Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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Hoopla 4,000 Starship fans were Knee Deep in it, with a belated Homecoming concert by the legendary San Francisco band. Grace Slick and crew are a part of musical history, a fact that sets them apart from many of the bands appearing in recent years. tcaship emerged from a gray city sky- line set to brighten the stage of Gross Memorial Coliseum, About 4,000 Starship Ians were Knee Deep in the Hoopla of a belated homecoming concert by the legendary San Francisco band on Saturday, Oct. 25. The band played approximately an hour ' s worth of its recent songs from their platinum “Hoopla album, plus older songs from the band’s previous incarnations as the Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship. I thought it was neat to see Grace Slick (Starship singer), and I thought it was a very good show, I.B. Dent, director of student activities said. They also had a very good light show. Dent said that because of the many lights, the power consump- tion for the concert was one of the greatest ever at GMC, The lights and the stage set were so extensive, Dent said, that three tractor-trailers were filled with equipment for the concert. Dent said what set the Starship Concert apart from others at the university is musical history. Over the last 10 years, you look at tire list of who ' s been here and say ' Which of these will make musical history? ' Dent said, Just because it ' s a name now doesn’t mean it ' s going to make musical history. Grace Slick, or Jefferson L EFT) CROWD FAVORITE -Starship ' s lead guitarist Craig Chaquito entertains the crowd at the concert In Gross Memorial Coliseum. The band was called back for an encore and sang Jane ’ (Photo by Robert Bunting) Airplane, is r and has been a name, and they’ve already made musical history, ' 1 Dent said. This musical history is what brought an older crowd to the Starship concert. We didn ' t have the high school crowd this time, Dent said. “They were at least college age and older. Two changes were made in the operation of the concert itself. One change in the concert this year was the moving of the concert date. The fall concert, traditionally saved for home- coming weeken d, was moved back two weeks in order to get the bigger name band; Starship. Another change was to combine the positions of security and usher. A record number of 63 students served in the dual capacity of the security usher position. Security and ushers also put in a greater effort to keep the audience in the area of its scats. Dent said this eliminated anyone from rushing the stage. This way, you get the seat you ' re supposed to have, Dent said. It ' s a better system than in the past. The opening act for Starship was Alcatrazz. who were on tour promoting their fourth album, Dangerous Games.” Alcatrazz Is a five-member band that has been together for about four years arid has released four albums, the second of which was recorded live. Alcatrazz finished its set with two songs from lire band Rainbow. Alcatrazz is a talented band, but they just didn ' t seem to have the relationship with the crowd that Starship had, Wanda KNEE DEEP -Craig Chaquito, lead guitarist, fascinates the crowd with his energetic performance of Knee Deep in the Hoopla ' More than 4,000 fans attended the concert (Photo by Robert Bunting) Cameron, MUAB concert committee member, said in an interview with The University Leader. Starship was first formed in the mid- ' 60s. At that time, the band was called The Jefferson Airplane. The Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the infamous Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco to sign a recording contract with a major record label. Slick joined the band in 1966. She was to become the band ' s most faithful member. The Jefferson Airplane saw several membership changes. Finally, in 1974, Jefferson Starship was officially formed. Members were Paul Kantner, Slick, John Barbata, Papa John Creach, David Freiberg, Peter Kaukonen and Craig Chaquico. The same year Kaukonen left and was replaced by Pete Sears, current bass player for the band. After several changes in membership, including Slick ' s leaving and return, Jefferson Starship became Starship in March of 1985. All the changes in membership apparently did not affect Star- ship’s development cord success. The band’s first album, Dragon- fly, was certified gold in February of 1975. Their second album, Red Octopus, topped the charts in September of 1975 and was certified platinum the same year. Two more gold albums followed while Slick was in the band. Most recently, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, released in September of 1985, was certified platinum. by David Burke Starshio X

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LIVE -Lead guitarist Craig Chaquita gets the Starship fans going. Chaqifo helped found Jelferson Starship In 1974. (Photo by Robert Bunting) V Kk5 r W? BP rtii ENCORE -Vocalist Mickey Thomas sings Jane as the last song of the Strship conert. Starship was named as the first national spokesgroup lor the National Network ol Runaway and Youth Services in June 1986. (Photo by Robert Bunting) StarshiE

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