Editing Jefferson Starship (section)

===2016–present: Post-Kantner era===
[[File:Jefferson_Starship_Plays_for_Service_Members_During_LA_Fleet_Week_2016_(Image_4_of_6).webp|alt=Jefferson_Starship_Plays_for_Service_Members_During_LA_Fleet_Week_2016_(Image_4_of_6)|thumb|Jefferson Starship performing in 2016.]]
Following Paul Kantner's death, the band received the approval of both Kantner's family and Grace Slick to keep performing.<ref name="Rolling-Stone-David-Freiberg" /> Jefferson Starship has continued to tour with a line-up consisting of remaining members David Freiberg (vocals, guitar), Donny Baldwin (drums), Chris Smith (keyboards), Jude Gold (lead guitar), and Cathy Richardson (vocals, guitar). When Jefferson Starship announced the 'Carry the Fire' tour in March 2017, Richardson stated that the band's continuation is a tribute to both Kantner and Grace Slick, and noted that Slick had granted the current members a lifetime license to use the name Jefferson Starship after Kantner's death.<ref name="Carry-the-Fire">{{cite web |url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jefferson-starship-tour-2017/ |title=Jefferson Starship Announce 2017 'Carry The Fire' Tour |last=Giles |first=Jeff |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |publisher=[[Loudwire]] |date=March 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174150/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jefferson-starship-tour-2017/|archive-date=August 30, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US|access-date=August 28, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In April 2017, former Jefferson Starship member Craig Chaquico filed a lawsuit against the five individual members (Freiberg, Baldwin, Smith, Gold, and Richardson) currently performing as Jefferson Starship for breaching the 1985 contract and for using Chaquico's name and likeness in their promotional materials.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://bestclassicbands.com/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-lawsuit-5-4-17/|website=Bestclassicbands.com|title=Jefferson Starship's Craig Chaquico Sues Ex-Bandmates|last=Tamarkin|first=Jeff|date=May 4, 2017|access-date=August 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729012934/https://bestclassicbands.com/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship-lawsuit-5-4-17/|archive-date=July 29, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> About this, Chaquico has said he had only given permission to Paul Kantner to use the name, and by this point, "Freiberg and Baldwin are performing with others who have no connection to the original group, using the name in violation of that agreement. If any of the members who signed the '85 agreement want to use the name, they need the permission of all the other members who signed the agreement and Freiberg and Baldwin do not have my permission."<ref name="auto" /> On August 11, 2017, U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James said the guitarist Craig Chaquico may pursue a breach of contract claim against David Freiberg, Donny Baldwin and the other musicians for performances and merchandising since January 2016, but dismissed Chaquico's claims of earlier alleged contract breaches and a trademark claim over the use of his likeness.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://in.reuters.com/article/music-jefferson-starship-idINKBN1AR29R|title=Jefferson Starship guitarist can pursue lawsuit over band name|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|date=August 11, 2017|work=Reuters India|access-date=August 12, 2017|language=en-IN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904031430/https://in.reuters.com/article/music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-guitarist-can-pursue-lawsuit-over-band-name-idINKBN1AR29R|archive-date=September 4, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On August 16, 2018, Judge Maria-Elena James denied Chaquico's motion to strike the counter-claims by the current Jefferson Starship band members of intentional interference to gain a potential economic advantage and defamation.<ref name="Lawsuit-Counter-Claim">{{cite web |url=https://norcalrecord.com/stories/511543336-former-jefferson-starship-guitarist-s-motion-to-strike-counter-claims-denied-in-suit-over-use-of-band-s-name |title=Former Jefferson Starship Guitarist's Motion to Strike Counter-claims Denied in Suit Over Use of Band's Name |last=Sassani |first=William |work=Northern California Record |publisher=The Record Inc. |date=August 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831072208/https://norcalrecord.com/stories/511543336-former-jefferson-starship-guitarist-s-motion-to-strike-counter-claims-denied-in-suit-over-use-of-band-s-name|archive-date=August 31, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US|access-date=August 30, 2018 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The defendants alleged that the plaintiff caused economic harm and attempted to prevent the band from operating by actions such as Chaquico posting statements on his website that they were a "fake band," they created "fake recordings," they were a "lesser cover band," and the members were "lesser artists."<ref name="Lawsuit-Counter-Claim" /> On December 4, 2018, the lawsuit concerning the use of the name Jefferson Starship was dismissed after an undisclosed settlement was reached between Chaquico and the current members of the band.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF|title=Jefferson Starship Members Settle Lawsuit Over Band Name|last=Stempel|first=Jonathan|date=December 4, 2018|work=[[Reuters]]|access-date=December 9, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205154051/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-music-jefferson-starship/jefferson-starship-members-settle-lawsuit-over-band-name-idUSKBN1O32IF|archive-date=December 5, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In July 2018, Jefferson Starship announced plans to release a new album in 2019 that will include their new song "What Are We Waiting For."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://lebanon-express.com/entertainment/music/jefferson-starship-to-land-at-linn-county-fair-for-concert/article_d0d0074a-3782-5ec8-966c-8a0fd0165150.html|title=Jefferson Starship to land at Linn-County Fair for concert Friday night|last=Fancher|first=Patrick|date=July 19, 2018|work=[[Lebanon Express]]|access-date=July 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904014054/https://lebanon-express.com/entertainment/music/jefferson-starship-to-land-at-linn-county-fair-for-concert/article_d0d0074a-3782-5ec8-966c-8a0fd0165150.html|archive-date=September 4, 2018|publisher=Jeff Precourt|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018, at the age of 76.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-airplane-guitarist-marty-balin-dead-76-730912/|title=Jefferson Airplane Co-Founder Marty Balin Dead at 76|first=Andy|last=Greene|date=September 28, 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=November 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930202655/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-airplane-guitarist-marty-balin-dead-76-730912/|archive-date=September 30, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/30/marty-balin-obituary|title=Marty Balin Obituary|first=Adam |last=Sweeting|date=September 30, 2018|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=November 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003152944/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/30/marty-balin-obituary|archive-date=October 3, 2018|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On February 1, 2019, [[Rhino Entertainment]] acquired the catalogues of Jefferson Starship, Starship, Grace Slick and Hot Tuna for albums released between the years of 1972 and 1991.<ref name="Rhino">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/jefferson-starship-hot-tuna-reissues-coming-from-rhino-1203126507|title=Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna Reissues Coming From Rhino|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=February 1, 2019|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]. |access-date=February 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203115841/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/jefferson-starship-hot-tuna-reissues-coming-from-rhino-1203126507/|archive-date=February 3, 2019|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On August 21, 2020, Jefferson Starship released the new studio album ''[[Mother of the Sun]]''.<ref name="ABC_News">{{Cite web|url=https://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/8/21/jefferson-starship-taking-part-in-livestream-event-today-coi.html|website=ABCNewsRadioOnline.com|title=Jefferson Starship taking part in livestream event today coinciding with release of new EP|last=Friedlander|first=Matt|date=August 21, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823213408/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/8/21/jefferson-starship-taking-part-in-livestream-event-today-coi.html;jsessionid=566864A32BFF7D6D13F447F2978D5B91.v5-web019|archive-date=August 23, 2020|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="RS_MOTS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starship-mother-of-the-sun-1022744/|title=Jefferson Starship Tease 'Mother of the Sun,' Their First Album in 12 Years|first=Claire|last=Shaffer|date=June 30, 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806124851/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jefferson-starship-mother-of-the-sun-1022744/|archive-date=August 6, 2020|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The first single from the album, "It's About Time", was co-written by Jude Gold, Cathy Richardson and former vocalist Grace Slick.<ref name="RS_MOTS"/><ref name="UCR-MOTS">{{cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jefferson-starship-its-about-time/|title=Jefferson Starship Preview new EP With Single "It's About Time"|last=Reed|first=Ryan|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|publisher=[[Loudwire]]|date=July 10, 2020|access-date=August 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821073950/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jefferson-starship-its-about-time/|archive-date=August 21, 2020|url-status=live|language=en-US|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''Mother of the Sun'' features former bassist Pete Sears on three songs, and the album includes both a song written by former singer Marty Balin and a live version of the Jefferson Airplane song "Embryonic Journey".<ref name="ABC_News"/><ref name="UCR-MOTS"/>

In November 2024, Jefferson Starship announced a 50th anniversary tour that will run from Feb. 11 to May 3, 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/tour | title=TOUR }}</ref>