey Thomas dreck. It's a shame because Kantner was OUT OF THE Band during that era. In fact, PK used to clip and mail the band their bad album & Concert reviews , ha ha .
It was Kantner who recruited Mickey Thomas into Jefferson Starship, and performed along side him for a number of years, including the Jane "dreck" era, which was what brought the band back into relevance, and which was actually a very good rock band, and also I'm sure put quite a few dollars in Paul's pocket.
Did he lose or give up control of the band in the MTV era? Maybe, but he was also who took control of the band away from Marty Balin way back in the early days.
Either way, it's easy to criticize. He was a legend, he was complicated (as was the entire history of the various bands) and unfortunately he faded badly in his later years.
And IMO, despite where they started and existed in their early years, the Jefferson Airplane and later Starship were never really a "drug band". I was too young to experience it firsthand, but to me they were always a bit distanced from the other S.F. bands of the time. They were really always more an early but sophisticated mainstream rock band, who along with The Doors (who were more a drug band than JA), Buffalo Springfield, The Birds and others created the next level of mainstream rock after the Beatles.
Anyway, in the end if anyone has a bone to pick about the history curve of those bands it's Marty Balin, who started the whole thing.
Jefferson Airplane wasn't a drug band? After Bathing at Baxters begs to differ.
As for the Starship, I was never found them very interesting after Blows Against the Empire. In fact, there's a current commercial for toilet paper that uses a slight rewrite of We Built This City that doesn't surprise me too much given the source.
Owsley and Charlie, twins of the trade
Come to the Poet's Room
Talking about the problems of the leaf
And yes, it'll be back soon
There used to be tons of gold and green
Coming up here from Mexico
A donde está la planta, mi amigo, del sol?
But Mexico is under the thumb
Of a man we call Richard
And he's come to call himself king
But he's a small-headed man
And he doesn't know a thing
About how to deal for you
How to deal for you
There are millions of you now
I mean it's not as if you were alone
There are brothers everywhere
Just waiting for a toke on that gold
And God knows how far it can go
You're famous, Uncle Charlie
For your Mexican smoke
You're a legend, Owsley
For your righteous dope
The melting acid fever streaking thru my mind
Makes it oh so difficult to see you
And oh so easy to touch you
I melt with you
Feel with you
Make love for you
At you
Around you
I love you
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq aiq
on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 – 12:13 pm
I just don't have time for
I just don't have time for these, I could read that in 15 minutes.
Transcriptions please.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind DJ Easy Wind
on Monday, April 26, 2021 – 07:28 pm
I'll get right on that, aiq.
I'll get right on that, aiq.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hello My Name Is Jackohearts
on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 – 12:01 am
While you're at it, would you
While you're at it, would you mind doing transcriptions in multiple languages? For example, I like the way French just rolls off the tongue...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind DJ Easy Wind
on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 – 10:38 am
Oui , Oui! Bien sur....
Oui , Oui! Bien sur....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: aiq aiq
on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 – 11:54 am
Apologies, unclear message on
Apologies, unclear message on my part.
I was not being specific, rather general.
The trend toward video interviews rather than transcriptions is not preferred by myself for the above reason.
I can read much faster than I can listen.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind DJ Easy Wind
on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 03:33 am
https://www.mixcloud.com/Morning_Dew/morning-dew11611-paul-kantner-interview-pt1/
Paul Kantner would have been 85 years old today,. We lost him in 2016. Rest In Peace, Paul... Paul was a common sight around San Francisco during his life, particularly in at Cafe Trieste in North Beach, Home of the Beats. He was always affable to speak to. That aspect of his personality really manifested itself when he spoke to the Dew Crew at our previous Radio affiliation. We spent 90 minutes on the phone with Paul and he seemed to love every minute of it! We discussed his military academy upbringing where he escaped into Sci-Fi literature, and we talked about the Jefferson Airplane & Jefferson Starship's 19602/70s Rocket to the top of the charts despite their Folky, Countercultural beginnings.
Paul Kantner was one of the wisest, most acerbic and razor-witted Interviews the Dew Crew have ever done. So listen to Paul's visionary views and amazing Tales in this 24/7 Podcast Player:Cut
PT 1:

https://www.mixcloud.com/Morning_Dew/morning-dew11611-paul-kantner-interview-pt1/
PT2:
https://www.mixcloud.com/Morning_Dew/morning-dew11611-paul-kantner-interview-pt2/
PT 3:
https://www.mixcloud.com/Morning_Dew/morning-dew-radio-show-wbai-paul-kantner-interview-pt-3/
Enjoy!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rusty Rusty
on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 – 11:56 pm
Dj,
Dj,
Thanks. I often wonder why PK's (and J.A./J.S.'s) music isn't more a part of the DBMB world. Perhaps it is the Mickey Thomas dreck era. But there is a buttload of great stuff.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dj_easy_wind DJ Easy Wind
on Friday, March 20, 2026 – 02:48 am
Rusty, I can't tell you how
Rusty, I can't tell you how many times I've referenced JA/JS who were both legendary in their day, only to have someone recant "We Built This City" Mickey Thomas dreck. It's a shame because Kantner was OUT OF THE Band during that era. In fact, PK used to clip and mail the band their bad album & Concert reviews , ha ha .
btw, what's DBMB ?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance HTT Newberry heathentom
on Friday, March 20, 2026 – 03:59 am
It was Kantner who recruited
It was Kantner who recruited Mickey Thomas into Jefferson Starship, and performed along side him for a number of years, including the Jane "dreck" era, which was what brought the band back into relevance, and which was actually a very good rock band, and also I'm sure put quite a few dollars in Paul's pocket.
Did he lose or give up control of the band in the MTV era? Maybe, but he was also who took control of the band away from Marty Balin way back in the early days.
Either way, it's easy to criticize. He was a legend, he was complicated (as was the entire history of the various bands) and unfortunately he faded badly in his later years.
And IMO, despite where they started and existed in their early years, the Jefferson Airplane and later Starship were never really a "drug band". I was too young to experience it firsthand, but to me they were always a bit distanced from the other S.F. bands of the time. They were really always more an early but sophisticated mainstream rock band, who along with The Doors (who were more a drug band than JA), Buffalo Springfield, The Birds and others created the next level of mainstream rock after the Beatles.
Anyway, in the end if anyone has a bone to pick about the history curve of those bands it's Marty Balin, who started the whole thing.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Rusty Rusty
on Friday, March 20, 2026 – 11:18 pm
drug band message board
drug band message board
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Saturday, March 21, 2026 – 10:11 am
Jefferson Airplane wasn't a
Jefferson Airplane wasn't a drug band? After Bathing at Baxters begs to differ.
As for the Starship, I was never found them very interesting after Blows Against the Empire. In fact, there's a current commercial for toilet paper that uses a slight rewrite of We Built This City that doesn't surprise me too much given the source.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJfeviFUcyw
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: intentionally blank mikeedwardsetc
on Saturday, March 21, 2026 – 10:42 am
Mexico
Mexico
Owsley and Charlie, twins of the trade
Come to the Poet's Room
Talking about the problems of the leaf
And yes, it'll be back soon
There used to be tons of gold and green
Coming up here from Mexico
A donde está la planta, mi amigo, del sol?
But Mexico is under the thumb
Of a man we call Richard
And he's come to call himself king
But he's a small-headed man
And he doesn't know a thing
About how to deal for you
How to deal for you
There are millions of you now
I mean it's not as if you were alone
There are brothers everywhere
Just waiting for a toke on that gold
And God knows how far it can go
You're famous, Uncle Charlie
For your Mexican smoke
You're a legend, Owsley
For your righteous dope
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsUMa3yeYYc
Starship
The melting acid fever streaking thru my mind
Makes it oh so difficult to see you
And oh so easy to touch you
I melt with you
Feel with you
Make love for you
At you
Around you
I love you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaHNAVgVkDY
And then there's White Rabbit, of course. I can't think of a druggier drug band than the Airplane.