Remembering When a Rebranded Band of Rock Veterans Delivered the First No. 1 Hits of a Two-Decade Career in 1985
In 1985, the veteran band formerly known as Jefferson Starship rebranded as Starship and shifted towards polished, commercially minded pop. The new direction brought them their first US No. 1 singles, showing how a group with roots in 1960s psychedelic rock could find major success two decades later.
Paul Kantner left after objecting to the band’s musical direction and, as owner of the Jefferson Airplane name, opposed its continued use; the group eventually continued as Starship. On *Knee Deep in the Hoopla*, Mickey Thomas took the lead, Peter Wolf co-produced, and outside songwriters and synthesised backing tracks helped shape the sound. “We Built This City” and “Sara” both reached No. 1 in 1985, while “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” topped the charts in 1987.
In short
- Jefferson Starship became Starship after Paul Kantner left.
- A polished pop sound delivered two No. 1 singles in 1985.
- Starship scored another chart-topper in 1987.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The move to Starship can be seen as a reasonable adaptation: a band facing changing tastes refreshed its sound, collaborated with songwriters and producers, and reached a much wider audience. The success of its singles showed that musicians with roots in psychedelic rock could build a new chapter without being confined to their earlier style.
The case against
The change can be seen as a break with the band’s artistic identity and shared history, particularly given Paul Kantner’s objection to the new direction and dispute over the name. A polished sound shaped by outside writers and synthesised backing may have brought chart success while giving less weight to the group’s own songwriting and experimental roots.