JS Online, 1995.

Transcript Of An AOL Online Interview/chat With Jefferson Starship, 1995.

OnlineHost: Your emcee this evening is CSEmcee11 (JackDL)

CSEMCEE11: Welcome to America Online!

Starship95: Hi everybody and welcome! We are live, actually on the stage from the Jefferson Starship concert here in San Francisco. We are glad that you are here with us making music and computer history.

Starship95: The band is about to start in one minute. Undercover SKA. Paul Kantner has just grabbed himself a cup of coffee and just walked by. The setting is 60ish.... the incense is burning.. flowers etc. and other things burning..the hall is filling up.. people are ready for a good time.

Question: You know if Darby is singing with them tonight? (Darby Gould)

Starship95: Not sure, but I will let you know.. I can tell you the bands I have listed. ALL RIGHT..the first band is on stage! They are saying hello to the crowd gathered here tonight. Tommy Castro then Jefferson Starship

Question: Is this concert going to be on TV?

Starship95: I saw channel five here and several cameras but I cannot tell you exactly which stations. Some great music happening....

Question: Is Grace Slick there tonight?

Starship95: Grace Slick.. you know, I hope she does come here tonight but I haven't seen her as of yet. I really hope she makes it.

Question: Are you nervous for the show tonight?

Starship95: I AM EXCITED! there are tons of people here just for all of the great music and one big party.

Question: Who is playing drums tonight?

Starship95: for Tommy Castro's band?..... Can't see, there is a big speaker in the way. I will ask somebody to go and check for me if you like. Sorry 'bout that.. Undercover SKA is playing right now.

Starship95: Still can't see though.

Question: What will be the first song?

Starship95: We will try to get a list of the songs for you....

Question: What are your upcoming tour dates?

Starship95: I don't have access of tour dates for any of the bands right now.

Question: Any chance of getting some of this live music digitized and put online at AOL?

Starship95: Sorry, not a way. At least right now

Question: Where did the band get its name?

Starship95: Questions like that would have to be answered by the bands themselves. Undercover SKA is on stage right now and Tommy Castro band and Jefferson Starship is backstage.

Starship95: Tour dates for the Starship: http://jstarship.com

Starship95: You guys...Paul was just right here!

Question: How many people do you think there are and at which location is the concert?

Starship95: Hundreds of partying people! People are dancing all around. ..there was even a lava lamp happening.

Starship95: It's great here you guys...the incense is still burning and flowers are everywhere. It's the happening place at Maritime Hall on Harrison Street in San Francisco.

Question: Will we be able to see video of tonight's show?

Starship95: There will be videos of tonight's performance for sale...there are video cameras everywhere.

Question: Broadcast on any FM radio?

Starship95: Couldn't tell you the station if it were.

Question: For the unaware, who is the Tommy Castro band? is it sold out?

Starship95: Local blues band.

Starship95: No, I don't think that it is sold out just yet..but it definitely is getting full. People are dancing everywhere, the lava lamp is going... all over the walls, there are pictures...and lava lamps.

Question: Who specifically is the voice of Starship95 that we are chatting with right now?

Starship95: My name is Lori Delewski and I am the fingers right now.

Question: Any deadheads there?

Starship95: oh yea...they are EVERYWHERE! it's great. Downstairs they have Jerry Garcia pictures, etc.. I'm telling you guys we've been taken back to the sixties.. it's great.

Question: Which J. Starship band members have you seen tonight?

Starship95: I saw Paul running around here so far. I kinda hope Grace Slick shows up. The party is happening.

Starship95: Okay you guys.. there is a , what I think to be a huge balloon being tossed around the dancing crowd on the floor. So just grab a cocktail and party with us. I heard that the Tommy Castro Band is the hardest working band in the Bay Area right now per the San Francisco Chronicle.

Question: Are you right next to speakers onstage? Good thing you don't have to "hear" us!

Starship95: You guys...right now I am right on the stage (to the side) The most perfect seat in the house.

Starship95: The Undercover SKA band is playing right now.

Starship95: They are dressed in casual suits, a couple of them with hats kinda like the Blues Brothers. They look very cool.

Question: Are we supposed to be hearing anything?

Starship95: I will pretty much be giving you a physical detail of the happenings of tonight's show. You cannot hear anything but I will try to make you feel like you are here with us by my descriptions.

Question: I saw the Starship in Miami Beach, April '95. They were fantastic playing in a small local bar. Opened with "Wooden Ships." Tell us why the Starship wanted to do their concert online? Thx

Starship95: They have a personal desire to embrace the computer society. Paul K. was excited about using this on-line service.

Question: Will we get a chance to "talk" to any of the band members?

Starship95: I was told that the band members may run over here to ask you guys some questions or give a few comments. I will let you all know who it is and when!

Question: What happened to the Internet broadcast did the cybership crash or not get off the ground?

Question: Because of technical difficulties. They had a problem on the phone?

Question: What was that web site again? For the tour info, that is.

Starship95: http://jstarship.com

Question: ETA when the Starship will be playing tonight?

Starship95: YOU GUYS! PAUL Is here right now!

Starship95: Questions for PAUL? They will be playing at midnight.

Starship95: You guys, it's GREAT HERE! Any more questions for Paul?

Question: Ask Paul who's singing tonight.

Starship95: Paul and Marty, Darby and Diana.

Question: How do you feel that the group you have now compares/differs, musically with the (first) Starship?

Starship95: Paul: Who?

Comment: I miss Grace but still love ya. Next time, until Cyberspace details are figured out. There is still simulcast, say VH1? Let try that next time.

Starship95: Grace is going to be with us at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Question: Exactly, How long has Jefferson Starship been around?

Starship95: You guys, people are dancing everywhere!! This is the PLACE TO BE! 300 years! In Armadillo years.

Question: Who's on drums in Starship tonight?

Starship95: Prairie Prince and Trey Sabetelli.

Question: Paul, when will your new solo be out?

Starship95: Out of what?

Question: What is your all time favorite song you have performed?

Starship95: It's kinda hard to choose.

Question: Any chance of a new studio LP in '96?

Starship95: Yes. They might sell it on our site. Plus a PERRO NOVEL.

Question: Will JS perform at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame?

Starship95: Yes!

Question: Will the new album be with Grace?

Starship95: Not sure.

Comment: Break a leg. Paul! I hope they still say that in showbiz.

Starship95: Thanks.

Starship95: You guys (and gals) Paul just walked away for a little while. He looks GREAT! The Undercover SKA band is still playing. The huge balloon is still being tossed around the crowd.

Question: What was Paul wearing?

Starship95: Dancing and cocktails everywhere...just people having a great time. Paul had on a silky shirt with a vest...of course wearing glasses...Looking GREAT!

Question: Paul mentioned Hall of Fame bcast? Will AOL be there?

Starship95: YOU GUYS... Paul is back!!!!!!!!

Comment: There is nothing better than the Starship in Golden Gate Park!

Starship95: Hall of Fame is all over their own site on the WEB, check it out.

Starship95: Yes, "we play real good for free".

Question: Where are the next couple of concerts?

Starship95: (he's thinking)

Starship95: From Chicago up to Lincoln Nebraska...acoustic December 1, 2, 3.

Question: Did you think that 30 years ago you would still be doing this?

Starship95: Doing what?

Question: So how is the club scene working for the band, and how's Mick, Danny, Craig, Gracie and Company?

Starship95: Don't really know, except for Grace and she hates to be called "GRACIE".

Question: My wife totally adores your song: Nothing's gonna stop us now. it was our wedding song. Why don't you do more ballads?

Starship95: "We do".

Question: You have a great web site - any chance of releasing some archive CDs?

Starship95: Yes.

Question: Who is the lead singer and what happened to the old ones?

Starship95: Diana Mangano and Darby Gould will be both singing tonight.

Question: Do you guys still play your '80s songs Live?

Starship95: not Starship ones.

Question: What do you think of the bootleg CD industry - there must be 10 Jefferson Airplane CD bootlegs out there?

Starship95: I bought two of Metallica CD's on the street in the winter in NY City and 3 Jefferson Airplanes and I asked the guy if I could have a discount cause I was in the band and he said "yea, right". But then he believed me and gave me a discount".

Question: How did Darby and Diana join the band?

Starship95: "China, my daughter introduced me to Darby in World Entertainment War". Diana introduced herself to the band with an a capella tape of Lather and I asked her to join us out of the blue :}.

Question: A CD-ROM in the works?

Starship95: The guy who was doing Blos on CD Rom got "Hollywooded" and couldn't take the stress so it is in hibernation for the moment.

Question: Do you guys still own any original amps from your early days?

Starship95: Yes.

Question: Do you have someone maintaining your archives or is it just up to the band members and record companies?

Starship95: "Deep Space/Virgin Sky" on Innersound Records".

Question: Was Grace with you when you performed at House of Blues?

Starship95: Yes, in Jan something or other.

Question: Any chance for Airplane From the Vaults or Dick Pick's type series?

Starship95: He has stepped away for just a moment.

Starship95: Do you guys realize that he is typing these responses himself!

Starship95: Okay you guys...they are presently changing bands...the next band scheduled is the Tommy Castro Band!

Starship95: The crowd has a break from dancing right now. They are setting up the stage for the next band. Grab a cocktail and prepare yourselves for the next one. We have a mixed crowd here...a very happy crowd...just wants to have a good time.

Question: What kind of stuff are they selling memorabilia-wise?

Starship95: They have a lot of pictures of Jerry Garcia and Janis Joplin downstairs. They have pictures...other things but a lot of incense. It's great being here right now and you all are a part of it here at the Maritime Museum in San Francisco.

Question: Are there still tickets left?

Starship95: I think that there are some tickets left although it looks kinda crowded.

Question: Is it hot and stuffy and smoky there or well ventilated?

Starship95: Haha, yes. Paul made BOOTS ventilated earlier.

Question: Are there going to be simulcast concerts in the future, so we can be on-line and "hear" what's going on also?

Starship95: We have hundreds of people here right now just wanting to dance, party and listen to some HOT bands. They are still in process of setting up the stage for the new band. People are waiting...they have some other music playing in the meantime and still waiting for the next band to come on stage.

Starship95: People are patiently waiting for the next band to appear on stage. The balloon is still being thrown around through the crowd.

Starship95: The lights are appearing once more (testing them) and people are just grabbing a smoke and a drink talking and moving to the music that is playing right now.

Question: Are these questions appearing on the wall?

Starship95: Well, to tell you the truth they were supposed to but right now they just are not. We have two HUGE screens that have the Family Dog Presents.

Question: Is this the first in a series of concert events?

Starship95: The first one here...hopefully there will be more.

Starship95: There are interviews with bands but this is the first one that is actually at the concert itself.

Question: Did you have to fight to be the one there doing this?

Starship95: HEY YOU ALL...Paul is here again and Trey the drummer. Any questions for these guys?

Question: How do you live with a musician?

Starship95: Is this one for Trey or Paul or Lori?

Starship95: You guys want Trey's address: tsabatelli@AOL

Starship95: SEND TREY STUFF!

Starship95: Okay. Lori does not live with a musician. Trey does and Paul does not. how was that one?

Question: What will you open up with?

Starship95: Good question but we will find out for you.

Starship95: Other side of this life? Maybe...we will find out.

Question: How do you psych yourself up before a concert? Do you have special things you like to eat like M&M's or what?

Starship95: Jack practices, Paul smokes, Trey stretches and Darby freights frets that is. hahha

Question: Trey how many times to do you strike the drums in a night?

Starship95: As many of times as it takes.

Starship95: Ask us anything.

Question: What do you do after the concert, now that you have so much energy, or have you used it all and are you just ready to crash?

Starship95: No, definitely wound up!

Question: What are some of the current acts which you listen to?

Starship95: Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains...Tower of Power.

Question: Where did your name come from?

Starship95: Raymond the third.

Question: OK, you are wound up, but what do you do with all that extra e nergy after a concert?

Starship95: "Ask my girlfriend".

Question: Do any of you ever play around online...in the chat rooms? :)

Starship95: Yes, just got on-line last night.

Question: Is Craig Ch. or Mickey Thomas still with the band?

Starship95: They died in a horrible fire. (per Paul)

Question: Please list the current lineup of the Starship & who's playing what.

Starship95: Hey, look at the web-site...they can't remember these things. "Ask Jesus".

Question: Paul, what is your best album - the first or last?

Starship95: "How would I know, it's none of my business".

Question: Who do you consider as musical influences?

Starship95: Pete Seeger and Monty Python.

Question: So do you have a lot of Rockin' fans there tonite?

Starship95: There are a lot of people here. It is VERY crowded.

Question: Why don't we ever hear Blows Against Empire?

Starship95: There is a lot of "smoke" in the house.

Starship95: "we did blows in L.A. and it did".

Question: What category of music would you list your band under?

Starship95: Good question.

Question: Paul - will you play with Hot Tuna New Years Eve?

Starship95: Okay you guys...both Paul and Trey are no longer here. Now we have the Tommy Castro band playing.

OnlineHost: All good things must come to an end. Our time is up for this event.

Starship95: Thank you everybody for coming here and joining the party with us tonight. It was great talking to all of you.

CSEMCEE11: Thank you Lori for giving us a view at the concert.

Starship95: You bet!

CSEMCEE11: Thanks to all of you in the audience for joining us tonight!

Starship95: I will be here partying until it's ALL over.

CSEMCEE11: Good night everyone!

Last Updated: 21 October 2000