# List of Jefferson Starship members
[Jefferson Starship](https://www.edgepedia.org/jefferson-starship) is an American rock band formed in 1974 from the final lineup of [Jefferson Airplane](https://www.edgepedia.org/jefferson-airplane), whose membership has changed repeatedly across three distinct eras: the 1974–1985 band, the Starship offshoot, and the Jefferson Starship revived by [Paul Kantner](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-kantner) in 1992 and still touring today.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First use of the name | Credited to Paul Kantner's 1970 solo album *Blows Against the Empire*, billed as "Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship"[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) |
| Band formed | 1974, out of the final Jefferson Airplane lineup and Kantner and Slick's early-1970s side projects[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) |
| Founding members | Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg, Craig Chaquico, John Barbata, and Papa John Creach, with either Peter Kaukonen or Pete Sears on bass in the first touring lineup[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) |
| Commercial peak | *Red Octopus* (1975) reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, driven by the No. 3 hit "Miracles," and has sold over two million copies[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) |
| Name retired | After Kantner's 1984/1985 departure and lawsuit, a March 1985 settlement retired "Jefferson Starship"; the band became Starship[3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) |
| Revival | Kantner relaunched Jefferson Starship in 1992 with Marty Balin, Papa John Creach, and Jack Casady; he died on January 28, 2016[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) • [3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) |
| Current lineup | David Freiberg, Donny Baldwin, Chris Smith, Cathy Richardson, and Jude Gold[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) |
## Origins of the name
The name predates the band. In 1970 Kantner released the science-fiction themed album *Blows Against the Empire* under the billing "Paul Kantner/Jefferson Starship," the first use of the name, with a roster of San Francisco musicians that included [Jerry Garcia](https://www.edgepedia.org/jerry-garcia) and [David Crosby](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-crosby); the album also contained a song called "Starship."[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Encyclopedia-of-Recorded-Sound-Hoffman-Vol-1-1993.pdf) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) Future members also appeared on the 1971 Kantner-Slick album *Sunfighter*, the 1973 *Baron von Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun* (credited to Kantner, Slick, and Freiberg), and Slick's 1974 solo album *Manhole*.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
## The 1974 founding lineup
After Jefferson Airplane broke up in 1973, Kantner and [Grace Slick](https://www.edgepedia.org/grace-slick) launched Jefferson Starship, beginning a tour on March 19, 1974.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) • [5](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship) The band's own history lists the founding collection as John Barbata, Craig Chaquico, Papa John Creach, David Freiberg, Paul Kantner, Peter Kaukonen, and Grace Slick.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) However, an anniversary history of the band identifies the founding lineup as Kantner and Slick together with vocalist and multi-instrumentalist David Freiberg, guitarist Craig Chaquico, drummer John Barbata, bass player Pete Sears, and electric violin player Papa John Creach.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) Freiberg, Barbata, and Creach had been members of Jefferson Airplane when it disbanded in 1972.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
**Early changes.** The band first toured in 1974 and released *Dragon Fly*, certified gold in 1975.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) Kaukonen departed after that initial tour, Pete Sears joined on bass, and [Marty Balin](https://www.edgepedia.org/marty-balin), who had co-founded Jefferson Airplane with Kantner and quit that band in 1971, joined in 1975.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) Papa John Creach left in 1975 after the success of *Red Octopus*.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
## The hit-making years, 1975–1984
With Balin aboard, the band reached its commercial peak. *Red Octopus*, released in June 1975, spent four non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and included the No. 3 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Miracles"; the band's history puts its sales at over two million copies.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) *Spitfire* (1967's follow-up, released 1976) featured "With Your Love," and *Earth* (1978) was powered by "Count on Me" and "Runaway."[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history)
**The 1979 turnover.** Before the recording of *Freedom at Point Zero*, Balin and Slick departed by choice and drummer John Barbata left after a serious car accident.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) Singer [Mickey Thomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/mickey-thomas-singer) stepped in on lead vocals and former Journey drummer [Aynsley Dunbar](https://www.edgepedia.org/aynsley-dunbar) took over the drums.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) This lineup produced *Freedom at Point Zero* (1979), with the hit "Jane," and *Modern Times* (1980), with "Find Your Way Back."[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history)
**Slick's return and the last albums.** Grace Slick sang background on *Modern Times* and returned to tour with the band in 1981.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) In 1982 Dunbar left and Donny Baldwin assumed drum duties; *Winds of Change* (1982) produced the top 40 hits "Be My Lady" and "Winds of Change," and *Nuclear Furniture* (1984) placed "No Way Out" on the top 40 and sold over 500,000 records.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history)
## Kantner's departure and Starship
Kantner left the band over creative and musical differences; the band's history dates this to 1985, while a [Chronicle](https://www.edgepedia.org/chronicle) timeline and the band's anniversary account place his exit in 1984.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) • [2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) He then sued the remaining members, including Slick, for repayment of loans and for the right to use the band's name.[3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) The suit was settled in March 1985: Kantner received a cash payment, the name "Jefferson Starship" was retired, and the remaining band, consisting of Slick, Thomas, Chaquico, Freiberg, Sears, and Baldwin, continued as simply Starship, a name owned by Slick and manager [Bill Thompson](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-thompson).[3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) • [6](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/starship-mn0000748168/biography) Starship went on to mid-to-late 1980s Hot 100 chart-toppers with "We Built This City," "Sara," and "[Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now](https://www.edgepedia.org/nothings-gonna-stop-us-now)."[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
## The 1992 revival
After the 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion album and tour, Kantner launched a new Jefferson Starship in 1992.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) • [3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) That version featured Balin, Creach, and Jefferson Airplane bassist [Jack Casady](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-casady), with a rotating cast that also came to include former Jefferson Starship members Freiberg and Baldwin.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) • [3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) Creach played with the group until his death in 1994 at age 76.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago) Freiberg returned to the band in 2005, and Balin exited for a final time in 2008.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
**Later disputes.** In 2007 Slick and Bill Thompson sued Kantner, claiming he violated a prior settlement by letting Microsoft use the Jefferson Starship name to promote four free concerts.[3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) After Kantner died on January 28, 2016, of organ failure and septic shock following a heart attack, a judge in 2017 allowed former guitarist Craig Chaquico to proceed with part of a lawsuit against the members then touring as Jefferson Starship, including Freiberg and Baldwin; Chaquico claimed the right to use the band's name had ended with Kantner.[3](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/) Balin died in 2018, but the band has continued.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
## Current lineup
The touring band consists of founding member David Freiberg; drummer Donny Baldwin, who first joined in 1982; keyboardist Chris Smith, who joined in 1998; singer and guitarist Cathy Richardson, who joined in 2008 after Kantner saw her perform with [Big Brother and the Holding Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/big-brother-and-the-holding-company); and lead guitarist Jude Gold, who joined in 2012.[1](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history) • [7](https://www.co.freeborn.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/9877/Jefferson-Starship-Bio) The band's most recent album, *Mother of the Sun*, was released in 2020.[2](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
## References
1. [Jefferson Starship History, jeffersonstarship.com](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/history)
2. [Jefferson Airplane Was Relaunched as Jefferson Starship 50 Years Ago, jeffersonstarship.com](https://www.jeffersonstarship.com/news/jefferson-airplane-was-relaunched-as-jefferson-starship-50-years-ago)
3. [A Band Named Sue: Legal saga surrounding Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship, San Francisco Chronicle](https://projects.sfchronicle.com/2017/jefferson-lawsuit-timeline/)
4. [JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/STARSHIP, Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound (Hoffman), World Radio History](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Encyclopedia-of-Recorded-Sound-Hoffman-Vol-1-1993.pdf)
5. [Craig Chaquico interview, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/craig-chaquico-jefferson-starship)
6. [Starship Biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/starship-mn0000748168/biography)
7. [Jefferson Starship Band Bio, Freeborn County, MN](https://www.co.freeborn.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/9877/Jefferson-Starship-Bio)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Ensembles and groups › Rock, pop, and metal bands › Rock, indie, and pop groups › Band membership reference pages*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license