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Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship Rock Musicians Not All Alike by Suzanne Barnes "Bricks Were Thrown, and Rocks Gazette Entertainment Editor and Bottles

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Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship Rock Musicians Not All Alike by Suzanne Barnes SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1979 tiSpttFSHOW MOVIES TV LIST FARM Page 22C Page 24C Pages 25-27C Pete Sears of Jefferson Starship Rock musicians not all alike By Suzanne Barnes "Bricks were thrown, and rocks Gazette entertainment editor and bottles. They were getting gaso­ Rock musicians spend all their line from their cars. The stage was a time off stage taking drugs and in­ Yipes in concert blazing inferno — it looked like a dulging in wild orgies with groupies war. — right? "We lost all our guitars, every Wrong, at least in the case of Pete single instrument and amplifier." Sears, bass and keyboard player at Five Seasons After the melee was over, the with The Jefferson Starship, which is band took their bus to their next con­ scheduled to perform tonight at The rock group Yipes will be the opening act for Jef­ cert. Grace flew. 8 p.m. at the Five Seasons Center. ferson Starship at tonight's concert. The previously an­ "She turned up drunk and pro­ Although he admitted that he nounced Rory Gallagher canceled his appearance Fri­ ceeded to abuse the audience," he re­ "used to smoke a lot of marijuana day.^ Yipes is known for its album, "Yipes," which in­ called. "It was a very sad thing to and take other drugs," Sears told cludes the singles "Out in California," a satire on West Coast life, and "Russian Roll," a satire on the Kremlin. see, a real breakdown. The audience The Gazette in a recent telephone in­ didn't know or understand what was terview that "the odd beer is fine Tickets to the concert are available for $8 in advance happening. They probably thought with me now." and $9 at the door. The Five Seasons Center box office we were a punk rock group or some­ "I haven't smoked or taken drugs opens at noon today. thing. She was just so upset." in six years," he said, adding that he The group broke up with Paul now wants to be able to feel all of his Kantner and Grace doing solo al­ emotions and know that the feelings . people that enjoy the band — but," places Grace Slick, former Airplane- bums. Sears played some blues are real. he conceded, "we are beginning to Starship lead singer. piano on one of Grace's albums and What about the groupies? Sears' get the groupie thing." What happened to Grace? did another with Rod Stewart. groupies now consist of his wife, Jen- The beginning of "the groupie "Grace had a serious drinking Starship album nette, and 2-year-old son, Dylan. But problem," Sears answered quietly. he recalled an earlier time — he thing" Sears attributes to the appeal It wasn't Sears' first recording of drummer Aynsley Dunbar, one of "When she had too much to drink, session with Stewart. He also was in­ started performing in London in there was a drastic change in her 1964 — when female fans would two new members of Starship. He volved in "Every Picture Tells a joins Paul Kantner, rhythm guitar personality. It made it difficult to get Story," "Gasoline Alley" and "Never "start screaming and tearing their along with her musically. She would clothes off. They didn't know who and vocals and one of the co-foun­ a Dull Moment." ders of Jefferson Airplane; Craig sing flat and not come in at the right The Starship eventually The Jefferson Starship, which will appear in concert at the you were, but when they saw you times." walk out of a TV studio, they figured Chaquico, guitar; David Freiberg, regrouped with the new lineup. It Five Seasons Center tonight at 8 p.m., is made up of, from left, you must be somebody. bass, keyboards and vocals, and Association ended currently has a new album, "Free­ Pete Sears, Mickey Thomas, Craig Chaquico (rear), Paul Kant­ Mickey Thomas. dom at Point Zero," that's beginning "Groupie thing" starting But Grace did make an attempt to ner, David Freiberg and Aynsley Dunbar. Thomas, best known for his overcome her problem. And the to climb the charts steadily. "Jane," "This band doesn't have that "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" other members of Starship were pa­ a single from that album, is on the image." he said. "We get older (recorded with Elvin Bishop), re- tient. Sears recalled the July 1978 in­ same upward swing. cident that ended their association: Sears' wife wrote the lyrics for "She hadn't been drinking for "Awakening" and "Fading Lady," quite a few years on stage. She was two more singles from "Freedom," really trying hard to kick it and we and co-authored "Just the Same" had some good tours." with Chaquico. Al Downing doesn't In spite of new members, is Star- But the good tours brought pres­ sure for another album. And another ship the same? album meant more tours. The group "We've lost our San Francisco eventually went to Germany to per­ acid rock image," Sears said. "We're ask to hear rockets form. trying to cut down on time between "We did a gig on the Rhine numbers. There's none of that shoot­ By Joe Edwards River," Sears said, "Things were ing up all the time with everyone stoned on acid. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — "I going quite well before that. "Grace was sick, really sick, and "Airplane fans may prefer the old don't want to hear rockets," big Al group," he continued. "But everyone REGGAE Downing says about his new career couldn't go on stage. The promoter announced that to the audience." that's coming to see us, well, their BSU& in country music. "Just an occasional reaction is just great." boom." The audience, which had been sit­ ting in a light drizzle all afternoon, The band doesn't use any special H.E.C. presents After forays into disco, rock 'n' Al effects during their concert appear­ roll, rhythm and blues and gospel was told they could have the money Downing for their tickets back or return when ances, other than a good lighting sys­ music, Downing has become one of tem. Sears said that "a moog synthe­ the few black singers in country the Starship could reschedule the concert. sizer sets the mood — a science fic­ GIL SCOTT-HERON music. tion type mood," and then the band Downing, 39, has had two songs "Blazing inferno" comes on. and friends reach the Top 20 of the country Sears said, "I think the promoter "We come on stage and we could with special guest music charts in the" past year — "Mr. was a bit shady. You know, advertis­ be either great or bad, it's new Jones" and "Touch Me." ing bands without actually booking music. We can be better some nights His success has triggered compar­ them." than others, but we can't sink below Vasco De Gama isons with Charley Pride, country The result: The audience began to a certain point unless everything music's No. 1 black star. riot. goes wrong." Tuesday, December 11, 8:00 pm "People say, 'You're trying to be another Charley Pride,' or, 'I love Not long after his disco hit, he IMU Main Lounge Charley Pride and you sound just was in a recording studio clowning ^ _ - Tickets available at IMU Box Office like him,'" said Downing, a blue cow­ around and singing country music. A S'yOO 11.3.30 and 6:30-9:00 Phone 319-353-4158 boy hat and shiny brown boots en­ record producer liked it and Down­ # Alio Cc-Op Tapes & Records—Open 10 om-8 pm doily closing his 6-foot-3, 275-pound ing began cutting country songs. Give the Gift frame. "All my life I've been wanting to THE "It's not my intention to be an­ get into country music," Downing OLD of Theatre . other Charley Pride," he said. "We're said in an interview over breakfast CREAMERY before taping the "Hee Haw" syndi­ different; his voice is light and mine THEATRE OLD CREAMERY THEATRE COMPANY is real booming. I write all my mate­ cated television show. "But I never rial and I don't think he does." could get anyone interested in me as COMPANY Discount Ticket Packet The genial Downing, who lives in a country artist." Next Year's Shows at Last Year's Prices! Spencer, Mass., has encountered no In the 1960s, Downing was prima­ prejudice in the mostly white coun­ rily a rhythm and blues and rock 'n' ^ ^ ORDER YOURS NOW! try music business. roll singer. Prior to that, he sang gos­ THURSDAY-SUNDAY PLAN ... 6 Admissions. .$20.50 - "I've been to Louisiana and Ala­ pel music with members of his fam­ bama, all those places, and all colors ily. All told, he's been singing profes­ CHOICE OF EVENJNGS ... 6 Admissions $24.00 come up and hug me. I think if you sionally for 25 years. (Pricaa in EM act Until January 15, 1980) are sincere in your music, color has "It's been a long, hard pull all the FOR INFORMATION, CALL 319-477-3925 nothing to do with it." way," he said. "In a way, I'm glad I Or Writ* OM CraaiiMry Tfwatr* Company Just four years ago, Downing had didn't have success early. I would •ox 160, Garrison, Iowa 52229 a No. 1 disco hit in the United States have come up with a Cadillac and and Europe, "I'll Be Holdin' On." But fancy suits and spent all that money the record company associated with for nothing.
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