Editing Jefferson Airplane (section)

===1965–1966: Formation and early development===
In 1962, 20-year-old [[Marty Balin]] recorded two singles for [[Challenge Records (1950s)|Challenge Records]], neither of which was successful.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=|pp=7–8}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swanson |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Swanson |date=September 29, 2018 |title=Top 10 Marty Balin Songs |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/marty-balin-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624214401/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/marty-balin-songs/ |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He then played in a [[Folk music|folk]] quartet, the Town Criers, from April 1963 to June 1964.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=|pp=9–10}} With the [[The Beatles|Beatles]]-led [[British Invasion]], Balin was inspired by the emerging [[folk rock]] genre to form a group in March 1965 that would follow that lead, as well as opening a nightclub for them to perform.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jefferson-airplane-mn0000840102/biography |title=Jefferson Airplane: Artist Biography |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=July 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704131633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jefferson-airplane-mn0000840102/biography|archive-date=July 4, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=11}} With a group of investors, he purchased a former pizza parlor on [[Fillmore Street]] in [[San Francisco]] and converted it into a club called [[The Matrix (club)|the Matrix]].{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=24}}<ref name="allmusic"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Ben |date=October 16, 2017 |title=From Folk to Acid Rock, How Marty Balin Launched the San Francisco Music Scene |url=https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/marty-balin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230203930/https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/marty-balin/ |archive-date=December 30, 2021 |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=[[Collectors Weekly]]|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=uao |date=June 5, 2005 |url=http://blogcritics.org/music/article/artist-overview-jefferson-airplane/page-2/ |title=Artist Overview – Jefferson Airplane |work=Blogcritics Music |access-date=October 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728120357/http://blogcritics.org/music/article/artist-overview-jefferson-airplane/page-2/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, he searched for like-minded musicians to form his group.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Wade |last2=Parker |first2=Scott |title=Jefferson Airplane {{!}} 50 Years of Peace & Music |url=https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/blog/jefferson-airplane |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128103359/https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/blog/jefferson-airplane |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=[[Bethel Woods Center for the Arts]]|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Balin met fellow folk guitarist and singer [[Paul Kantner]] during a [[hootenanny]] at another local club, the Drinking Gourd, and invited Kantner to join him in putting together a band.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite interview |last=Balin |first=Marty |subject-link=Marty Balin |interviewer=[[Gary Graff]] |title=Paul Kantner Remembered by Former Jefferson Airplane Bandmate Marty Balin: Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-kantner-remembrance-marty-balin-jefferson-airplane-6859375/ |access-date=December 5, 2022 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=January 29, 2016|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205143409/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/paul-kantner-remembrance-marty-balin-jefferson-airplane-6859375/|archive-date=December 5, 2022|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|p=15}} A native San Franciscan, Kantner had started out performing on the [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]] folk circuit in the early 1960s, alongside fellow folkies [[Jerry Garcia]] and [[David Crosby]].{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=18}}<ref name=":1" /> He cited folk groups like the [[The Kingston Trio|Kingston Trio]] and the [[The Weavers|Weavers]] as strong early influences. He briefly moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to work in a folk duo with future Airplane/Starship member [[David Freiberg]] (who subsequently joined [[Quicksilver Messenger Service]]).<ref name=DF>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-freiberg-mn0000638153/biography |title=David Freiberg |last=Unterberger |first=Richie |website=[[Allmusic]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011021453/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-freiberg-mn0000638153/biography |archive-date=October 11, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Balin and Kantner then recruited other musicians to form the house band at the Matrix. They hired [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] acoustic bassist [[Bob Harvey (musician)|Bob Harvey]] and former [[United States Marine Band|Marine Band]] drummer Jerry Peloquin.{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|p=15}}{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=23}} Both Kantner and Balin wanted the group to have a female singer.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=23}} After hearing vocalist [[Signe Toly Anderson]] at the Drinking Gourd, Balin invited her to be the group's co-lead singer. Anderson sang with the band for a year and performed on their first album before departing in October 1966 after the birth of her first child.<ref name="SigneAnderson-AllMusic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/signe-anderson-mn0001201041/biography|title=Signe Anderson Biography|last=Unterberger|first=Richie|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=January 11, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308215428/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/signe-anderson-mn0001201041/biography|archive-date=March 8, 2016|language=en-US}}</ref>

They still needed a [[lead guitar]]ist.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=25}} Kantner recruited an old friend, [[blues]] guitarist [[Jorma Kaukonen]], who auditioned for the group and joined them in June, completing the original lineup.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=32}} Originally from Washington, D.C., Kaukonen had moved to California in the early 1960s and met Kantner at [[Santa Clara University]] in 1962. Kaukonen was invited to jam with the new band, and although initially reluctant to join, he was won over after playing his guitar through a [[Delay (audio effect)|tape delay]] device that was part of the sound system used by [[Ken Kesey]] for his [[Acid Tests|Acid Test]] parties.

Kaukonen came up with the band name "Jefferson Airplane".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jormakaukonen.com/Main.php?page=bio |title=Jorma Kaukonen: A Brief History |work=JormaKaukonen.com |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127152133/http://www.jormakaukonen.com/Main.php?page=bio |archive-date=November 27, 2009 |url-status=dead |language=en-US}}</ref> It was based on the nickname "Blind [[Thomas Jefferson]] Airplane," which was given to Kaukonen by his friend Richmond "Steve" Talbot, inspired by the name of one of Kaukonen's influences, bluesman [[Blind Lemon Jefferson]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leonardi|first=Tom|date=5 October 2016|title=Music by local legend Richmond Talbot|url=http://kzfr.org/broadcasts/132|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223034739/http://kzfr.org/broadcasts/132|archive-date=23 February 2020|access-date=24 February 2022|website=[[KZFR]]}}</ref>{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|pp=15–16}} According to Kaukonen, "The band was coming up with all these really stupid names and I said, 'If you want something really silly, try Jefferson Airplane.'"{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=32}}
[[File:Jefferson Airplane, summer 1965.jpg|left|thumb|The original lineup of Jefferson Airplane at the Matrix in summer 1965. Clockwise from left: Bob Harvey, Signe Toly Anderson, Jerry Peloquin, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, and Marty Balin.]]
At a music shop near the Matrix, Peloquin encountered [[Matthew Katz]], a music manager who was searching for a band to work with.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=33}} Katz had beforehand offered to manage the Town Criers, Balin's previous group, but was turned down because of disagreements over his terms.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=33}} Peloquin reintroduced Katz to Balin, who had been trying to find a manager for Jefferson Airplane.{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|p=15}} Katz enticed the band by mentioning that he had access to an unreleased Bob Dylan song, "[[Lay Down Your Weary Tune]]", and they appointed him as their manager,{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=36}} although they did not officially sign a contract with Katz until December 1965.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|pp=60–61}}

[[File:Jefferson Airplane early 1966.jpg|thumb|250px|Jefferson Airplane in early 1966. From left: Anderson, Casady, Balin, Spence, Kantner and Kaukonen.]]
After rehearsing throughout the summer, the group made its first public appearance as Jefferson Airplane at the opening night of The Matrix on August 13, 1965.<ref name="allmusic"/>{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=|pp=39–40}} The band expanded from its folk roots, drawing inspiration from the [[The Beatles|Beatles]], the [[The Byrds|Byrds]] and the [[The Lovin' Spoonful|Lovin' Spoonful]], and gradually developed a more pop-oriented electric sound.{{Citation needed|date = May 2018}} Later that month, [[John L. Wasserman]] of the ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]'' praised the band's "musical approach and style"—noting their blend of folk, blues, and [[rock and roll]]—and remarked, "Although there are but hints at this time, it is entirely possible that this will be the new direction of contemporary pop music."{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=40–41}}

A few weeks after the group started performing, Peloquin departed because of conflicts with his bandmates, in part because of his disdain for their drug use.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=41}} Although he was not a drummer, singer-guitarist [[Skip Spence]] (who later co-founded [[Moby Grape]]) was then invited to replace Peloquin.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=42}} Spence quickly adapted and made his debut at the Matrix in September.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=43}} In October 1965, after the other members decided that Bob Harvey's bass playing was not up to par, he was replaced by guitarist-bassist [[Jack Casady]], an old friend of Kaukonen from Washington, D.C.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|pp=45, 49, 51}} Casady played his first gig with the Airplane on October 30 in the [[Harmon Gym]] at the [[University of California, Berkeley]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Fenton|2006|p=54}}; {{Harvnb|Tamarkin|2003|p=46}}.</ref>

The group's performance skills improved rapidly and they soon gained a strong following in and around San Francisco, aided by reviews from music journalist [[Ralph J. Gleason]], the jazz critic of the ''San Francisco Chronicle''. After seeing them at the Matrix, Gleason wrote in the September 13 edition of his "On the Town" column that the band, still without a record deal, would "obviously record for someone" eventually.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=41}} Gleason's support raised the band's profile considerably, and within three months Katz was fielding offers from recording companies, although they had yet to perform outside the San Francisco Bay Area.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=41}}

[[File:Jefferson airplane fillmore poster 1966.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Jefferson Airplane Fillmore poster, February 1966. This was the first non-benefit concert held at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefillmore.com/history1.asp |title=Fillmore History|work=The Fillmore|access-date=June 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505222636/http://www.thefillmore.com/history1.asp|archive-date=May 5, 2006|language=en-US}}</ref>]]
Two significant early concerts featuring the Airplane were held in late 1965. The first was the historic dance at the Longshoremen's Hall in San Francisco on October 16, 1965, the first of many "[[happening]]s" in the Bay Area, where Gleason first saw them perform. At this concert they were supported by a local folk-rock group, [[The Great Society (band)|the Great Society]], that featured [[Grace Slick]] as lead singer, and it was here that Kantner met Slick for the first time.<ref name="pc41">{{cite web |last=Gilliland |first=John |author-link=John Gilliland |year=1969 |title=Show 41 – The Acid Test: Psychedelics and a sub-culture emerge in San Francisco. |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19800/m1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109144934/http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19800/m1/ |archive-date=November 9, 2011 |access-date=April 29, 2011 |work=[[Pop Chronicles]] |publisher=University of North Texas Libraries |language=en-US |format=audio}}</ref> A few weeks later, on November 6, they appeared at a [[benefit concert]] for the [[San Francisco Mime Troupe]], the first of many promotions by rising Bay Area entrepreneur [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]], who later became the band's manager.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|pp=54–55, 125–126}}

By late 1965, Jefferson Airplane, under Katz's management, had turned down recording offers from [[Capitol Records|Capitol]], [[Valiant Records|Valiant]], [[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]], [[Elektra Records|Elektra]], and [[London Recordings|London]].{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=44}} In November 1965, Jefferson Airplane signed a recording contract with [[RCA Victor]], which included a then unheard-of [[Advance payment|advance]] of $25,000 ({{Inflation|US|25000|1965|fmt=eq|r=-3}}).{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|p=16}} Before this, they had recorded a demo for [[Columbia Records]] of "The Other Side Of This Life" with Harvey on bass, which was immediately rejected by the label.{{Sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=44}} On December 10, 1965, the Airplane played at the first Bill Graham-promoted show at the [[The Fillmore|Fillmore]] Auditorium, supported by the Great Society and others. The Airplane also appeared at numerous [[Family Dog Productions|Family Dog]] shows promoted by [[Chet Helms]] at the [[Avalon Ballroom]].<ref name=pc41/>

[[File:1966 Early Jefferson Airplane.JPG|thumb|The group in mid-1966 after Spencer Dryden replaced Skip Spence on drums.]]
The group's first single was Balin's "It's No Secret" (a tune he wrote with [[Otis Redding]] in mind); the B-side was "Runnin' Round This World", the song that led to the band's first clash with RCA Victor over the lyric "The nights I've spent with you have been fantastic trips". After their debut LP was completed in March 1966, Skip Spence quit the band and he was eventually replaced by [[Spencer Dryden]], who played his first show with the Airplane at the Berkeley Folk Festival on July 4, 1966. Dryden had previously played with a Los Angeles group called the Ashes, which later became the [[The Peanut Butter Conspiracy|Peanut Butter Conspiracy]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - The Unofficial Web Site|url=https://www.peanutbutterconspiracy.com/pbc.htm|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.peanutbutterconspiracy.com|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304060111/http://peanutbutterconspiracy.com/pbc.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Original manager Katz was fired in August, sparking a long-running legal battle that continued until 1987, and Balin's friend and roommate [[Bill Thompson (manager)|Bill Thompson]] was installed as road manager and temporary band manager.{{sfn|Tamarkin|2003|pp=81,343}} It was Thompson, a friend and staunch supporter of the band and a former ''Chronicle'' staffer, who had convinced reviewers Ralph Gleason and John Wasserman to see the band at the Matrix.{{sfn|Tamarkin|2003|pp=xviii,41}} Thanks to Gleason's influence, Thompson was able to book the group for appearances at the [[Monterey Jazz Festival]].{{sfn|Tamarkin|2003|p=83}}

The group's debut LP ''[[Jefferson Airplane Takes Off]]'' was released on August 15, 1966.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tamarkin|2003|p=80}}; {{Harvnb|Fenton|2006|p=31}}.</ref> The album was dominated by Balin, who provided most of the lead vocals and had a hand in writing all of the original material, including "It's No Secret" and "Come Up the Years."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=Takes Off Review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/takes-off-mw0000200204 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502163446/https://www.allmusic.com/album/takes-off-mw0000200204 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |access-date=December 7, 2022 |website=[[AllMusic]]|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It also contained covers of "[[Tobacco Road (song)|Tobacco Road]]", [[Dino Valente]]'s "[[Get Together (Chet Powers song)|Let's Get Together]]", and "[[Chauffeur Blues]]", which became a signature tune for Anderson.{{Sfn|Butterworth|2021|p=22}} RCA Victor initially pressed only 15,000 copies, but it sold more than 10,000 in San Francisco alone, prompting the label to reprint it. For the re-pressing, the company deleted "Runnin' Round This World" (which had appeared on early mono pressings), because executives objected to the word "trip" in the lyrics. For similar reasons, RCA Victor substituted altered versions for two other tracks: "Let Me In", changing the line "I gotta get in/you know where" to "you shut your door/now it ain't fair." In the same song, they also switched the lyric "Don't tell me you want money" to "Don't tell me it ain't funny". "Run Around" was also edited, changing the line "flowers that sway as you lay under me" to "flowers that sway as you stay here by me". The original pressings of the LP featuring "Runnin' 'Round This World" and the uncensored versions of "Let Me In" and "Run Around" are collectors items.

Signe Anderson gave birth to her daughter in May 1966,<ref name="SigneAnderson-AllMusic"/><ref name="RS">{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Kreps |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/signe-anderson-original-jefferson-airplane-singer-dead-at-74-20160131|title=Signe Anderson, Original Jefferson Airplane Singer, Dead at 74|date=January 31, 2016|access-date=July 4, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717111156/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/signe-anderson-original-jefferson-airplane-singer-dead-at-74-20160131|archive-date=July 17, 2016|agency=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> and in October she announced her departure from the band. Her final performance with the Airplane took place at the Fillmore on October 15, 1966.<ref name="SigneAnderson-AllMusic" /> A recording of the performance, subtitled ''Signe's Farewell'', was released in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-fillmore-auditorium-10-15-66-late-show-signes-farewell-mw0002032551|title=Live at the Fillmore Auditorium 10/15/66: Late Show: Signe's Farewell|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|website=AllMusic|language=en-us|url-status=live|access-date=September 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205200250/https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-fillmore-auditorium-10-15-66-late-show-signes-farewell-mw0002032551|archive-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>