Review of Got a Revolution! by Paul Kantner

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Start your review of Got a Revolution!: The Turbulent Flying of Jefferson Airplane

Aug 18, 2011 Sandy rated information technology information technology was amazing

I had waited impatiently for many years for someone to tackle a complete history of one of my favorite bands, Jefferson Plane, and when I finally saw the book in my local store, and so the writer's name on the book itself, I knew right abroad that all would be well. I had enjoyed Jeff Tamarkin'south wonderfully well-written, impeccably researched, enthusiastic and informative liner notes for various Airplane and Hot Tuna CDs for quite a while, and sensed that he was the perfect man to handle this I had waited impatiently for many years for someone to tackle a complete history of one of my favorite bands, Jefferson Airplane, and when I finally saw the book in my local store, and then the author'due south proper name on the volume itself, I knew right away that all would exist well. I had enjoyed Jeff Tamarkin's wonderfully well-written, impeccably researched, enthusiastic and informative liner notes for various Airplane and Hot Tuna CDs for quite a while, and sensed that he was the perfect human to handle this job. Happily, that indeed turns out to be the case, and his Aeroplane history, "Got a Revolution: The Turbulent Flying of Jefferson Airplane," featuring all those qualities that made his liner notes such a joy, is the volume that I and many others had been waiting for.

Tamarkin not only gives us a thorough history of this seminal San Francisco grouping--starting in 1965, when Marty Balin (nee Martyn Buchwald) decided to put a new kind of band together--but also follows information technology through its dissolution in 1972 and on to its various offshoots (Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, KBC Ring, etc.). Covering the pre-hippy days of the mid-'60s, through the Nixonian years and right on to J.A.'south reunion in 1989, Tamarkin also gives us a curtailed primer of a fascinating period of recent history. The book is replete with details of the band'southward principals only non exhaustingly so; that is, it never gets bogged downward with excess back story, but rather gives us all the info we need to empathize all the band members every bit fully fleshed-out people, limiting their back biographies to quick 10-page chapters. I have been a fan of Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Spencer Dryden and especially Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady for almost twoscore years at present, and still found an incredible amount of unknown data about them in this fast-moving history. (Spencer Dryden was Charlie Chaplin's nephew?!?! Who knew?) With chapters arranged in cliffhanger fashion, with a fascinating cast of characters and with many phenomenal stories, this book really does pull a reader in. And yet, Tamarkin does not yield to the temptation to sensationalize his tale. Indeed, to his credit, he admits right up front that there remain many "Airplane mysteries," and lets information technology go at that. Yeah, at that place are many juicy stories (I beloved the ane about Jack sitting in the mud pool on DMT, and Grace's escapades in Germany...not to mention that Reality D. Blipcrotch episode!), but many readers, I suspect, will be surprised that this book remains adequately levelheaded, with a minimum of wild sex and drug anecdotes. The anecdotes ARE there, merely only enough to give usa a feel for the time, place and characters. (One gets the feeling that Tamarkin could regale u.s.a. with fifty-fifty juicier tidbits over a few drinks ane evening.) The author has been given admission to virtually every primary character in the Jefferson Plane story, and the hundreds of hours of insider interviews have helped make this history practically definitive.

On some other note, I myself work every bit a copy editor and proofreader, and thus am happy to report that the book has also been put together near faultlessly. I merely counted four typos in its entire 400+-page length, and all those were of the punctuational diversity. The rare photographs on brandish are truly special (I just love the ane of Jorma in his Cub Scout uniform!), and the book's index is perfectly composed and quite handy when keeping rail of the history's large cast of characters. If there is one complaint that I would club--and information technology is a very pocket-sized 1--it is that in the volume's terminal third, more than infinite has been given over to the exploits of Jefferson Starship than Hot Tuna. Every bit a fan who has seen Tuna some hundred times in concert at this point, merely who has never had much use for post-"Dragonfly" Starship, I would have wished for a little more parity here, but I suppose information technology could exist argued that Starship was composed of more JA members than was Tuna, and then I'grand willing to allow the bespeak slide. Besides, this is a mere personal quibble. The fact remains, Jeff Tamarkin has done all fans of Jefferson Airplane a tremendous service with his wonderful book. I accept read it twice already, and will surely refer to it often in the years to come up. Thank you, Jeff!

...more

Feb sixteen, 2016 Dorian Box rated it it was amazing

When Paul Kantner died recently (RIP Paul!), I went looking for a book about Jefferson Airplane and was surprised I had not previously come across this masterpiece.

I've read at least a hundred rock bios, so have a solid basis for comparison and rating them. Got a Revolution is one of the best! The enormous amount of item may not make information technology the perfect book for casual fans, but information technology is the requisite bible for aficionados of non just Jefferson Airplane, simply the unabridged sixties San Francisco psychedelic

When Paul Kantner died recently (RIP Paul!), I went looking for a book nearly Jefferson Aeroplane and was surprised I had not previously come across this masterpiece.

I've read at least a hundred rock bios, then have a solid ground for comparing and rating them. Got a Revolution is one of the best! The enormous amount of particular may not make information technology the perfect book for casual fans, but it is the requisite bible for aficionados of not only Jefferson Airplane, merely the entire sixties San Francisco psychedelic movement. Like Johnny Rogan's classic book well-nigh The Byrds, it is an impeccably researched, minutely detailed history of ane of the nearly original and culturally influential bands of all fourth dimension.

I get bored with rock bios that are simply one debauched drug or sex activity tale afterward another. Certainly some of those stories are interesting and also important to understanding the arc of a band (unremarkably why the ring or the quality of the music, or both, disintegrated). Tamarkin includes many such tales, only keeps his focus mostly on the music itself, album by album, track by track, from the band's early days at the Matrix on Fillmore Street in Cow Hollow up through Jefferson Starship and finally just Starship.

As someone else mentioned, one does not come away from this book with an extremely positive view of whatsoever of the individuals in Jefferson Airplane as people. They all had their faults, only you gotta love 'em. They were unique cats and the tensions and contest betwixt them helped drive the band for a long time. I once ran into Paul Kantner at Café Trieste, a java shop in the N Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. I shook his hand and said, "Paul, you're i of my heroes!" He said, "That's pretty scary man," only he was as nice as could be.

...more than

Mar 23, 2018 Dave rated it liked it

What might've happened to sixties music if all the artists had some schooling in contract law, a realistic relationship with drugs and alcohol, and a rewarding monogamous human relationship?

Anyway, that didn't happen. This volume does a very good job tracing the complicated history of the Plane and its spinoffs. Just I wish I knew more about the people involved. Tamarkin seems to have access to all the primal characters, just his shut connection doesn't cut deep for any of them. So you get all the notori

What might've happened to sixties music if all the artists had some schooling in contract police force, a realistic relationship with drugs and alcohol, and a rewarding monogamous relationship?

Anyway, that didn't happen. This book does a very skilful job tracing the complicated history of the Airplane and its spinoffs. Simply I wish I knew more than about the people involved. Tamarkin seems to have access to all the key characters, but his shut connection doesn't cutting deep for whatsoever of them. So you get all the notoriety but little of the sobriety—but that they're all much more than make clean and quiet now. The fascinating thing for me about the Airplane is how such wildly different people always made music together in the showtime place. After Bathing At Baxter's answers that just as well.

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Dorsum in the pre-celebrated period before the Web swallowed everything there was an e-mail list called 2400Fulton, named for the address of the mansion where the Airplane were based, in San Francisco. Jeff Tamarkin was one of the regulars because he is not just a writer, merely a fan with a deep love for the Plane. I also have a deep love, and while Surrealistic Pillow was my start album of theirs, I quickly got Takes Off. But and so Afterward Bathing At Baxters permanently inverse my brain. I wore out s Dorsum in the pre-historic period before the Spider web swallowed everything there was an e-mail listing called 2400Fulton, named for the address of the mansion where the Aeroplane were based, in San Francisco. Jeff Tamarkin was ane of the regulars because he is not but a writer, but a fan with a deep dearest for the Aeroplane. I also accept a deep love, and while Surrealistic Pillow was my starting time album of theirs, I quickly got Takes Off. Merely and then After Bathing At Baxters permanently changed my brain. I wore out several copies of the vinyl, so copied it onto audio cassette, and finally CDs came out. Information technology is still my favorite album of theirs, and perchance my favorite anthology of all. So when Jeff wrote this book, I had to go it.

I take a theory that some groups have so many geniuses that you cannot keep them together for also long. The Beatles are an example in my mind, and so is the Airplane. The stretch of albums from Surrealistic Pillow to Volunteers is hard to match, allow solitary trounce, and the shards that came out of the band had brilliant moments too. In that location were some very proficient albums by Jefferson Starship, and Hot Tuna is however gigging and worth seeing if they come to your town. But nothing compares to the Airplane. There is a quote from Bill Graham to the effect that when they were "on", no group in the world could vanquish them. I loved this book, though I imagine you accept to exist a fan before information technology will it will exist meaningful to you.

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Oct 11, 2018 Neal Umphred rated it it was amazing

Trying to explain her vocal White Rabbit, Grace Slick told author Jeff Tamarkin:

"It'due south an interesting vocal, but it didn't do what I wanted it to do. What I was trying to say was that between the ages of nada and five the data and the input you get is almost indelible. In other words, once a Catholic, ever a Catholic.

And the parents read usa these books, similar Alice In Wonderland, where she gets high, tall,  and she takes mushrooms, a hookah, pills, alcohol. And and then there's The Wizard Of Oz

Trying to explain her song White Rabbit, Grace Slick told author Jeff Tamarkin:

"It's an interesting song, only it didn't practice what I wanted it to do. What I was trying to say was that between the ages of zero and v the information and the input you go is nigh indelible. In other words, once a Catholic, ever a Catholic.

And the parents read us these books, like Alice In Wonderland, where she gets high, tall,  and she takes mushrooms, a hookah, pills, alcohol. And so there's The Wizard Of Oz, where they fall into a field of poppies and when they wake they see Oz. And so there's Peter Pan, where if y'all sprinkle white dust on you, you could wing.

And and then yous wonder why we accept information technology. Well, what did you read to me?"

If that was all that was in Got A Revolution!, it would be worth the price of admission. Information technology's not, every bit at that place'southward lots more. Jeff'due south descriptions of private album tracks are first-class, peculiarly if the reader is familiar with those tracks. He will make yous nod your head in agreement while thinking, "Huh! I hadn't thought of it that way."

It's a good book not only on Jefferson Aeroplane—and there's no "the" before Jefferson Airplane—but as well on the '60s and what followed (some of which is notwithstanding post-obit).

Read Got A Revolution! and feed your caput . . .

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One of my all time favorite bands... saw them in their prime dorsum in the sixties and they soared. The book explores the history of the band and the times in which they flourished... a cracking read of the ups and downs of being in a ring and what can happen when you become successful... the airplane were an integral office of the san francisco music scene, they were there at the beginning of the folk/rock psychedelic era, one they helped start and for a few short years they flew the highest... intima One of my all time favorite bands... saw them in their prime number back in the sixties and they soared. The book explores the history of the band and the times in which they flourished... a great read of the ups and downs of existence in a band and what can happen when you go successful... the airplane were an integral part of the san francisco music scene, they were there at the commencement of the folk/rock psychedelic era, one they helped offset and for a few short years they flew the highest... intimate details of the band members and other stars of that fourth dimension, Garcia, Crosby, etc...
read on... ...more

Dec 03, 2013 James Brown rated it really liked it

I read this book back in 2003 when information technology came out and I just re-read it later on Paul sailed off into the stars on January 28, 2016 for his final journey. I will miss him greatly for he represented a time in history that volition probably never be duplicated. I liked the book when I first read it and I liked it even more the 2nd time around. I rampage listened via Spotify to the Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Grace's solo LP'due south, PERO, KBC, Kantner, Freiberg and Slick, Quicksilver and the Great So I read this book dorsum in 2003 when it came out and I but re-read information technology later Paul sailed off into the stars on January 28, 2016 for his last journey. I will miss him greatly for he represented a time in history that will probably never be duplicated. I liked the book when I get-go read it and I liked it fifty-fifty more than the second time around. I binge listened via Spotify to the Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, Grace's solo LP's, PERO, KBC, Kantner, Freiberg and Slick, Quicksilver and the Slap-up Society....I'thousand just at present touching down on planet Earth again. The Jefferson Plane along with the Grateful Expressionless were major influences in my life and they were the catalysts that I needed to get me out of Western Pennsylvania and onward to the coast of California and downward to San Francisco. This volume does a great job of capturing what was going on culturally, musically and politically at that time in history. It's no secret that these creative person/musicians loved sex, drugs and rock and whorl and for the ones who survived it all and are nevertheless out there today playing their music, doing their art, I am grateful that they still are doing it, minus free dearest and the hard drugs. Thank you Jeff Tamarkin for a great read!! ...more

Jul 05, 2016 Dan Ream rated it actually liked it

Well done biography of the band that accordingly focuses on their prime years (1966-1970) but does a skillful job of roofing the band members' lives upwards to the end of the century. Lots of bad beliefs covered for a biography that was written with the band members' support and contributions. Equally entertaining as they were, these were hard people to get along with, specially Grace Slick, with her alcoholism and erratic beliefs. Distressing that such talented, achieving people should have then many inner Well done biography of the band that appropriately focuses on their prime years (1966-1970) but does a expert job of covering the band members' lives upward to the end of the century. Lots of bad behavior covered for a biography that was written with the band members' support and contributions. Equally entertaining as they were, these were difficult people to get forth with, peculiarly Grace Slick, with her alcoholism and erratic beliefs. Sad that such talented, achieving people should have then many inner demons, just that isn't a new story, I guess. Definitely recommend this book to any fan of the Jefferson Airplane's music. ...more

There was a period in my life when I took LSD on a regular basis, and the first 5 Jefferson Plane albums were very often the soundtrack to those experiences. Described as a band produced "of, for and by the San Francisco acid community" their music charts the whole story of late 1960s' America, from utopian folk-rock to revolutionary disillusionment, and this book is the perfect companion to understanding the tensions that drove the band'southward songs and lyrics. There was a period in my life when I took LSD on a regular ground, and the kickoff five Jefferson Airplane albums were very oft the soundtrack to those experiences. Described every bit a band produced "of, for and by the San Francisco acid customs" their music charts the whole story of late 1960s' America, from utopian folk-rock to revolutionary disillusionment, and this book is the perfect companion to agreement the tensions that drove the band'southward songs and lyrics. ...more

Equally will exist true for many who have read or will read this book, the Jefferson Airplane was/is my favorite rock band of all time. Jeff Tamarkin is the ultimate Plane scholar, and has a deep familiarity with both the members of the band and their music. His writing is felicitous, and he truly captures the spirit of the times in which the Aeroplane was created, made their greatest records, and performed their greatest music.

Jul 06, 2018 Allan Heron rated it it was astonishing

A book that has lain unread on my bookshelves for some fourth dimension, I picked this out now as I'1000 revisiting the Jefferson Airplane dorsum catalogue on CD.

Tamarkin does an splendid task of bringing to life the adventures of all who boarded the Airplane or the Starship.

It's besides directed me towards other music that I had been unaware of. Information technology's all good.

A book that has lain unread on my bookshelves for some time, I picked this out at present as I'm revisiting the Jefferson Airplane dorsum catalogue on CD.

Tamarkin does an excellent chore of bringing to life the adventures of all who boarded the Airplane or the Starship.

It's as well directed me towards other music that I had been unaware of. It's all good.

...more

May 27, 2009 Terri rated it it was astonishing

If you take read Grace Slicks bio, pull up a chair and read about everyone else in the group. Marty Ballin and Paul Kantner are really illuminated merely Pecker Graham too appears in this very entertaining book.

Aug fifteen, 2007 Bret B rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: whatsoever Plane fan

The Airplane are my favorite band.

This volume is approached with brilliant detail. There are things I never knew nigh this ring that are in this book. The known controversies(Germany concert, "Paul/Jefferson" vs "Grace/Starship") are tackled caput on.

The Aeroplane are my favorite ring.

This volume is approached with vivid detail. There are things I never knew about this band that are in this book. The known controversies(Federal republic of germany concert, "Paul/Jefferson" vs "Grace/Starship") are tackled caput on.

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Jun 29, 2013 Nina rated it it was amazing

Clear and concise writing document the journey of one of my favorite 60s groups. While there is mention of substance use, the music always dominates. Tamarkin has done an excellent job of gathering facts and interviewing key people.

Skillful read, slap-up band - need more?!

May 10, 2019 Joshua rated it liked it

conventional rock doc. judicious quotes from the (eminently quotable) principals. not certain who is the funniest. probably david crosby. but slick and kantner are right backside.

Not much to say well-nigh this one, which comes across as a decent, if rather workmanlike, liner-notes fashion approach to the ring. The lot were so contentious that I concluded up not much admiring the band members by the end of it all. Best thing was getting reintroduced to the Aeroplane's live album, "Bless Its Pointed Little Caput." Non much to say about this one, which comes across as a decent, if rather workmanlike, liner-notes style arroyo to the ring. The lot were then contentious that I ended up not much admiring the band members by the end of it all. Best thing was getting reintroduced to the Aeroplane's alive album, "Anoint Its Pointed Piffling Caput." ...more

Oct xviii, 2021 Joe rated it it was amazing

Great read specially covering the epic 1960's. The book takes you from the start all the way into the Starship era and dorsum to the reunited Airplane's final stand up. Smashing brief comments past the parties involved keep it all together. Recommended if y'all love Jefferson Airplane or the 1960's San Francisco scene.

Paul Kantner wrote songs well-nigh free lodge, free music, free this and that so he sues the rest of the band. i enjoyed the book and it seemed similar many people got ripped off in the early on days. It destroyed some groups just JA kept going,[probably too long as Jack said "....we're really as miserable as everybody else." Paul Kantner wrote songs about free lodge, free music, gratis this and that and then he sues the rest of the band. i enjoyed the volume and it seemed like many people got ripped off in the early days. It destroyed some groups but JA kept going,[probably besides long every bit Jack said "....we're actually equally miserable as everybody else." ...more

Mar 18, 2022 Joseph Kay rated information technology information technology was astonishing

The definitive history of Jefferson Airplane and the original run of Jefferson Starship. One of the best ring bios I've e'er read. The definitive history of Jefferson Plane and the original run of Jefferson Starship. One of the best band bios I've always read. ...more

Sep 12, 2020 Ric rated it liked information technology

Really loved the part about the Aeroplane, the origin stories . . . non so much the later Starship stuff. But for a fan, a must read.

Mar 08, 2016 Juan rated it liked information technology

As oft happens when I read biographies of rock bands and/or musicians, I come away with a somewhat saddening sense of regret. Information technology'due south similar to the expression "you don't want to see the sausage existence made." Even though I know we're all homo and have our myriad failings as people and artists, it'southward a bit disheartening nonetheless to encounter our one time heroes existence depicted, as is so ofttimes the case, as way less than flawless specimens of coolness. But this is still a very informative read and I reco As often happens when I read biographies of rock bands and/or musicians, I come away with a somewhat saddening sense of regret. It'south similar to the expression "you don't desire to see the sausage being made." Even though I know we're all man and have our myriad failings every bit people and artists, it's a scrap disheartening yet to run into our one fourth dimension heroes being depicted, as is so often the case, as way less than flawless specimens of coolness. Merely this is notwithstanding a very informative read and I recommend it to anyone who was always a fan of the Airplane as it is amend to alive without the glossy lens of applause for our stars and get to the existent truth of what it sometimes ways to lead a creative life, greed, detest, turbulence, et al. ...more than

Aug thirteen, 2008 Rob rated it liked information technology

i'm surprised at how picayune i've learned about the band from reading this. in that location's very petty, if any, new information here. also, does anyone really care that much well-nigh jefferson starship and (cringing) STARSHIP? this book is, according to the title anyhow, supposed to comprehend the airplane, and a full third of information technology deals with mail service-airplane stuff. yuck.

i'm amazed, too, at the disproportionate coverage of the ring's history - woodstock (yawn) gets well-nigh 10 pages, the "crown of cosmos" sessions ge

i'thousand surprised at how trivial i've learned near the band from reading this. there's very niggling, if any, new data here. also, does anyone really intendance that much about jefferson starship and (cringing) STARSHIP? this volume is, according to the title anyway, supposed to embrace the airplane, and a full third of it deals with post-airplane stuff. yuck.

i'k amazed, also, at the disproportionate coverage of the band'south history - woodstock (yawn) gets about 10 pages, the "crown of creation" sessions go almost two. WTF?

not bad, though hardly definitive, more like an extended anecdotal allmusic entry.

...more than

"I saw Jefferson Starship in Glasgow last month so it prompted me to read this book again.(I read it on 14 Dec 2007) Information technology is definitely worth a read for people who take heard the music of Jefferson Plane and Jefferson Starship. It was written in 2003 and so could probably do with an update to cover events since and so." was what I wrote on 1 Nov 2012.

Reading the book for the third time I yet found it a fascinating read.

"I saw Jefferson Starship in Glasgow concluding month then it prompted me to read this book again.(I read it on 14 December 2007) It is definitely worth a read for people who take heard the music of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. It was written in 2003 and then could probably do with an update to cover events since and then." was what I wrote on 1 November 2012.

Reading the book for the third time I nonetheless found it a fascinating read.

...more

Sep 17, 2014 Derrick rated it liked it

Bit dry, and no i comes out of information technology really likable. But the book covers the band and its convoluted history over the years in good item. Worth reading for anyone interested in the Airplane or the San Francisco scene.

Apr ten, 2008 William rated information technology liked information technology

An interesting volume on the Jefferson Plane.

Well written simply evidently just feasible reading material for those interested in this niche topic.

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