Bob Weir Remembers Paul Kantner

Jefferson Airplane founding guitarist Paul Kantner recently passed away at the age of 74. Kantner and Airplane were instrumental in developing the psychedelic rock scene that sprung up in the Bay Area in the late 1960s along with acts like Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother and the Holding Company and the Grateful Dead. Recently, Dead guitarist Bob Weir spoke with Billboard about the loss of his longtime collaborator and friend Kantner.

Often promoted by Bill Graham, Airplane and the Dead shared many bills and stages together in early days of both bands, developing a camaraderie that often lead to collaborations both live and in the studio. Regarding Kantner, Bobby issued the following statement about his fallen cohort:

Paul lived at the heart of the music, where the chords, the melody and the rhythm join together with the lyrics to form the story. His guitar was the glue that held all that together. His voice was the foundation of the choral vocals. Paul lived at the heart of the song. He was there for the Muse – when she needed a human voice or instrument, she channeled it through him.

Weir also spoke at length about his relationship with Kantner, relenting that the two never composed a song together and pointing out how integral he was to the development of Jefferson Airplane’s style and sound. The entire Q&A with Bobby can be read via Billboard.