Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner has died at 74

Paul Kantner, founding member of Jefferson Airplane and icon of the sixties San Francisco rock explosion, died today. He was 74. Earlier this week, he suffered a heart attack, and had for years been dealing with serious health issues.

His death was confirmed by longtime publicist and friend Cynthia Bowman, who told reporters he died of multiple organ failure and septic shock.

[caption id="attachment_445727" align="aligncenter" width="701"] Paul Kantner and Grace Slick and daughter China of the Jefferson Airplane, photo dated 10/08/1971[/caption]

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

With Jefferson Airplane, Mr. Kantner pioneered what became known as the San Francisco sound in the mid-1960s, with such hits as "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit."

The Airplane was renowned for thrilling vocal gymnastics by singers Marty Balin, Grace Slick and Mr. Kantner, the psychedelic blues-rock sound developed by guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bass player Jack Casady and the LSD-spiked, '60s-era revolutionary fervor of its lyrics.

[caption id="attachment_445731" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Paul Kantner [Wikipedia][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_445734" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Jefferson Airplane[/caption][caption id="attachment_445733" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Jefferson Airplane at Woodstock[/caption][caption id="attachment_445737" align="aligncenter" width="956"] Jefferson Airplane[/caption]