Music Metrics Vault

Starship

Data updated on 2024-10-11 13:04:03 UTC
Starship was a band created by the settlement of a lawsuit. Notwithstanding this curious beginning, the group went on to a series of hits in the mid-'80s, including the chart-toppers "We Built This City," "Sara," and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" in a polished, mainstream pop/rock style before splitting up in the early '90s.

Starship was the remaining sextet of musicians that, with Paul Kantner, had made up Jefferson Starship until the rhythm guitarist/singer's exit from that band in June 1984. Kantner, a founding member of Jefferson Airplane, the precursor to Jefferson Starship, had also helped found Jefferson Starship in 1974. Ten years later, Kantner decried the band's tilt toward commercial rock and decided that it was time for the group to dissolve. His bandmates disagreed, and Kantner sued over money and the ownership of the band's name in October 1984. The suit was settled in March 1985, resulting in a cash payment to Kantner and the agreement that the name "Jefferson Starship" would be retired, while the band would change its name to simply Starship (with that name owned by singer Grace Slick and manager Bill Thompson).

Thus, at its inception under its new moniker, Starship consisted of Slick (born Grace Barnett Wing in or near Chicago, IL, October 30, 1939), co-lead singer Mickey Thomas (born in Cairo, GA, December 3, 1949), guitarist Craig Chaquico (born September 25, 1954), keyboardist David Freiberg (born in Boston, MA, August 24, 1938), bassist Pete Sears (born May 27, 1948), and drummer Donny Baldwin. Freiberg, however, then dropped out. The newly christened band, freed from Kantner's ties to their old sound, quickly entered the studio. The first product of their efforts was "We Built This City," written by Dennis Lambert, Martin Page, Bernie Taupin (Elton John's lyricist), and Peter Wolf (not the former singer of the J. Geils Band), who co-produced the track and played keyboards on it. The song did two things that no Jefferson Airplane or Jefferson Starship single ever had: it hit number one in November 1985 and it went gold, proving a strong calling card for the first Starship album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, which reached the Top Ten and went platinum, a better showing than any Jefferson Starship album since 1978. Starship followed with a second number one single, "Sara," written by Wolf with his wife Ina and also featured on the album. A third single, "Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight," made the Top 40.

The record sales established Starship as a separate entity with a new audience. The group was reduced to a quartet with the departure of Pete Sears prior to their next recording, a song from the movie Mannequin. Released as a single in January 1987, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now," written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond, became Starship's third number one hit in April and eventually was certified as their second gold 45. The second album, No Protection, released in July 1987, was prefaced by the single "It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)," which reached the Top Ten as the album peaked at number 12 and went gold.

At the start of 1988, Grace Slick left Starship, reducing the band to the trio of Thomas, Chaquico, and Baldwin. They added two new members, keyboard player Mark Morgan and bassist Brett Bloomfield, and in the summer of 1989 released their third album, Love Among the Cannibals, which boasted the Top 20 hit "It's Not Enough" but sold disappointingly. The band was set to tour from mid-August to the end of September, but on September 24, Thomas was involved in a fight that left him severely beaten, suffering serious facial injuries that required surgery. Although no charges were filed, it eventually emerged that he had been beaten by Baldwin, who immediately left the band. While Thomas recovered, Chaquico also departed in 1990. In the spring of 1991, the band's label, RCA, released Greatest Hits (Ten Years and Change 1979-1991), which featured one new track, "Good Heart," written by Martin Page and performed by Thomas, Page, Wolf, and guitarist Peter Maunu. Released as a single, it reached number 81. With that, Bill Thompson declared Starship to be inactive.

In 1992, Thomas organized a band that began playing dates billed as "Mickey Thomas' Starship" or "Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas." Although Thomas did not own the right to use the name "Starship," Thompson and Grace Slick, the co-owners of the name, took no action to stop him, and he continued to perform using the name. In 2003, the Brilliant label issued an album credited simply to Starship called Greatest Hits on which a Thomas-led band re-recorded Starship's biggest hits and some songs from Thomas' tenure in Jefferson Starship as well as "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," the hit Thomas sang with the Elvin Bishop Group in 1976. Ten years later, Thomas was back with another Starship album, 2013's Loveless Fascination, recorded and produced by Foreigner's Jeff Pilson. ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi

Total plays

1.5 billion
Updated on 2024-10-11

Monthly listeners

8,811,299

Followers

1,123,709

Top Cities

  1. Mexico
    128,380 listeners
  2. Chile
    187,896 listeners
  3. Australia
    141,950 listeners
  4. Australia
    122,321 listeners
  5. Philippines
    109,821 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
641,965,850 4:30 1987-07-27
We Built This City
We Built This City
580,017,979 4:56 1985-09-10
Sara
Sara
52,864,813 4:53 1985-09-10
Sara
Sara
16,033,163 4:46 2002-01-01
Don't Stop Believin'
Don't Stop Believin'
14,357,010 4:18 2007-09-18
Don't Stop Believin’
Don't Stop Believin’
14,357,010 4:18 2007-04-01
Don't Stop Believing
Don't Stop Believing
14,357,010 4:18 2008-01-01
Don’t Stop Believin’
Don’t Stop Believin’
14,357,010 4:20 2007-04-01
Don’t Stop Believin’ (From "Two of a Kind") [Re-Recorded]
Don’t Stop Believin’ (From "Two of a Kind") [Re-Recorded]
14,357,010 4:15 2012-03-01
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:23 2007-09-18
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:27 2007-05-01
Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now
Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:21 2010-06-22
Nothings Going To Stop Us Now
Nothings Going To Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:21 2002-01-01
Nothings Going to Stop Us Now
Nothings Going to Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:26 2007-09-15
Nothing's Gonna to Stop Us Now
Nothing's Gonna to Stop Us Now
12,697,090 4:21 2013-01-01
Find Your Way Back
Find Your Way Back
9,797,512 4:15 2023-12-16
We Built This City (Re-Recorded) [Remastered]
We Built This City (Re-Recorded) [Remastered]
6,966,302 6:04 2012-01-17
We Built This City
We Built This City
6,966,302 6:02 2002-01-01
Carry On My Wayward Son
Carry On My Wayward Son
6,476,232 5:29 2010-07-01
It's Not Enough
It's Not Enough
5,234,135 4:50 1989-08-15
No Way Out
No Way Out
3,776,165 4:23 2023-12-09
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - International Extended Drum Version
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - International Extended Drum Version
3,120,888 8:57 2011-01-01
Set the Night to Music
Set the Night to Music
2,393,404 4:47 1987-07-27
It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)
It's Not Over ('Til It's Over)
2,068,210 4:17 1987-07-27
Jane
Jane
2,009,174 4:09 2019-11-29
Wild Again
Wild Again
1,961,535 5:01 2002-01-01
Good Heart
Good Heart
1,931,146 4:23 1991-05-14
The Burn
The Burn
1,342,033 4:26 1989-08-15
Jane
Jane
1,180,140 4:21 2002-01-01
Don't Lose Any Sleep
Don't Lose Any Sleep
1,128,425 4:21 1991-05-14
Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight
Tomorrow Doesn't Matter Tonight
1,100,535 3:42 1985-09-10
Desperate Heart
Desperate Heart
944,409 4:05 1985-09-10
I Didn't Mean to Stay All Night
I Didn't Mean to Stay All Night
845,992 4:50 1989-08-15
Before I Go
Before I Go
844,753 5:15 1985-09-10
Beat Patrol
Beat Patrol
840,719 4:26 1987-07-27
Layin' It on the Line
Layin' It on the Line
776,969 4:08 2023-10-28
Girls Like You
Girls Like You
764,281 4:16 1987-07-27
Hearts Of the World (Will Understand)
Hearts Of the World (Will Understand)
724,589 4:24 1985-09-10
Send a Message
Send a Message
626,337 4:50 1989-08-15
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Radio Edit
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Radio Edit
616,392 3:36 2010-12-03
The Children
The Children
615,439 5:40 1987-07-27
We Built This City
We Built This City
607,959 6:44 2009-12-01
Say When
Say When
561,781 4:24 1987-07-27
Find Your Way Back
Find Your Way Back
530,012 4:34 2002-01-01
Rock Myself to Sleep
Rock Myself to Sleep
507,452 3:27 1985-09-10
Trouble in Mind
Trouble in Mind
502,168 4:35 1989-08-15
We Built This City
We Built This City
499,380 4:52 2007-05-01
Private Room
Private Room
455,890 4:51 1985-09-10
Wings of a Lie
Wings of a Lie
450,132 4:58 1987-07-27
I Don't Know Why
I Don't Know Why
412,762 4:08 1987-07-27
Transatlantic
Transatlantic
397,503 4:18 1987-07-27
I'll Be There
I'll Be There
378,315 5:33 1989-08-15
Babylon
Babylon
305,465 4:37 1987-07-27
Fooled Around And Fell In Love
Fooled Around And Fell In Love
284,572 5:38 2002-01-01
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
284,572 5:38 2010-06-22
Fooled Around and Fell In Love
Fooled Around and Fell In Love
284,572 5:39 2007-09-15
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Re-Record
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Re-Record
282,097 4:27 2021-10-29
We Built This City (Melodyparc Radio Mix)
We Built This City (Melodyparc Radio Mix)
278,848 3:27 2008-02-08
Love Rusts
Love Rusts
271,782 4:58 1985-09-10
Sarah
Sarah
268,683 4:46 2011-02-01
No Way Out
No Way Out
258,494 4:31 2002-01-01
Laying It On The Line
Laying It On The Line
255,872 4:29 2002-01-01
Laying It On the Line
Laying It On the Line
255,872 4:30 2007-09-15
Laying It OnThe Line
Laying It OnThe Line
255,872 4:29 2011-02-01
Laying It on the Line
Laying It on the Line
255,872 4:29 2017-01-28
We Dream in Color
We Dream in Color
246,041 6:27 1989-08-15
Healing Waters
Healing Waters
212,475 4:58 1989-08-15
Winds of Change
Winds of Change
185,449 5:02 2007-09-15
Winds Of Change
Winds Of Change
185,449 5:01 2002-01-01
Blaze of Love
Blaze of Love
184,110 4:34 1989-08-15
We Built This City (Topmodelz Radio Mix)
We Built This City (Topmodelz Radio Mix)
174,660 3:42 2008-02-08
Fooled Around And Fell In Love
Fooled Around And Fell In Love
165,928 4:38 2007-05-01
It's Not Enough
It's Not Enough
160,472 5:13 2002-01-01
It's Not Over
It's Not Over
158,719 4:43 2002-01-01
Starship Trooper
Starship Trooper
149,660 8:34 2010-07-01
Rock Music
Rock Music
124,643 3:12 2002-01-01
Love Among the Cannibals
Love Among the Cannibals
110,345 3:44 1989-08-15
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us - MS Project vs. Starship
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us - MS Project vs. Starship
109,122 3:17 2011-03-25
Stranger
Stranger
99,734 5:32 2002-01-01
It's Not Over Till It's Over
It's Not Over Till It's Over
96,679 5:26 2010-01-01
Its Not Over Till Its Over
Its Not Over Till Its Over
96,679 5:26 2009-12-01
Find Your Way Back - Re-Record
Find Your Way Back - Re-Record
95,553 4:35 2021-10-29
Rock Music
Rock Music
92,057 3:14 2021-10-29
We Built This City (Topmodelz Remix)
We Built This City (Topmodelz Remix)
91,063 5:34 2008-02-08
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
85,312 4:39 2021-10-29
Walk With Me
Walk With Me
79,825 7:28 2009-12-01
Healing Waters
Healing Waters
78,687 4:56 2009-12-01
Find Your Way Home
Find Your Way Home
76,145 5:13 2009-12-01
It’s Not Enough
It’s Not Enough
75,813 5:01 2007-05-01
No Way Out - Re-Record
No Way Out - Re-Record
73,593 4:33 2021-10-29
It's Not over ('Til It's Over) - Rock Mix
It's Not over ('Til It's Over) - Rock Mix
70,327 4:19 2014-03-07
Laying It on the Line - Re-Record
Laying It on the Line - Re-Record
64,624 4:31 2021-10-29
Jane - Re-Record
Jane - Re-Record
63,930 4:23 2021-10-29
Layin It On The Line
Layin It On The Line
60,050 4:44 2009-12-01
Stranger
Stranger
59,824 5:01 2007-05-01
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now - Live
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now - Live
58,209 5:54 2020-08-03
Winds of Change
Winds of Change
57,073 4:59 2021-10-29
Sara - Re-Record
Sara - Re-Record
53,609 4:48 2021-10-29
Wild Again
Wild Again
47,695 5:00 2021-10-29
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Internationale Version, Extended Version
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Internationale Version, Extended Version
44,926 4:29 2010-12-03
Carry on, My Wayward Son
Carry on, My Wayward Son
44,237 5:29 2021-10-29
Top Down (feat. Mazerati Ricky & Star Ship)
Top Down (feat. Mazerati Ricky & Star Ship)
39,977 2:58 2021-01-22
Stranger
Stranger
32,530 4:60 2021-10-29
We Built This City (Melodyparc Extended Mix)
We Built This City (Melodyparc Extended Mix)
28,074 5:48 2008-02-08
We Built This City (Melodyparc Extended Mix)(カバー) [feat. Starship]
We Built This City (Melodyparc Extended Mix)(カバー) [feat. Starship]
28,074 5:48 2008-04-16
We Built This City (feat. Starship) - Topmodelz Radio Mix
We Built This City (feat. Starship) - Topmodelz Radio Mix
27,648 3:51 2009-08-15
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Long Version
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Long Version
26,720 6:37 2010-12-03
Find Your Way Back
Find Your Way Back
26,462 5:45 2016-07-01
We Built This City (Naksi vs Brunner Radio Mix)
We Built This City (Naksi vs Brunner Radio Mix)
24,177 3:51 2008-02-08
It's Not Enough - Re-Record
It's Not Enough - Re-Record
20,227 5:02 2021-10-29
It's Not over ('til It's over) - Re-Record
It's Not over ('til It's over) - Re-Record
18,761 4:45 2021-10-29
We Built This City (Naksi vs Brunner Extended Mix)
We Built This City (Naksi vs Brunner Extended Mix)
17,588 5:43 2008-02-08
We Built This City
We Built This City
5,853 3:07 2008-10-17
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us - Xpressive Remix
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us - Xpressive Remix
3,798 5:31 2014-02-19
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Acoustic Cover
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Acoustic Cover
3,159 3:24 2019-01-24
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Live
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Live
2,185 5:30 2021-08-01
Jane (Live)
Jane (Live)
1,629 4:35 2019-03-22
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Extended Version
The Greatest Stories Are Never Told - Deutsche Version, Extended Version
1,128 4:15 2010-12-03
Somebody to Love (Live)
Somebody to Love (Live)
< 1000 3:46 2019-04-19

New releases

Greatest Hits Relaunched
Greatest Hits Relaunched
2021-10-29
[Purple Pyramid Records]
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (Live)
Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (Live)
2020-08-03
[Concert Archive]
The Complete Albums 1985-1989
The Complete Albums 1985-1989
2020-04-03
[Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group]
Starship Enterprise: The Best Of Jefferson Starship And Starship
Starship Enterprise: The Best Of Jefferson Starship And Starship
2019-02-01
[Rhino]
Highlights of Starship
Highlights of Starship
2017-01-28
[Weishaupt Music & Entertainment]
Wild Again (Billboard Hot 100 - No 73)
Wild Again (Billboard Hot 100 - No 73)
2016-01-01
[Music Manager]
It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) [Billboard Hot 100 - No 9]
It's Not Over ('Til It's Over) [Billboard Hot 100 - No 9]
2016-01-01
[Music Manager]
It's Not Enough (Billboard Hot 100 - No 12)
It's Not Enough (Billboard Hot 100 - No 12)
2016-01-01
[Music Manager]
The Very Best of Starship
The Very Best of Starship
2014-03-13
[Music Company Europe]
We Built This City (From the 'Sing It Kitty' Three TV Advert) - Single
We Built This City (From the 'Sing It Kitty' Three TV Advert) - Single
2014-03-07
[Chapel Music]
Back in the Studio
Back in the Studio
2013-12-22
[RMP Global Ltd]
Starship Greatest Hits
Starship Greatest Hits
2013-01-01
[Unequal Halves]
Starship
Starship
2013-01-01
[Unequal Halves]
Sara
Sara
2012-03-28
[Dance Plant Records Inc]
Greatest Hits Incl. We Build This City & Sara
Greatest Hits Incl. We Build This City & Sara
2012-03-02
[JUR]
Timeless Rock: Starship
Timeless Rock: Starship
2011-02-01
[TMC Limited]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
2010-07-01
[Deadline Music]
Best of Starship
Best of Starship
2010-06-22
[Platinum Collection]
Sara (Billboard Hot 100 - No 1)
Sara (Billboard Hot 100 - No 1)
2010-01-01
[Music Manager]
We Built This City (UK Chart Top 40 - No. 12)
We Built This City (UK Chart Top 40 - No. 12)
2010-01-01
[Music Manager]
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (UK Chart Top 40 - No. 1)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (UK Chart Top 40 - No. 1)
2010-01-01
[Music Manager]
Live At Stanley Cup
Live At Stanley Cup
2009-12-01
[Rock Forever]
We Built This City
We Built This City
2008-02-08
[Andorfine Records]
Starship: The Greatest Rock Hits
Starship: The Greatest Rock Hits
2007-09-15
[San Juan Music Group Ltd. - X5 Music Group]
Greatest Hits Of The '80s
Greatest Hits Of The '80s
2007-05-01
[Purple Pyramid]
Choice Rock Cuts
Choice Rock Cuts
2005-08-19
[San Juan Music Group]
Starship
Starship
2002-01-01
[San Juan Music]
Greatest Hits (Ten Years And Change 1979-1991)
Greatest Hits (Ten Years And Change 1979-1991)
1991-05-14
[Rhino]
Love Among The Cannibals
Love Among The Cannibals
1989-08-15
[Rhino]
No Protection
No Protection
1987-07-27
[Rhino]
Knee Deep In The Hoopla
Knee Deep In The Hoopla
1985-09-10
[Rhino]