Jefferson Airplane Drummer Dies

pair8head · Post by **pair8head** » January 13, 2005 1:48 pm

PETALUMA, Calif. - Spencer Dryden, the drummer for legendary rock band the Jefferson Airplane, has died of cancer. He was 66.

Dryden, who died at his home Tuesday, retired from performing 10 years ago, although he hadn't been working much before that.

"I'm gone," he told the San Francisco Chronicle last May. "I'm out of it. I've left the building."

A benefit concert last year featuring Bob Weir (news) of the Grateful Dead and Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule and raised $36,000 for Dryden, who was in the middle of two hip replacement surgeries and was facing heart surgery at the time. His Petaluma home and all his possessions had been destroyed in a fire in September 2003. He also had been diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Dryden was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 for his work with the Jefferson Airplane during the band's glory years — from the breakthrough 1967 "Surrealistic Pillow" album through historic rock festivals such as Woodstock and Altamont.

Born in New York City, Dryden moved with his parents when he was an infant to Los Angeles.

He attended Glendale High School and graduated from the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad in 1955. He played in some early rock bands but soon drifted toward jazz and was working as a drummer at the Hollywood strip club the Pink Pussycat when session drummer Earl Palmer recommended him to the Airplane's manager.

He replaced Skip Spence, who went on to start another Fillmore-era San Francisco rock group, Moby Grape. During his stint with the Airplane, Dryden had an affair with the band's female vocalist, Grace Slick (news), and his marriage to the former Sally Mann was covered extensively in Rolling Stone magazine. He left the band in 1970.

Dryden replaced Mickey Hart (news) in the Grateful Dead sideline country-rock band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, in February 1971 and stayed with that group until 1978.

In the '80s, he joined a group of psychedelic rock veterans called the Dinosaurs that played informally around the San Francisco Bay area along with former members of Big Brother and the Holding Company, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Country Joe and the Fish. When the other band members reunited for a 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion album and tour, Dryden was not invited.

He last appeared in public in November, after he was already being treated for cancer, signing autographs and shaking hands at a release party for the DVD of Jefferson Airplane video clips.

He was married three times and is survived by three sons; Jeffrey, Jes and Jackson Dryden. Plans for a memorial concert are pending.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » January 13, 2005 1:49 pm

Is he anyone's Pine Box Derby choice?

pair8head · Post by **pair8head** » January 13, 2005 1:50 pm

buffettbride wrote:Is he anyone's Pine Box Derby choice?

I don't remember

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 1:54 pm

buffettbride wrote:Is he anyone's Pine Box Derby choice?

That'd be f*ckin' sad if he was, just like that whole contest is. Pardon the rant, but that's just my opinion. We all got 'em and that just happens to be mine.

There may be few people here that even appreciate what Spencer brought to the bands he was in but I always loved the work he did with the New Riders of the Purple Sage best. He'll certainly be missed.

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » January 13, 2005 2:03 pm

WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 2:22 pm

PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?

Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.

IsleReef · Post by **IsleReef** » January 13, 2005 2:32 pm

Sail on Spencer Dryden..............

(Nope, I did not have him on the list....... I'm still waiting on John Goodman)

PHBeerman · Post by **PHBeerman** » January 13, 2005 2:43 pm

Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?
Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.

So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 2:45 pm

PHBeerman wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?
Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.
So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?

Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.

IsleReef · Post by **IsleReef** » January 13, 2005 2:47 pm

Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?
Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.
So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?
Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.

I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 2:55 pm

IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?
Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.
So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?
Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.
I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????

You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.

IsleReef · Post by **IsleReef** » January 13, 2005 2:57 pm

Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:WTF??? Are you off your meds today Jah?
Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.
So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?
Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.
I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????
You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.

Well then pick someone already.............. You can win a few $$$......... I think they can bend the rules for ya considering the contest has been closed........

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 3:11 pm

IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote:
Jahfin wrote: Just speaking my mind. Meds or lack thereof don't have a damn thing to do with it. By your logic (or in this case, a lack there of) since you don't agree with me, that must mean you are on meds. If you get off on guessing who's going to die next by all means go for it, it's just not my thing and I just so happen to think it's sick but to each their own.
So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?
Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.
I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????
You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.
Well then pick someone already.............. You can win a few $$$......... I think they can bend the rules for ya considering the contest has been closed........

Even if my choice is Jimmy Buffett?

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » January 13, 2005 3:14 pm

Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
PHBeerman wrote: So why did you choose Abe Vigoda?
Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.
I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????
You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.
Well then pick someone already.............. You can win a few $$$......... I think they can bend the rules for ya considering the contest has been closed........
Even if my choice is Jimmy Buffett?

I believe somebody already has Jimmy. Only requirement is that the death would appear on national news...although I think quite a few of the picks will not meet this standard.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 13, 2005 3:24 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote: Show me where I chose Abe Vigoda then get back to me.
I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????
You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.
Well then pick someone already.............. You can win a few $$$......... I think they can bend the rules for ya considering the contest has been closed........
Even if my choice is Jimmy Buffett?
I believe somebody already has Jimmy. Only requirement is that the death would appear on national news...although I think quite a few of the picks will not meet this standard.

I was actually just joking, I believe IsleReef missed my thoughts on the pool earlier in this thread.

IsleReef · Post by **IsleReef** » January 13, 2005 3:44 pm

Jahfin wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote:
Jahfin wrote:
IsleReef wrote: I think I saw Abe Vigoda.............. But isn't he already dead?????
You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.
Well then pick someone already.............. You can win a few $$$......... I think they can bend the rules for ya considering the contest has been closed........
Even if my choice is Jimmy Buffett?
I believe somebody already has Jimmy. Only requirement is that the death would appear on national news...although I think quite a few of the picks will not meet this standard.
I was actually just joking, I believe IsleReef missed my thoughts on the pool earlier in this thread.

I understood............. Just bustin' on ya............

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » January 13, 2005 9:58 pm

Sail on.....

Drumkat · Post by **Drumkat** » January 14, 2005 12:54 am

being a drummer myself, I feel really bad for the guy.

in rhythm it shall be played.

Jahfin · Post by **Jahfin** » January 17, 2005 10:53 am

http://tinylink.com/?KjN7bHiP43

Slick Remembers Dryden

Jefferson Airplane singer reflects on former bandmate, boyfriend

When Spencer Dryden succumbed to cancer Tuesday, San Francisco rock legends Jefferson Airplane lost the drummer who kept time for them during their pinnacle: from their 1967 classic Surrealistic Pillow album through gigs at the three landmark Sixties concerts: Monterey Pop, Woodstock and Altamont. For their role in popularizing psychedelic rock, Dryden and his bandmates were elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Singer Grace Slick remembered her former bandmate -- and former boyfriend -- two days after his death.

How did you react to the news of Spencer's death?

The older you get the less shocking it is. It's too bad everybody can't go out in their sleep at about age 120. But that's not going to happen to most of us. But a chunk of you gets torn out because the members of the Airplane in particular were such a powerful part of my youth that it feels like Janis [Joplin] said, "Take another little piece of my heart now, baby." It feels something like that. Both my parents are gone and every time somebody dies it tears another part of you, a chunk of you out, because they are a part of you, all these people. I lived with Spencer for a little over a year, and it was delightful to watch him appreciate the time that we were in, and make use of it by freedom of imagination.

When you think about him what comes to mind?

A delightful little conspiracy of two, that I think most couples feel they have. And a perfect nose. He had a beautiful face, and that's very superfluous, but that does come to mind. And his childness -- he was very childlike. And that's not a detriment, it's a compliment. It's hard to do when you're thirty years old. You can pretend by making a jerk out of yourself getting loaded -- that's childish -- but I'm talking about childlike. It's different.

What stood out to you about Spencer's drumming?

Very imaginative fills. He was not a power drummer -- he was more imaginative than that. He had a rough call because he was having to keep time. Jack Casady used to play lead guitar before he played bass, so he played kind of a lead bass thing. So Spencer had to hold down the rhythm, which is hard to do with a band that's that loud. So he had quite the task.

Had you been in touch in recent years?

Off and on, yeah, because he called a couple months ago to thank me. He was very sweet. We were doing some benefits to raise money because he had a tremendous amount of medical bills and his house burned down. He got hammered with a lot of unpleasant stuff near the end there. I do painting and drawing and so forth as an artist professionally, so I gave some of my paintings for the auction to raise money for him. I talked to him once in a while. The members of the band all live in different cities, but we talk to each other. I do talk to them, all of them.

nycparrothead · Post by **nycparrothead** » January 17, 2005 10:59 am

Jahfin wrote:You may have seen Abe mentioned but I didn't pick him. And no, he's not dead.

Somehow I assumed that you wanted in the contest... Sorry dude... Are you saying you'd like to withdraw?? Staying in only costs you $1 and you can win $54!!!