Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen was about to take the stage for a soundcheck in Northampton, Massachusetts on Friday, when he learned Marty Balin died. Balin recruited Kaukonen to help form Jefferson Airplane in 1965 and the pair were part of the classic lineup of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame band through the early ’70s. Jorma took to his blog to share memories of his old friend.
Kaukonen started his post entitled “Now We Are Three” with lyrics from Canadian singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor’s “Thin Thread.” Jorma went on to explain what an imperfect process grieving can be. He then discussed his relationship with Balin. “Marty and I were young together in a time that defined our lives. Had it not been for him, my life would have taken an alternate path I cannot imagine,” Jorma wrote. “He and Paul Kantner came together and like plutonium halves in a reactor started a chain reaction that still affects many of us today. It was a moment of powerful synchronicity. I was part of it to be sure, but I was not a prime mover. Marty always reached for the stars and he took us along with him.”
The current Hot Tuna frontman wrote about his appreciation for Balin including that, “He was always relentless in the pursuit of his goals.” Kaukonen discussed his relationship with Marty, was happy they kept in touch and had the chance to perform together a few times in recent years. The post concludes with Jorma’s thoughts on death, the circle of life and an explanation of the remembrance’s title. “So many of our brothers and sister from that time are gone. Skip Spence, Spencer Dryden, Joey Covington, Paul Kantner, Signe Anderson and now Marty have all joined the Heavenly Band as Rev. Davis would say,” Kaukonen wrote. “As for Grace Slick, Jack Casady and myself…Now we are three…” Head here to read the entire post.
