She Was A Curious
Like something out of Alice in Wonderland, Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick followed her curiosity straight into chaos, and she loved every second of it. Fueled by a taste for mind-altering substances, her wild streak led to everything from high-speed street racing to scolding her own audiences, and even sneaking into a White House party she definitely wasn’t invited to. Her romantic life was just as eventful, often tangled up with fellow musicians. In other words, Slick played by the same rules as her male rockstar peers and had a notoriously good time doing it.
C.J. Strauss & Co., Wikimedia Commons
1. Her Family Was Traditional
Grace Slick, whose actual name is Grace Barnett Wing, was born on October 30, 1939. Her parents, Ivan Wilford and Virginia Wing, met when they were both students at the University of Washington, and became husband and wife shortly after graduating.
Slick later called her home life a “Leave it to Beaver” family; but things weren't all that clean cut.
Seattle Public Library, Wikimedia Commons
2. They Were On The Road
Dad’s job, as an investment banker, meant that the family was constantly on the go. They lived in Chicago, then Los Angeles and San Francisco. In the end, they landed in Palo Alto for a long-term home, where Grace went to Palo Alto Senior High School.
By the time she graduated, Slick was more than ready to shake off her conservative home life and do something wild.
J. F. Parkinson, Wikimedia Commons
3. She Found Her Home
After studying art in both New York City and Miami, Grace Slick made her way to San Francisco, where she started her career as a model for a department store. Around this same time, she decided to marry the son of her mom’s best friend, Jerry Slick, who was an aspiring filmmaker at the time.
Lucky for them, Grace and Jerry Slick were a young, artistically-minded couple, and San Francisco was a place where anything could happen...
Attilio Moscioni, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Was More Than A Pretty Face
Slick continued to make a living out of her looks, but she was not just a pretty face. While continuing to work as a model, Slick started composing music, which her husband used in one of his short films. Still, Slick still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life.
Then, she read something that would change her path forever.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
5. Her Curiosity Got Piqued
In August of 1965, Grace Slick was paging through an issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, and one article mentioned a new band called Jefferson Airplane. Even though she was writing music—and lived in a hot spot for music creators—Slick had never really considered a career in the music industry. But the article made her curious.
It led her down to a club called The Matrix...
RCA Records/photographer: Herb Greene, Wikimedia Commons
6. She Wanted To Do What They Did
Something happened that night at The Matrix. Suddenly, Slick wanted to perform in a band just like Jefferson Airplane. She convinced her husband to play the drums, and his brother, Darby Slick, to be on guitar. A friend named David Miner provided the bass guitar, and together they made The Great Society.
Just one question remained. Would they be any good?
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images
7. She Tried It Out
The Great Society played their very first show on October 15, 1965, at the Coffee Gallery. The show was a mild success, but the real plus was what came from this inaugural performance. Grace Slick now knew she wanted to write more music. On the flip side, though, she also knew it would be hard to stand out in San Francisco's busy scene.
To make her lyrics stand out, she had to go to some dark places.
KRLA/Beat Publications-page 2, Wikimedia Commons
8. She Went On A Trip
Remember, this was the 1960s San Francisco, and recreational drug use was common. As such, Slick had no problem diving in. After a psychedelic trip, Slick wrote a song called “White Rabbit”, which she composed on a red piano that she had purchased for only $50. The fact that it was missing eight keys didn't slow Slick down.
The inspiration for “White Rabbit” was a children’s story, but the results were for adults only.
Columbia Records, Wikimedia Commons
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9. She Chased A White Rabbit
For “White Rabbit”, Grace Slick focused on the parts of Alice in Wonderland where characters took pills, imbibed strange beverages, and did weird things like change size. She said she liked Alice in Wonderland because there was no Prince Charming to save her. Alice was all on her own. “White Rabbit” was new and strange and became one of Slick’s most famous songs.
Slick was like Alice; she didn’t need a man to save her. But she did need her band.
John Tenniel, Wikimedia Commons
10. She Stood Out
By the end of 1965, The Great Society had gained great popularity in the San Francisco Bay Area. They even played at The Matrix, the very same place where Slick got the inspiration from Jefferson Airplane to get into music. San Francisco was overpopulated with cool bands, but The Great Society was managing to stand out.
With everything in San Francisco looking up, Slick set her sides on spreading her influence nationwide.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
11. They Got A Chance To Record
In December 1965, Grace Slick and her band walked into Golden State Recorders to record an album. On hand was songwriter and record producer Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. From this session came a song called “Somebody to Love”. While it didn’t do much at the time, this song would have a huge role in Slick’s future.
Hillel Italie, Wikimedia Commons
12. She Got An Amazing Offer
In late 1966, the singer of Jefferson Airplane, Signe Toly Anderson, decided to leave the band to focus on raising her child. By this time, Slick and The Great Society had gained significant popularity. Enough for Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady to know about them. To Slick’s surprise, Casady asked her to join Jefferson Airplane.
This was the chance of a lifetime, but it required a huge sacrifice.
KRLA/Beat Publications-page 1, Wikimedia Commons
13. She Couldn’t Help Herself
Now, remember, Jefferson Airplane was the band that had first inspired Grace Slick to get into music. So, this invitation must have felt absolutely surreal. Slick couldn’t help but say yes, and she joined Jefferson Airplane. But joining this band meant quitting The Great Society.
In other words, she had some explaining to do.
Charlie Gillett Collection, Getty Images
14. She Ripped It Apart
It was Slick who had put The Great Society together, and it was also she who would rip it apart. She came to the band with her reason for quitting. Number one was that Jefferson Airplane was a more professionally-run band. With that appraisal of the situation, Slick walked away from the band, which included her husband and his brother.
And with that, Jefferson Airplane was about to come under Slick’s spell.
RCA Records, Wikimedia Commons
15. She Changed Them
Grace Slick was joining a band that had years more experience than her. It was also the band that had given her the inspiration to perform in the first place. But instead of Jefferson Airplane changing Slick, it was the other way around. Once she was on board, they started playing more psychedelic music, which was closer to what The Great Society played.
She also brought something along with her.
Fotoburo De Boer, Wikimedia Commons
16. She Took Some Souvenirs
When Slick left The Great Society, she took with her some musical souvenirs. “White Rabbit” was her own composition, so it was hers to take. But she also took along Darby’s “Somebody to Love”. When Slick presented “Somebody to Love” to Jefferson Airplane it was in for a do-over.
A do-over that went down in musical history.
17. They Took A Risk
Once Jefferson Airplane had their hands on “Somebody to Love”, it had a much harder sound. They included it on their Surrealistic Pillow album and also threw in Slick’s “White Rabbit” for good measure. Jefferson Airplane was taking huge risks with Slick and only hoped it would be a success.
RCA Records, Wikimedia Commons
18. They Were On The Rise
Jefferson Airplane released Surrealistic Pillow, and critics immediately started to praise “Somebody to Love” and “White Rabbit”. Both of these songs wowed audiences and critics alike. Better still, they were in the top 10 of the music charts. Jefferson Airplane, with Slick as a beacon, were getting very, very famous.
Soon, an iconic TV show wanted to put her on the air.
19. She Was A Controversial Guest
The Smothers Brothers was not your ordinary American Variety show. The brothers were not afraid to tackle sensitive political issues and welcomed controversial musical guests as well. In 1966, they invited Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane to perform on the show. When Slick appeared on stage for her musical number, she made a choice that shocked everyone.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
20. She Shocked The Audience
Slick shocked audiences by appearing on the stage of The Smothers Brothers show in blackface, which, even at this time, was a huge taboo. Somehow, she managed to get through the entire song without anyone from the network pulling her off the stage. And when she finished the song, she had one last message for the audience.
Screenshot from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, CBS (1967-1969)
21. She Showed Her Politics
Once Grace Slick finished singing “Crown of Creation”, she had one last chance to be political, as if her black face wasn’t enough. To end the song, she raised her hand in a fist. This was the symbol of the Black Panthers, who most knew were a very far-left organization fighting for civil rights.
So, when Slick got an invite to the White House, she was very confused.
Screenshot from The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-1969)
22. She Got An Unexpected Invite
One of Slick’s fellow graduates of Finch College was Tricia Nixon, who was the Republican President Richard Nixon’s daughter. Nixon had a cute idea to have a tea party at the White House for all her past classmates. She wasn’t too careful and did a blanket invite to everyone without looking closely at the names. One name on the invite list was Grace Wing.
Just like that, Slick was going to the White House.
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library, Wikimedia Commons
23. She Brought An Unwanted Guest
When Grace Slick got her invite to the White House, she saw a huge opportunity. She was friends with activist Abbie Hoffman and invited him to be her date. Of course, as counter culture activists, Slick and Hoffman likely would never have actually received an invitation to the White House.
Nixon's daughter had no idea about the trouble that was about to enter the White House
Richard O. Barry from San Diego, California, United States, Wikimedia Commons
24. They Had An Evil Plan
Slick and Hoffman had a plan for their visit to the White House. They would sneak psychedelics into the party and spike the president’s tea. They arrived at the event and had to wait with the others in a waiting room. But Ssddenly, they became aware of a very important detail they had overlooked.
Renamed user 995577823Xyn, Wikimedia Commons
25. They Had Trouble With Security
Since the White House tea party was for graduates from a women’s college, security expected to see only women there. With her male date, Grace Slick stood out like a sore thumb. Security was on him quickly. Slick tried to explain that Hoffman was her “bodyguard and date”, but they were having none of it.
Slick could enter, but Hoffman got a hard no.
26. They Left A Message
Slick decided to leave with Hoffman, but they had one last message to send. Hoffman had a large black flag emblazoned with a marijuana leaf. He hung it on one of the gates at the entrance to the White House. The two then sped away in a waiting getaway car.
Slick was definitely living on the wild side, and her relationships were feeling the strain.
National Photo Company Collection, Wikimedia Commons
27. She Had Complicated Relationships
After leaving The Great Society, it must have been hard staying with the husband you’d abandoned for a better band. But to make matters worse, Grace Slick began a romantic relationship with Jefferson Airplane guitarist Paul Kantner while still married to Jerry.
What happened next may have been the last straw.
RCA Records. Mark is upside-down and faint but says
28. She Had A Child
In 1971, Slick was still married to Jerry Slick; but in January of that year, she gave birth to a baby girl. China wasn’t the child of her and her husband, but of her and her boyfriend. That said, it wasn’t that surprising when Slick and Jerry decided to call it quits.
You might think motherhood would slow Slick down, but she proved just as reckless, if not more so!
29. She Had A Need For Speed
The same year she gave birth to China, Slick got into some trouble on the streets of San Francisco. It all started when she left a recording session with guitarist Jorma Kaukonen. They drove in separate vehicles, and Slick suddenly felt a need for speed. Driving side by side soon turned into a drag race.
Unfortunately, they were heading for a notorious strip of pavement.
Gorup de Besanez, Wikimedia Commons
30. There Were Dangerous Conditions
Slick and Kaukonen started drag racing and hit dangerous speeds close to 160 km/h (100 mph). Slick didn’t know it at the time, but Doyle Drive had a reputation for fatal accidents. She also didn't know that the road had a dangerous combination of rain and oil on the surface.
In other words, you could say that Doyle Drove was incredibly slick. Maybe even too slick for Slick.
31. She Crashed
Grace Slick and her car skidded, hit an embankment and crashed. In a panic, Kaukonen stopped his car, got out, and approached Slick’s. His first thought was that she was gone. The impact had totally crushed the driver's side door. Kaukonen had a moment of absolute terror. And then he took a closer look.
Agency for the Performing Arts, Wikimedia Commons
32. She Was One Lucky Woman
As it turned out, Slick’s irresponsible behavior had saved her life this time. You see, she hadn't been wearing a seatbelt. Because of this, she ended up thrown into the relative safety of the passenger seat. She did get three concussions and suffered some memory loss, but it could have been so much worse.
Slick walked away with a new lease on life. It was time for a big change.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
33. She Wasn’t Creative
In 1974, Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen started a new band called Hot Tuna, which meant they would no longer be available for Jefferson Airplane. Slick and Kantner, who was the father of her daughter, put together a new band. They weren't too creative with the new name, calling it Jefferson Starship.
Sadly, her relationship would not survive this band change.
Fotoburo De Boer, Wikimedia Commons
34. She Mixed Business With Pleasure
After starting Jefferson Starship with her boyfriend Kantner, Slick decided to dump him. She exchanged him for the band’s lighting designer, Skip Johnson. Slick was mixing business with pleasure, and there would be repercussions. When she went ahead and married Johnson, things within the band got very complicated.
35. Problems on Tour
In 1978, Grace Slick went on tour with Jefferson Starship. Of course, both Slick’s ex boyfriend and new husband were there too. When they hit Germany, they had a problem. Well, not just one. The first night in Germany, Slick had had too much to drink and said she wouldn’t perform at all.
Then things backstage got out of hand.
36. It Was Tense Backstage
Slick was backstage, saying she wouldn’t perform. To confuse things more, also backstage were Kantner and Johnson. With fans getting angry and waiting for the show, things in the green room were getting more and more heated. Soon, Kantner and Johnson were throwing punches. Needless to say, they never made it to the stage.
The next day, Slick had another chance. All she had to do was turn up sober.
37. She Used Her Hands
For the second concert in Germany, Slick once again had had a lot to drink. But this time, she was okay to perform. This wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Once on stage, Slick began to let her fingers do the talking and started touching her bandmates inappropriately. She then took her hands to members of the audience.
When she started talking, things got even worse.
38. She Brought Up A Touchy Subject
An inebriated Grace Slick was fondling female members of the audience, and it wasn’t going over well. She then decided it was time to berate the crowd. Since she was in Germany, WWII seemed like a good place to start. She teased them for losing it. The concert quickly devolved into disaster, but there was even more trouble waiting for her in the States.
39. She Was A Bad Judge
Back in San Francisco, Slick received an invite to a kind of “Gong Show” for nightclubs. Slick was a judge, and let’s just say, she wasn’t a nice one. She fought with the other judges and even the contestants. They eventually had to drag her off the stage, as the audience shouted their disapproval.
But this bad day wasn’t over yet.
Allan Tannenbaum, Getty Images
40. They Pulled Her Over
Grace Slick was clearly inebriated at the gong show, but this didn't stop her from driving herself home. The California Highway Patrol stopped her, and they knew that she’d been drinking. Slick was in a bad mood and began berating the officers. It got so bad that they put her in lock-up.
Clearly, Slick needed help.
Chris Yarzab, Wikimedia Commons
41. She Never Had Two
Slick has always been open about her drinking problem. She stated that she has never had only two drinks. It’s all or nothing with her. Problems seemed to arise when she drank too much. Bassist Pete Sears noticed a change came over her when she imbibed too much.
A change that was downright scary.
42. She Was A Demon
Sears said that when Grace Slick wasn't drinking, she was a "beautiful person”. That all stopped when she picked up a bottle. Sears said that Slick turned into a "demon" when she drank. At times, she knew she had a problem, and she would head over to rehab to deal with it.
But, all things considered, Slick somehow managed to turn a stint in rehab into artistic expression.
43. She Found A Strange Inspiration
In 1980, Slick released a solo album called Dreams. On this album, Slick investigated some of the ideas she’d come across on one of her many stints in rehab. Well, this paid off, as some called Dreams one of her most personal albums yet. It also got her a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Female Vocalist.
Slick seemed full of surprises, and she had a special one for her ex.
44. She Ran On Stage
In 1988, Hot Tuna was playing a concert, and Slick’s ex-boyfriend, Paul Kantner, had joined them. Slick was still in contact with Hot Tuna’s Kaukonen, and he secretly invited her to join the band on stage. Kantern had the surprise of his life when his ex-girlfriend was suddenly bounding onto the stage to join them. This surprise could have gone either way.
What happened next was just as surprising.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images
45. They Reunited
After surprising her ex on stage, Slick and the guys put Jefferson Airplane back together again. They produced a reunion album and went on a successful tour. But by the time the tour was over, Slick knew one thing for sure. She was through. It was time to retire, and she had a very good reason why.
46. She Called It Quits
Slick was very outspoken and never afraid of offending people. About her retirement from music, she said that rock and roll is for the young and angry. And then she just had to twist that knife. She said that "all rock-and-rollers over the age of 50 look stupid and should retire." I’m sure someone like Mick Jagger would be hard-pressed not to take this personally.
When she entered retirement she finally started taking care of herself.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
47. She Had A Health Routine
In her retirement, Slick painted and wrote an autobiography. She seemed to have limitless energy and USA Today asked her how she managed to stay healthy. She credited the fact that she didn't eat cheese or duck. Then she generalized and said she was vegan.
Taking care of her health, landed her a record.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
48. She Was The Oldest
From 1985 to 1999 Slick held a record. On the Billboard Hot 100 she was the oldest female vocalist on a single topping the charts. Her song, “We Built this City”, made number one just after she turned 46. With this accomplishment, she pushed aside Tina Turner who had been 44 for “What’s Love Got To Do With It.”
But being old had some drawbacks.
Ron Galella, Ltd., Getty Images
49. She Ended Up In The Hospital
In 2006, doctors told Slick that she had diverticulitis, which is a gastrointestinal disease. Slick ended up in an induced coma that lasted two long months. Upon coming out of the coma, to her horror, Slick discovered that she could no longer walk. She had to learn this, and other basic skills, again from scratch.
Slick may have forgotten how to walk, but nothing was about to make her forget to fight for the cause.
MediaNews Group/Boston Herald, Getty Images
50. She Continues To Fight
In 2017, Slick allowed fast food chain Chick-fil-A to use her song “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now" for a TV commercial. When she realized that Chick-fil-A wasn’t in favor of same-sex marriage, she had to do something. She sneakily took all the money she made from the deal and gave it to LGBTQ charities.
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