Starship is an American hard rock band from San Francisco, California. A successor to Jefferson Starship, the group originally featured vocalists Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick, guitarist Craig Chaquico, bassist Pete Sears, drummer Donny Baldwin and keyboardist David Freiberg – all were members of Jefferson Starship until October 1984, when rhythm guitarist and vocalist Paul Kantner (who had left in June) sued the band for the use of the name, forcing them to begin operating as simply Starship. Freiberg left shortly after the group's formation, however, due to the dominance of keyboards in the band's sound. Sears left early into sessions for the group's second album No Protection, citing an opposition to the band's continued evolution into what he described as a "vacuous, sterilized, escapist" musical style.

Slick also departed Starship in early 1988, leaving Thomas as the band's sole lead vocalist. Bassist Brett Bloomfield and keyboardist Mark Morgan were added to the group's lineup in time for the recording of Love Among the Cannibals, having both performed as touring members since the previous year. Baldwin was next to leave, after seriously injuring Thomas in a bar fight before a show on September 24, 1989; Baldwin's involvement in the fight was initially kept secret, but within a few weeks of the incident he was dismissed from the group. Once Thomas had recovered, the tour resumed in early 1990 with Kenny Stavropoulos on drums. After the tour's conclusion in the summer of 1990, Chaquico, Bloomfield, Morgan, and Stavropoulos left the band. Thomas added producer Peter Wolf on keyboards and continued to record by utilizing session musicians. After the release of the greatest hits compilation Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979–1991) in the spring of 1991, the band was let go by RCA. Starship became inactive at this time.

In early 1992, Thomas reformed the band under the name "Mickey Thomas' Starship" (later "Starship featuring Mickey Thomas"), with a lineup also including guitarist Jeff Tamelier, bassist Bobby Vega, drummer T. Moran, keyboardist John Lee Sanders, saxophonist Bill Slais, trumpeter Max Haskett and former touring vocalist Melisa Kary. The following year, Vega was replaced by the returning Bloomfield. In 1995, Darrell Verdusco replaced Moran on drums. Sanders, Slais and Haskett also left in 1995, with Phil Bennett taking over on keyboards. Tamelier was replaced by Erik Torjesen in 1996, who performed with the group until 2000 when he was diagnosed with cancer (he died the following March). John Garnache replaced Bloomfield on bass in 1997. Torjesen was replaced by Mark Abrahamian in 2000, while Jeff Adams replaced Garnache the same year. Stephanie Calvert joined in 2006. Abrahamian died on September 2, 2012, after suffering a heart attack after a show. He was replaced the following month by Winger guitarist John Roth. In September 2021, vocalist Cian Coey replaced Calvert. In November 2024, Chelsee Foster replaced Coey on vocals. In April 2026, August Zadra replaced John Roth as guitarist.

Members

Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMickey Thomasall Starship releasesDarrell Verdusco1995–presentPhil Bennett1995–presentJeff Adams2000–presentChelsee Foster2024–presentlead and backing vocalsnone August Zadra2026–presentnone

Former

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCraig Chaquico1984–1990lead guitarDonny Baldwin1984–1989Grace Slick1984–1988lead and backing vocalsPete Sears1984–1987Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)David Freiberg1984–1985noneBrett BloomfieldMark Morgan1987–1990keyboardsLove Among the Cannibals (1989)Melisa Karylead and backing vocalsLive at the Stanley Cup (1997)Christina Marie SaxtonKenny Stavropoulos1990nonePeter Wolf1990–1991"Good Heart" (1991)Jeff Tamelier1992–1996noneT. Moran1992–1995drumsJohn Lee SandersBill SlaisMax HasketttrumpetBobby Vega1992–1993bassErik Torjesen1996–2000lead guitarLive at the Stanley Cup (1997)John Garnache1997–2000bassnoneMark Abrahamian2000–2012 lead guitarGreatest Hits (2003)Stephanie Calvert2006–2021lead and backing vocalsLoveless Fascination (2013)John Roth2012–2026Loveless Fascination (2013) Cian Coey2021–2024lead and backing vocalsnone

Timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJune 1984 – early 1985Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Pete Sears – bass, synthesizers David Freiberg – keyboards, bass, vocals Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Gabriel Katona – keyboards, saxophone (1984–1986 tours)Early 1985 – May 1987Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Pete Sears – bass, synthesizers Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Gabriel Katona – keyboards, saxophone (1984–1986 tours)Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)May 1987 – February 1988Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Grace Slick – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Brett Bloomfield – bass Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizersNo Protection (1987)February 1988 – October 1989Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizers Donny Baldwin – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Melisa Kary – vocals (1989) Christina Marie Saxton – vocals (1989)Love Among the Cannibals (1989)October 1989 – summer 1990Mickey Thomas – lead vocals Craig Chaquico – guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Mark Morgan – keyboards, synthesizers Kenny Stavropoulos – drums Touring personnel Melisa Kary – vocals Christina Marie Saxton – vocalsSummer 1990 – spring 1991Mickey Thomas – vocals Peter Wolf – keyboards, electronics Studio musicians Martin Page – background vocals (1991 – Track: "Good Heart") Peter Maunu – guitar (1991 – Track: "Good Heart")"Good Heart" (1991)Band inactive spring 1991 – early 1992Early 1992 – summer 1993Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Bobby Vega – bass, backing vocals John Lee Sanders – keyboards, saxophone T. Moran – drums Bill Slais – saxophone, keyboards Max Haskett – trumpetrowspan="3" Summer 1993 – 1995Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals John Lee Sanders – keyboards, saxophone T. Moran – drums Bill Slais – saxophone, keyboards1995–1996Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Jeff Tamelier – lead guitar, backing vocals Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals1996–1997Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Erik Torjesen – lead guitar Brett Bloomfield – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocalsLive at the Stanley Cup (1997)1997–2000Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Melisa Kary – lead vocals Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Erik Torjesen – lead guitar John Garnache – bass Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals2000–2006Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Christina Marie Saxton – lead vocals Mark Abrahamian – lead guitar Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocalsGreatest Hits (2003)2006 – September 2012Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Stephanie Calvert – lead vocals Mark Abrahamian – lead guitar Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocalsOctober 2012 – September 2021Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Stephanie Calvert – lead vocals John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals Touring personnel Cian Coey – lead vocals (substitute for Calvert in August-September 2021)Loveless Fascination (2013)September 2021 – November 2024Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Cian Coey – lead vocals John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocalsNovember 2024 – April 2026Mickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Chelsee Foster – lead vocals John Roth – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocalsApril 2026 – presentMickey Thomas – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Chelsee Foster – lead vocals August Zadra – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Adams – bass, backing vocals Phil Bennett – keyboards, backing vocals Darrell Verdusco – drums, backing vocals

See also List of Jefferson Airplane members List of Jefferson Starship members

References

External links Starship official website