Mickey Thomas - Starship, Hits, Credibility (7 of 9)

[pouchfreeman]

I'm confused. Mickey said Jefferson Starship lost popularity when Grace re-joined in 1982. I saw the band in 1980 without Grace and a new singer Mickey Thomas in 1980 and the arena was half-empty. About two years later, Grace re-joined on the "Modern Times" tour, and the same arena was packed. Hmmm.

[Sperry411]

In his younger days, Mickey sounds like Dennis de Young...great vocalists.

[Premiess80]

Why are people hating on Mickey? He's a great singer I have always thought.

[Mooncut]

I love Mickey, Marty and Grace. All are among the greatest rock singers of all time. Think "Fooled Around and Fell in Love", which Mickey soulfully sang for Elvin Bishop; "Volunteers" -- Airplane's 60's anthem -- sung with gusto and feeling by Marty Balin; and Grace Slick's pipes on "Somebody to Love". Marty WAS Jefferson Airplane. It was he who convinced Paul Kantner to join him in a new exploration, with Jorma and Jack added to form a great backbone. Then Grace came and wow!

[cpress75]

Mickey is great singer......kantner is the douche...always was....he thought airplane/starship should still be doing counterculture stuff and the rest of band said beat it........interesting note is grace never hated the starsip yrs as many have claimed

[hectorsalinasisback]

@carl22069 Mickey Thomas talks just like congressman Ron Paul! VIce President Mickey Thomas and President Ron Paul for 2012 will stop the U.S. from spending billions in wars that only benefit the middle east.

[javiramir7]

To me, Mickey Thomas brought the magic to the 1980's sound. Along with Steve perry and Jimi Jamison of Survivor, he is one of the top ten male vocalists in the world in my opinion....long live the Tenors!

[SDMFAnthony01]

I will always love and respect Mickey---he's an amazin talent...but not even Mickey's golden voice could save STARSHIP from sucking SO BAD in the 80's!!!! SARA was the only saving grace to that horrible band...and I still do enjoy hearing that song...but the rest of it was corporate trash...HEART fell into the same trap in the 80's.....

[steveelmo]

Yeah Mickey is cool! Im more of a 70's fan but killer voice fer sure! Jane rules! Wish i had his pipes. Seems like a cool guy!

[MrPman851]

My FAV Starship album also happens to be Mickey's FAV Starship album too; 1989's "Love Among The Cannibals". Some of the songs had a Def Leppard sound to them.

[TheBeautifulbooboo]

I love Mickey. I always have and I always will. He's a great singer and a really sweet guy.

[ioriorioriorio]

Interesting character and singer....I must admit, I would have like to see starchip continur the psychedelia and folk rock I loved...but I respect them tryin to keep "ou- courant"....they really got a late 70's period sound, and then a few years later really copped the new wave perfect!!....nuclear furniture every bit as good as talkin heads or devo or blondie!!

[TranzPink007]

We Built This City by Starship

This is obviously a PERFECT POP record, hence why it went to NUMBER ONE! The people who voted this the worst record must be into rap music. STARSHIP made some really enjoyable pop records. "Sara" was an incredible recording. In my book this song is an enjoyable listen and puts me in a good mood!

[jimjr155]

@TranzPink007 i think the "problem" is that the band had largely stopped writing their own material and added a pop sheen...so while it sounded clean and crisp, it wasn't the same band...the credibility, in some people's eyes, includes songwriting...in saying that, though, if the lyrics aren't cutting it and you want to stay on the label and make sales, you have to play the "80s" game (or insert whatever decade of top 40 you want)...

[brucefieldsmusicman]

this is one of my favorite singers, he has a steve perry voice , he could do supertramp rodger hudson and he will always be one of the best siongers ive ever heard

[jpdog]

mickey rocks, he's a doll, his voice is still amazing and he should re-release his solo album, and put out 'the street only knew your name'!

you go, bro!

[3impersonators]

Ah, now I FINALLY understand that song.

So, why is he wearing those sunglasses? Is that where the most damage was done to his face?

[santis1234567]

para o fã o ídolo nunca morre, nunca envelhece..... fica sempre um gostinho de quero mais, fica sempre aquele pique nos palcos, a beleza da juventude.......

[sportsfan283]

I cant belive all the shit I am hearing, fuck all you guys if you say anything bad about Mickey, you must all need glasses and hearing aids, because the man is fine as hell and he has a voice that fuckin rocks. You all are just mad cause hes so sexy and you are not !!

[9elephant]

There is no doubt he had a great voice. In fact him and grace as a duo had better voices (higher range) than lennon & Mc Cartney - not better songwriters!!!

[tifjoking]

Damn straight! And, he looks like he hasn't aged 1 day since the 80s! I can't believe all this negative shit everyone is saying about him either!

[64slugirl]

@sportsfan283  Pls. get your popcorn, sit down and watch the game...............and clean up your mouth. Thanks.

[sprintbass]

why not just sh*t?

i dont know why grace slick go on with this guy..i was always freacked out by his molester mustache..in a way the band was at its end ...they had thier fame...aqnd they have runited since as the original line up...the late 70s and 80s it really became this enterprising buisness..the only song from his time with them i liked was no way out..and THAT was pretty corny..but i was 12..and it was 1984

D

[jugglerone]

MT is great and still has a great voice

[ironbuttermilk]

I always Hated this fuckin' guy. I hated every song he sang in Starship. I always thought the band Sucked during his tenure. I laughed that they'd soon drop Star from the name like they'd done Jefferson and just be called Ship.

I did like the Elivin hit though, and dang it, I Like these interviews and I like this Guy. I would feel just fine hanging out with him.

Who'd a thunk it?

[tifjoking]

ironbuttermilk,

I don't understand where you're coming from at all!

[ironbuttermilk]

oh well, takes all kinds I s'pose. have a good one.

[sunfighter86]

Mickey Thomas ruined Jefferson Starship. I went to see them in 1983 because of Grace Slick and Paul Kantner NOT because of Mickey Thomas so I doubt that Grace coming back into the band was the reason sales dipped.

[MeAndMyRC]

In all respect to MT, I think 'We Built This City' was voted worst song..though at the time I liked it, though i was 16 at the time

[scot623]

The funny thing is, MT still thinks

he's in JEFFERSON STARSHIP. The band

still includes Kantner, David Freiberg

and Donny Baldwin from MT's tenure...

but he went rogue years ago and claims

to tour as his own "Starship". So much

for respecting the legacy!

[shakey64]

great interviews w/Mickey. Seems like a cool guy. He is right...they got the hits,they lost the credibility. I was in high school when the single JANE came out..and they was a great ROCKIN song. Freedom at Point Zero had some smokin tracks like FIND YOUR WAY BACK. Few years later,Im stationed in Korea and all your hear in the clubs in we built this city and sara. I thought what happened???