Jefferson Airplane

Year:
1996
Inducted by:
Mickey Hart & Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead)
Category:
Performers

Jorma Kaukonen
Jack Casady
Spencer Dryden
Marty Balin
Paul Kantner
Grace Slick

Introduction

A transformative voice of the psychedelic revolution.

Jefferson Airplane founder Marty Balin was a key part of the San Francisco sound and its flight from the west coast across the nation, adventurous in bold political lyricism and freewheeling live shows.

Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh Induct Jefferson Airplane

Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead Induct Jefferson Airplane at the 1996 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh Induct Jefferson Airplane

00:02:42
Jefferson Airplane Acceptance Speech

00:04:19
"Volunteers"

00:03:17
"Crown of Creation"

00:02:55
"Embryonic Journey"

00:02:13

Hall of Fame Essay

1996

David Cohen

Jefferson Airplane were America’s greatest and most idiosyncratically unique rock band. From late 1966 to 1970 - roughly from Surrealistic Pillow to Marty Balin’s decision to leave the band that was his brainchild- the Airplane were an unstoppable machine, idolized by fans, respected by peers and critics as the purest distillation of San Francisco’s rock aesthetic, and were allowed their eccentricities by their blue-chip record label, RCA Victor, because they sold vast amounts of records.

For five albums -Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing at Baxter’s, Crown of Creation, Bless Its Pointed Little Head and Volunteers - the Airplane soared higher than anyone before or since.