Paul Kantner, founder of Jefferson Airplane and its offshoot, Jefferson Starship, died earlier today at age 74. SF Gate reports that Kantner’s death was confirmed by his publicist, Cynthia Bowman, who told the publication that the musical legend died from “multiple organ failure and septic shock.”
Kantner first cemented his legacy nearly sixty years ago, with Jefferson Airplane classics such as 1967 songs “White Rabbit” (an oft-covered indie favorite today, all these years later) “Somebody to Love.”
When Airplane disbanded in 1974, Kantner took the reigns and flipped things into Jefferson Starship, which he eventually left in 1985.
Kantner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 for his work in Jefferson Airplane. Per SF Gate, the musician is survived by three children; sons Gareth and Alexander, and daughter China.
