Alexander "Skip" Spence

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Windsor, Ontario, Canada (April 18, 1946 – April 16, 1999)

Alexander Lee “Skip” Spence (April 18, 1946 – April 16, 1999) was a musician and singer-songwriter best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape and as a solo artist. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and his family relocated to San Jose, California in the late 1950s. His career was plagued by drug addictions coupled with mental health problems, and is described by a biographer as man who “neither died young nor had a chance to find his way out.” During his tenure in the public eye, he had a profound impact on the outsider music and psych-folk genres.

1966-1969: Moby Grape and Oar
Spence was a guitarist in an early line-up of Quicksilver Messenger Service before Marty Balin recruited him to be the drummer for Jefferson Airplane. After one album with Jefferson Airplane, their debut Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, he left to co-found Moby Grape, once again as a guitarist. It was with Moby Grape that Spence found his greatest musical fame, writing among other songs, “

Omaha”, from Moby Grape’s first album (1967)—a song identified in 2008 by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time.

Spence is acknowledged as having been instrumental in the formation of The Doobie Brothers, by way of introducing John Hartman to Tom Johnston, and encouraging their musical development.

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.

Tagged as:

psychedelic, singer-songwriter, folk, 60s, rock
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Oar
Alexander "Skip" Spence
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SelenaSweety wrote:
42 minutes ago

just got this Artist's ringtones at www.itsflycell.com. Little Hands is my favorite, love it!

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lone_starr wrote:
12 days ago

trippin' balls

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dystopianrhythm wrote:
19 days ago

it's the best thing for you darling, it's the best for us all...

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DeSotoDeSun wrote:
19 days ago

dude's a trip

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IanCad wrote:
20 days ago

whenever i come back to him im suprised how good he is

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marbley wrote:
20 days ago

crazier than a box of froggggs

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Scentlesss wrote:
22 days ago

hes wonderful !

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Skimma wrote:
last month

jesus fuckin christ is he good or what?

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Jokapaikanapina wrote:
last month

Dunno why youre all talkin bout the Beatles but they sure are the best

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thelukemaxwell wrote:
last month

@hornygirl3- you obviously use the internet as a main way in which to communicate, on account of you being deaf

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hornygirl3 wrote:
last month

@thelukemaxwell- the Beatles didn't make that great of music.

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thelukemaxwell wrote:
last month

@Alphavillain- your views on The Beatles are absurd

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sdenholm wrote:
last month

http://www.beck.com/ Record Club updates every Thursday!

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sunshinefactory wrote:
October 2009

I always get my groove on if I go to your play lists! How are you Miss C.Hiltone? Sincerely, Mr. T.

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zues wrote:
October 2009

hey come join this groovy new group http://www.last.fm/group/Saccharine+Underground

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antoniozgz wrote:
August 2009

oh!

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HerrHerr wrote:
July 2009

Beck and Wilco covered Oar together: http://pitchfork.com/news/35990-beck-and-wilco-cover-skip-spence/ I hope it will be released!

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TheDiceMan wrote:
July 2009

Maybe because their music really isn't that similar? Just because they had health problems shouldn't make them similar artists!!! Skip Spence far more acoustic driven, americana, folk type and Syd Barret more avant-garde, spacey and progressive.

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rottmadgers wrote:
July 2009

Good question.

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Jon_Biedron wrote:
May 2009

how is syd barret not the top similar artist?

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