Search - Jefferson Starship: The Definitive Concert on DVD

The wrong moment in this band's history

Jefferson T. Packer | Taos, NM | 10/11/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Every great band has a "moment;" a time when they are at their most brilliant, most socially relevant, most musically profound. For the name-changing, member-changing band that was once known as Jefferson Airplane, this DVD is not only NOT that moment; it's not even close.Message to Grace: Have somebody collect film and tape from a much, much better time in your band's history. Somewhere around the release of "Volunteers" would be a good place to start. Have them work backwards from there, to the beginning. Then, have a talented director make a documentary out of it, with a small emphasis on interviews and history, and a big, big, big emphasis on the MUSIC. (That means LOTS of concert and studio footage...) Put it on DVD, promote it a little, and sit back and watch it sell, sell, sell. I'll buy one for me, and one for everybody I care about; because you did something really special, really important, really profound and quite beautiful during that time, something you should be proud of. Ditch this 80's BS, and give us something real. Please."

How could this happen.....

Fred Chiaro and Sheryl Chiaro | Gouldsboro, Pa United States | 08/03/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Jefferson Starship at the time(1983)had released 3 outstanding albums, Freedom at Point Zero, Modern Times, Wind of Change. If anyone had the opportunity to see the band with drummer Ansley Dunbar, You know how disappointing this video is. Unfortunately, when listening to songs like "Stranger" you could hear the bands new drummer(???)the mistakes and missed drum fills. It's a shame that the band never released any Video performance of the band with Dunbar. It's a good mix of song selection. Too bad they didnt fine tune the playing.(Why didnt they play "Save Your Love" "Lightening Rose" "RockMusic")"

Music OK; DVD bad

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 09/12/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"What were they thinking? The music on this DVD is OK, in the three to four star range, but is has a juvenile begining and breaks between the songs. It comes from a 1983 concert when Grace Slick and Micky Thomas were the lead singers. This was the Jefferson Airplane/Starship "Corporate Rock" period when they were at their most popular. It wasn't one of the best periods in Rock and Roll. This bland arena rock was competing with Disco, creating an artistic void that was filled by Punk. Grace Slick is dressed up as a cross between Joan Jett and Pat Benatar. Paul Kantner looks pretty ridiculous, too. Compared to the Jefferson Airplane, and the early Starship, it is easy to take potshots at this eighties version. But, Slick and Kantner are excellent song writers and they recruited two excellent songwriters/musicians in Pete Sears and Craig Chaquico. They still were one of the better Corporate Rock bands of the period.This DVD is about 60 minutes long and consists of 14 songs, mostly the Starship hits of the eighties. There are also nice renditions of White Rabbit and Somebody To Love. The songs are played with alot of energy and there are some nice, but short solos for Sears and Chaquico. But, since the DVD is only an hour, only the hits are included, and the group never really opens up. During this period, Sears used to perform an amazing base solo that is sadly missing here. A full concert DVD would have been much better.The real problem with this DVD is the opening and breaks that come every 3 songs. There is this cheesy sci-fi set with this moron introducing the songs. It looks alot like Mystery Science Theatre 3000, only not funny and totally inappropriate. It is bad enough to have it at the beginning, but with it inbetween songs, it really breaks up the flow of the music."

Definitive of what?

Edmond G. Moxham | Park Ridge, NJ USA | 03/04/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"A bad idea?
I agree with Kireviewer, if you care about the music, it's hard to get past the dumb opening, a host who even Will Rodgers couldn't like, a set apparently built in a high school shop class, and the many annoying interruptions. They took a too short concert, and turned it into a bad, too long music video. I guess the mindless filler was necessary to get the length up to the claimed 1 hour. The music is OK, but it was neither the band's best period, nor their best work."