Skip Spence

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Alexander "Skip" Spence
Spence in early 1968
Spence in early 1968
Background information
Birth name Alexander Lee Spence
Also known as Skip Spence, Skippy
Born April 18, 1946
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Origin San Francisco, California
Died April 16, 1999 (aged 52)
Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Genres
Rockpsychedelic folkpsychedelic rock
Occupation(s)
Singersongwritermusician
Instruments
Guitarvocalsdrumsbass
Years active 1965–1971; sporadically until 1999 (his death)
Labels
ColumbiaSundazed
Associated acts
Moby GrapeQuicksilver Messenger ServiceJefferson Airplane
Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence (April 18, 1946 – April 16, 1999) was a Canadian-born
American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was co-founder of Moby Grape, and
played guitar with them until 1969. He released one solo album, 1969's Oar, and
then largely withdrew from the music industry. He had started his career as a
guitarist in an early line-up of Quicksilver Messenger Service, and was the drummer
on Jefferson Airplane's debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. He has been
described on the AllMusic website as "one of psychedelia's brightest lights";[1]
however, his career was plagued by drug addictions coupled with mental health
problems, and he has been described by a biographer as a man who "neither died
young nor had a chance to find his way out."[2]

Contents
1 History
1.1 Early life: 1946–1965
1.2 Music career: 1966–1969
1.3 Decline: 1970–1999
1.4 Death
2 Legacy
3 Discography
3.1 With Jefferson Airplane
3.2 With Moby Grape
3.3 Solo
3.3.1 Studio album
3.3.2 Other release
3.3.3 Single releases
4 Tribute album
5 References
6 External links
History
Early life: 1946–1965
Alexander Lee Spence was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, in 1946. His father,
Alexander Lett "Jock" Spence (1914–1965),[3] was a machinist, a salesman, and
played Route 66 as a solo singer-songwriter and piano player. Alexander Spence had
been a decorated Canadian WW II bomber pilot, having been awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross.[3]

In the late 1950s, the family relocated from Windsor to San Jose, California, based
on Spence's father finding work in the aircraft industry. At the age of ten, he was
given his first guitar by his parents.[4]

Music career: 1966–1969

Spence was a guitarist in the band the Other Side before Marty Balin recruited him
to be the drummer for Jefferson Airplane (apparently because he looked the part).
[5] Spence drummed on their debut, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, and was dismissed
by the band after taking an unannounced vacation to Mexico. He briefly considered
joining Buffalo Springfield as a drummer before returning to the guitar to co-found
Moby Grape.[5]

During the recording session of Moby Grape's second album, Wow, in 1968, Spence
attempted to break down a bandmate's hotel room door with a fire axe, while under
the influence of LSD. Spence's deterioration in New York and the "fire axe
incident" are described by bandmate Jerry Miller as follows: "Skippy changed
radically when we were in New York. There were some people there that were into
harder drugs and a harder lifestyle, and some very weird shit. And so he kind of
flew off with those people. Skippy kind of disappeared for a little while. Next
time we saw him, he had cut off his beard, and was wearing a black leather jacket,
with his chest hanging out, with some chains and just sweating like a son of a gun.
I don't know what the hell he got a hold of, man, but it just whacked him. And the
next thing I know, he axed my door down in the Albert Hotel.[6] They said at the
reception area that this crazy guy had held an axe to the doorman's head."[7]

As described by bandmate Peter Lewis, it appears that both Jerry Miller and
bandmate Don Stevenson were targets of Spence:

"We had to do (the album) in New York because the producer (David Rubinson) wanted
to be with his family. So we had to leave our families and spend months at a time
in hotel rooms in New York City. Finally I just quit and went back to California. I
got a phone call after a couple of days. They'd played a Fillmore East gig without
me, and Skippy took off with some black witch afterward who fed him full of acid.
It was like that scene in The Doors movie. He thought he was the anti-Christ. He
tried to chop down the hotel room door with a fire axe to kill Don (Stevenson) to
save him from himself. He went up to the 52nd floor of the CBS building where they
had to wrestle him to the ground. And Rubinson pressed charges against him. They
took him to The Tombs (and then to Bellevue) and that's where he wrote Oar. When he
got out of there, he cut that album in Nashville. And that was the end of his
career. They shot him full of Thorazine for six months. They just take you out of
the game."[8]

During his six months in Bellevue, Spence was diagnosed with schizophrenia.[9] On
the day of his release, he drove a motorcycle, and as the urban myth goes (and not
true according to his wife), dressed in only his pajamas, directly to Nashville to
record his only solo album, with no other musicians appearing on it, the now-
classic psychedelic/folk album Oar (1969, Columbia Records).[10]

Decline: 1970–1999
During the early 70s Spence also founded and experimented with a three-man rock
band called Pachuca and later a larger ensemble called The Rhythm Dukes. He
continued to have minor involvement in later Moby Grape projects and reunions. He
contributed to 20 Granite Creek (1971) and Live Grape (1978),[11] though his
bandmates always included at least one of his songs on group recordings,
irrespective of whether he was capable of performing with the group at the time.
[12] He had been similarly remembered by Jefferson Airplane, whereby his song "My
Best Friend" was included on the group's Surrealistic Pillow album (1967), despite
his departure from the group.[13]

Due to his deteriorating state and notwithstanding that he was no longer

functioning in the band, Spence was supported by Moby Grape band members for
extended periods. Voluminous consumption of heroin and cocaine resulted in a
further involuntary committal for Spence. As described by Peter Lewis, "Skippy was
just hanging around. He hadn't been all there for years, because he'd been into
heroin all that time. In fact he actually OD'ed once and they had him in the morgue
in San Jose with a tag on his toe. All of a sudden he got up and asked for a glass
of water. Now he was snortin' big clumps of coke, and nothing would happen to him.
We couldn't have him around because he'd be pacing the room, describing axe
murders. So we got him a little place of his own. He had a little white rat named
Oswald that would snort coke too. He'd never washed his dishes, and he'd try to get
these little grammar school girls to go into the house with him. He was real bad.
One of the parents finally called the cops, and they took him to the County Mental
Health Hospital in Santa Cruz. Where they immediately lost him, and he turned up
days later in the women's ward."[14]

Mental illness, drug addiction and alcoholism thus prevented Spence from sustaining
a career in the music industry. Much of his life was spent in third party care, as
a ward of the State of California, and either homeless or in transient
accommodations in his later years. He remained in and around San Jose and Santa
Cruz. Peter Lewis regularly visited Spence during the latter years of his life:
"The last five years I'd go up‚ he lived in a trailer up there‚ Capitola. I used to
hang around with him; we'd spend the weekends together. But he just basically kind
of hit the...he was helpless in a way in terms of being able to define anything or
control his feelings."[15]

In 1994, he participated in a music program for the mentally ill, sponsored by the
City of San Jose.[16] Two years later, in 1996, he was commissioned to write a song
for The X-Files soundtrack, Songs in the Key of X; though not used, it was included
on the More Oar tribute record as "Land of the Sun".[17][18]

Spence's final performance with Moby Grape occurred on August 9, 1996 at

Palookaville in Santa Cruz. At this final show, Spence led the group through a
rendition of "Sailing" (a song performed during the 1971 reunion run) and an
impromptu performance of "J.P.P. McStep B. Blues", which he'd written for Jefferson
Airplane in 1966.

Death
Spence died of lung cancer two days before his 53rd birthday. He was survived by
his four children, eleven grandchildren, a half-brother (Rich Young) and his
sister, Sherry Ferreira.[18][19] More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album, an
album featuring contributions from Robert Plant, Tom Waits, and Beck, among others,
was released a few weeks after his death. Prior to its release, the CD was played
for Spence at the hospital, in his final stages before death.[20][21] Spence is
interred at Soquel Cemetery in Santa Cruz County.[22]

Legacy
Spence has been described on the Allmusic website as "one of psychedelia's
brightest lights".[1] Spence wrote "Omaha" for Moby Grape's first album which
Rolling Stone Magazine listed in 2008 as one of the 100 greatest guitar songs of
all time.[23]

In June 2008, a Skip Spence tribute concert was held in Santa Cruz. The concert
featured Spence's son Omar, who has sung with various configurations of Moby Grape
in recent years. Omar Spence, singing his father's songs, was backed by the Santa
Cruz White Album Ensemble, with Dale Ockerman and Tiran Porter, both formerly of
the Doobie Brothers, and both of whom have played with various members of Moby
Grape in several bands over the past three decades. Don Stevenson (an original Moby
Grape member) also performed.[24] Keith Graves of Quicksilver Messenger Service
played drums.[25][26]

Peter Lewis joined the group onstage for the finale.[27] An additional Skip Spence
tribute concert was held in October 2008.[28]

William Gibson paid tribute to Spence in his collection of essays, Distrust That
Particular Flavor, in which he marvelled at his tailor adjusted jeans.[29]

Discography
With Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane Takes Off (RCA, 1966)
Compilations
Early Flight (RCA, 1974)
Jefferson Airplane Loves You (RCA, 1992)
With Moby Grape
Original albums
Moby Grape (Columbia, 1967)
Wow/Grape Jam (Columbia, 1968)
Moby Grape '69 (Columbia, 1969)[30]
20 Granite Creek (Reprise, 1971)
Live Grape (Akarma, 1978)
The Place and the Time (Sundazed, 2009)
Moby Grape Live (Sundazed, 2010)
Compilations
Omaha (Harmony, 1971)[31]
Great Grape (Columbia, 1972)
Murder in My Heart (Edsel, 1986)[32]
Vintage: The Very Best of Moby Grape (Columbia/Legacy, 1993)
Crosstalk: The Best of Moby Grape (Sony International, 2004)
Listen My Friends! The Best of Moby Grape (Columbia/Legacy, 2007)
Solo
Studio album
Oar (Columbia, 1969), remastered and expanded in 1999 by Sundazed
Other release
AndOarAgain (Columbia, 1969), remastered and expanded "Oar" with three discs by
Modern Harmonic/Sundazed
Single releases
"Land of the Sun" (Sundazed, 1999)[33]
"After Gene Autry" b/w "Motorcycle Irene" (aka Previously Unissued Demo Recordings)
(Sundazed, 2009)[34]
Tribute album
More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album (Birdman, 1999)
References
Heather Phares, Review of More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album; AllMusic
Jeff Tamarkin, "Skip Spence and The Sad Saga of Moby Grape" Archived March 24,
2008, at the Wayback Machine, gotarevolution.com/index.html; accessed December 31,
2015.
Alexander Lett Spence, Distinguished Flying Cross Citation Archived August 11,
2012, at the Wayback Machine; airforce.ca; retrieved 2013-02-09; "Alexander Lett
Spence later resided in Flower Station, Ontario, a small community in the Lanark
Highlands of eastern Ontario, before moving to Windsor, Ontario. Spence received
the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery during a raid on Aulnoye, as a member of
the 434 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Spence died in San Jose,
California, on May 1, 1965, at the age of 50. His body was returned to Canada, and
interred at Clyde Forks Cemetery, in Lanark County, Ontario."
 Pierre Perrone, Obituary: Skip Spence Archived August 8, 2017, at the Wayback
Machine, independent. co.uk, April 20, 1999.
For What It's Worth: The Story of Buffalo Springfield. Einarson, John (2004). p.
146. accessed at Google Books Archived March 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine,
August 30, 2014
University Place and East 11th Street, New York City. Now an apartment building,
it was at the time a famous hotel originally owned by the brother of artist Albert
Pinkham Ryder. The hotel was named in his honour. Robert Louis Stevenson used one
of the hotel's rooms as his studio. Other famous guest was Thomas Wolfe. Patrick
Bunyan, All Around The Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities. Fordham
University Press, 1999.
"Web Page Under Construction". www.gotarevolution.com. Archived from the original
on February 1, 2017. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
Interview with Peter Lewis Archived September 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine by
Jud Cost, 1995; www.sundazed.com.
"Disabled World, "Famous People with Schizophrenia"". Disabled-world.com.
Retrieved December 7, 2011.
This commonly accepted version of events has recently been challenged as being
mythical. It is asserted, without citation, that Spence first returned to his wife
and family in Santa Cruz and that his family accompanied him to Nashville; see Moby
Grape.
Karen Schoemer, "A Fragile Mind Bent in a Psychedelic Era". Contained in Peter
Guralnick and Douglas Wolk (eds), Da Capo Best Music Writing 2000 Archived November
2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80999-0.
For example, on Truly Fine Citizen (1969), a Jerry Miller-Skip Spence song,
"Tongue-Tied", was included. On the Legendary Grape album (1989, CD issue 2003),
the album starts with a Skip Spence song, "(All My Life) I Love You", originally
recorded by Spence in 1972. Spence was no longer with Moby Grape at the time of
Moby Grape '69, yet an earlier song recorded by Spence, "Seeing", was nonetheless
included on the album.
On the 2003 CD reissue of Surrealistic Pillow. an additional Spence song,"J.P.P.
McStep B. Blues", is included as a bonus track.
Jud Cost, Interview with Peter Lewis (1995) Archived September 4, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine, sundazed.com; accessed December 31, 2015.
Doug Collette, Interview with Peter Lewis Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback
Machine, Stateofmindmusic.com, July 2007; accessed December 31, 2015.
Johnny Angel, Skip Spence dies Archived March 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine,
salon.com, April 19, 1999; accessed December 31, 2015.
Matthew Greenwald, "Skip Spence Lived a Surrealistic Life"[dead link],
RollingStone.com, April 19, 1999.
John Pareles, Skip Spence, Psychedelic Musician, Dies at 52, Nytimes.com, April
18, 1999; accessed December 31, 2015.
Skip Spence Dies of Lung Cancer. CMJ Nw Music Reporter. May 10, 1999. Retrieved
April 10, 2011.
Margaret Moser, "Back Door Man: The Man Behind More Oar, Bill Bentley" Archived
April 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. The Austin Chronicle, December 17, 1999
Interview with Peter Lewis Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine by Doug
Collette, July 2007; Stateofmindmusic.com.
"Rock and Roll Roadmap". Archived from the original on March 17, 2020. Retrieved
March 17, 2020.
"Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitar Songs Of All Time" Archived June 22, 2018, at
the Wayback Machine "Omaha" ranked at number 95.
Commemorative poster from the Rio Theater concert
Paul Davis,"Honor Thy Father" Archived June 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine,
metroactive.com, June 18, 2008; retrieved July 8, 2008. .
Isaiah Guzman, "Father figure: Son friends plan tribute show for Skip Spence",
Santa Cruz Sentinel released through Free City News, June 15, 2008; retrieved July
8, 2008.
"Concert review", gather.com; retrieved on July 8, 2008.
 "Omar Spence at Don Quixote's in Felton, California". Jambase.com. October 3,
2008. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
Gibson, William (2012). Distrust That Particular Flavor. Viking. pp. 175–177.
Includes one song with Skip Spence vocals, "Seeing", originally from "Wow"
sessions.
Release on a discount label of Columbia Records. The album is essentially Moby
Grape '69, with Spence's "Omaha", from the first Moby Grape album, added. Cover of
Moby Grape '69 is used as the cover for Omaha, with "Omaha" replacing "'69".
Compilation album of selections from Wow, Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen
Archived March 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, deaddisc.com; accessed December
31, 2015.
Featuring Spence's two post-Oar studio recordings, "Land of the Sun" (1996) and
"(All My Life) I Love You" (1972).
"Alexander "Skip" Spence* - After Gene Autry / Motorcycle Irene". Discogs.
Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
External links
Skip Spence at Find a Grave
vte
Jefferson Airplane (discography, members) · Jefferson Starship (discography,
members) · Starship (discography, members)
vte
Moby Grape
Authority control Edit this at Wikidata
Categories: 1946 births1999 deathsCanadian rock guitaristsCanadian male
guitaristsAmerican rock guitaristsAmerican male guitaristsCanadian rock
drummersCanadian male drummersAmerican rock drummersPsychedelic folk
musiciansCanadian singer-songwritersAmerican rock songwritersCanadian rock
singersAmerican rock singersAmerican male singer-songwritersCanadian emigrants to
the United StatesMusicians from Windsor, OntarioMusicians from Santa Cruz,
CaliforniaMusicians from San Jose, CaliforniaPeople with schizophreniaDeaths from
lung cancerMoby Grape membersQuicksilver Messenger Service membersJefferson
Airplane membersDeaths from cancer in CaliforniaPsychedelic rock musicians20th-
century American singers20th-century Canadian male singersOutsider musiciansPeople
from Capitola, CaliforniaGuitarists from California20th-century American
drummersAmerican male drummers20th-century American guitarists20th-century Canadian
drummers20th-century American male singersSinger-songwriters from California
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