Spencer Dryden, Jefferson Airplane Drummer, Dies

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  • Ally_Kat
    ROTH ARMY SUPREME
    • Jan 2004
    • 7612

    Spencer Dryden, Jefferson Airplane Drummer, Dies

    Jefferson Airplane Drummer Dies



    PETALUMA, Calif. - Spencer Dryden, drummer for the Jefferson Airplane in the rock band's glory years, including the breakthrough 1967 album "Surrealistic Pillow" and the Woodstock festival, has died of cancer. He was 66.



    Dryden, who died at his home Monday, retired from performing 10 years ago but hadn't been working much before that. "I'm gone," he told the San Francisco Chronicle last May. "I'm out of it. I've left the building."


    A benefit concert last year raised $36,000 for Dryden, who was facing hip replacement and heart surgery at the time and whose home had been destroyed by fire. He was diagnosed with cancer later last year.


    "Spencer had a flow, a way of going, an impulse power that was irresistible and unique," the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart told the Chronicle in the obituary published Thursday. "He was capable of creating a churning, loving rhythm machine for ecstatic dancing."


    Dryden was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 for his work with the Jefferson Airplane.


    He joined the band in 1966. He had been working as a strip club drummer when he was recommended as the replacement for Skip Spence, who went on to start another noted rock group, Moby Grape.


    Dryden recorded on a number of the Airplane's most famous albums, "Surrealistic Pillow," which included the hits "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"; "After Bathing At Baxter's"; "Bless Its Pointed Little Head"; "Crown Of Creation"; and "Volunteers."


    During his stint with the Airplane, Dryden had an affair with lead singer Grace Slick.


    He left the band in 1970.


    In the '70s and '80s, he played for the Grateful Dead sideline country-rock band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and a Bay area group of psychedelic rock veterans called the Dinosaurs.


    Dryden was married three times and is survived by three sons. His father, British actor Wheeler Dryden, was a half brother of Charlie Chaplin.
    Roth Army Militia
  • tomballin
    Commando
    • Dec 2004
    • 1284

    #2
    Re: Spencer Dryden, Jefferson Airplane Drummer, Dies

    Thanks for the post!

    Jefferson Airplane was one of the core rock groups that really started the whole rock/acid rock revolution along with Hendrix and Joplin. In fact Janis Joplin and Grace Slick were best friends, along with the Airplane's frontman Marty Balin. Janis's death in 1970 was a major factor in the Airplane breaking up and Balin quiting the music business for many years.

    Two of the founding members of the Jefferson Airplane, "Jack Casady" and Jorma Kaukonen are playing tonight at the University of Texas.

    If you don't know anything about the late 60's rock revolution or the Airplane, check out



    and the recently released DVD

    Fly the Jefferson Airplane.

    Great stuff, ……..man were those the sex, drugs, R & R, and protest the War times!


    -----------------

    Originally posted by Ally_Kat
    Jefferson Airplane Drummer Dies


    PETALUMA, Calif. - Spencer Dryden, drummer for the Jefferson Airplane in the rock band's glory years, including the breakthrough 1967 album "Surrealistic Pillow" and the Woodstock festival, has died of cancer. He was 66.



    Dryden, who died at his home Monday, retired from performing 10 years ago but hadn't been working much before that. "I'm gone," he told the San Francisco Chronicle last May. "I'm out of it. I've left the building."


    A benefit concert last year raised $36,000 for Dryden, who was facing hip replacement and heart surgery at the time and whose home had been destroyed by fire. He was diagnosed with cancer later last year.


    "Spencer had a flow, a way of going, an impulse power that was irresistible and unique," the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart told the Chronicle in the obituary published Thursday. "He was capable of creating a churning, loving rhythm machine for ecstatic dancing."


    Dryden was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 for his work with the Jefferson Airplane.


    He joined the band in 1966. He had been working as a strip club drummer when he was recommended as the replacement for Skip Spence, who went on to start another noted rock group, Moby Grape.


    Dryden recorded on a number of the Airplane's most famous albums, "Surrealistic Pillow," which included the hits "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit"; "After Bathing At Baxter's"; "Bless Its Pointed Little Head"; "Crown Of Creation"; and "Volunteers."


    During his stint with the Airplane, Dryden had an affair with lead singer Grace Slick.


    He left the band in 1970.


    In the '70s and '80s, he played for the Grateful Dead sideline country-rock band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and a Bay area group of psychedelic rock veterans called the Dinosaurs.


    Dryden was married three times and is survived by three sons. His father, British actor Wheeler Dryden, was a half brother of Charlie Chaplin.
    Last edited by tomballin; 01-13-2005, 09:59 PM.

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    • tomballin
      Commando
      • Dec 2004
      • 1284

      #3
      Here's from the Airplane's official site:
      ------------------------------------------

      Spencer Dryden, drummer for Jefferson Airplane, died at his home on January 10 due to complications from colon cancer. His last public appearance was the DVD release party on September 29 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.

      Spencer joined Jefferson Airplane in 1966 and played on some of the Airplane's most memorable albums, including Surrealistic Pillow which sold over a million copies & featured great songs like "Somebody To Love," White Rabbit," & "Embryonic Journey." He performed with the Airplane at the Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock, Altamont, the Fillmore Auditorium, and the Fillmore West.

      One little known fact was that he was also the nephew of Charlie Chaplin. He is survived by his three sons Jackson, Jes, and Jeffrey, and 5 grandchildren Aaron, Lauren, Christen, Meagan, and Jessica.

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      • tomballin
        Commando
        • Dec 2004
        • 1284

        #4
        Cool Airplane ScreenSaver:

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