David Freiberg, an original member of Jefferson Starship, is proud of his band’s accomplishments. At 88, the multi-instrumentalist’s creative spark hasn’t dimmed.
“I can’t stop,” he said, calling from his tour bus. “I’m having more fun than ever. Suddenly, I have the band that I’ve always dreamt about. I have to keep on playing because it’s just too much fun.”
He and Jefferson Starship will perform with 38 Special and Foghat at the Mesa Amphitheatre on Thursday, Oct. 22.
His joy shows up in the setlist, which stretches across eras — Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, Starship and the group’s newer material. That includes the song “Jetpack.”
“It’s about astronauts who are just fed up,” he said with a laugh. “The Earth is getting so crazy that they have to get off. It’s a real rocker. It’s a great tune.”
The band’s current lineup reflects legacy and evolution: Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin (joined in 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith, guitarist Jude Gold (a 15-year member), and powerhouse vocalist Cathy Richardson, who was handpicked by Grace Slick and Paul Kantner.
“Everybody is just into performing with each other,” he said. “It’s just so beautiful.”
Together, they’ve kept Jefferson Starship touring to sold‑out audiences. The Mesa show lands just two years after the band celebrated its 50th anniversary, a milestone that underscores its place in rock history: eight gold and platinum albums, 20 hit singles, more than a billion streams, and recognition from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammys.
Jefferson Starship’s legacy stretches from the double‑platinum success of 1975’s “Red Octopus” to the revival era that followed Paul Kantner’s death — a continuation supported by both Kantner’s family and Grace Slick.
Still, for Freiberg, the heart of the band is the chemistry onstage. “Everybody is just into playing with each other,” he said. “It’s so beautiful.”
