Skip Spence Book Details Life of Moby Grape & Jefferson Airplane Member
by Best Classic Bands Staff
A new biography, Weighted Down—The Complicated Life of Skip Spence, written by Cam Cobb, has been published by Omnibus Press. Spence first came to the attention of rock fans as an early drummer of Jefferson Airplane, and played on the San Francisco band’s 1966 debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. He then co-founded Moby Grape, switching to guitar, his first instrument. Spence, whose personal issues eventually resulted in his withdrawing from the music industry, also left behind one critically acclaimed solo album, Oar. The book arrived in April 2024 and is available to order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
From the publisher’s announcement: “Skip Spence was a rock star, an innovator, an addict, a cult phenomenon and a ward of the state. The characters in his story include Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, B.B. King, Neil Young and many more. Weighted Down, which includes an introduction by Robin Spence, is a first-hand narrative of Skip Spence told by his friends, bandmates and family. The book includes an introduction by Robin Spence and a collection of previously unseen family photographs.”
Author Cobb says, according to a press release, “Skip Spence lived a rock ’n’ roll Odyssey, complete with sirens, monsters, giants and a journey that circuited all the way from Windsor Canada to California.”
Moby Grape’s debut album. Skip Spence is at upper right.
Cobb continues: “Moby Grape could’ve been the American Rolling Stones. Maybe in a parallel universe they are. But no matter where he is, Skip Spence is the Grape’s lightning bolt, propelling everyone into a rock stratosphere. After serving in the Navy he played the South Bay folk circuit. A few years later he was a rock star, and a tragic turn of events landed him in Bellevue Hospital in June 1968. His life is filled with myths and when we separate the myths from the truths, we’re left with a story that’s almost unbelievable.”
Don Stevenson (Moby Grape) says, “Cam Cobb is a storytelling rock historian. You have to read Weighted Down…this story really needs to be made into a movie!”
Related: Moby Grape’s brief existence was weighted down itself
Born in Ontario, Canada on April 18, 1946, Alexander “Skip” Spence and his family moved to San Jose in California in the 1950s, and it was here the 10-year-old Spence was given his first guitar. After being in the Other Side, and a stint in Quicksilver Messenger Service, Spence joined Jefferson Airplane where he drummed on their debut album Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, released in August 1966. In September of that year he co-founded Moby Grape with [manager] Matthew Katz, and remained the band’s guitarist until 1969. Upon leaving he released his solo album Oar the same year, and after stints in various short lived bands he chose to leave his music life behind in the early ’70s when his mental illness and addiction problems became too great.
Watch Moby Grape perform at the Monterey Pop Festival
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationSkippy was a brilliant but troubled musician after his drug use.
Will await the bio with bated breath. A wonderful group, legendary for their (a) talent, and (b) terrible management, not to mention (c) really bad luck. Saw them at The Fillmore East, and it was strange and beautiful…s