Jefferson Starship's David Freiberg: 'I'm With This Band Until I Drop' Ahead of Atlantic City Concert

Legendary rocker shares the story behind “Jane,” recalls the Summer of Love and discusses new music as Jefferson Starship prepares to headline a four-band concert at Hard Rock.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — After more than six decades in rock music, David Freiberg has no intention of slowing down.

The founding member of Jefferson Starship, who helped shape the San Francisco music scene of the 1960s before becoming part of one of rock's most enduring bands, says performing remains one of the greatest joys of his life.

And at 88 years old, retirement isn't something he's seriously considering.

“I'm with this band until I drop. I'm telling you,” Freiberg said during a November 4 interview with Scott Cronick on Off The Press on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.

Freiberg and Jefferson Starship will return to Atlantic City on Friday, November 20, for the Runaway Again Tour at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

The concert will also feature Firefall, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Pure Prairie League, bringing together four bands whose songs helped define American rock radio during the 1970s and 1980s.

For Freiberg, returning to Atlantic City is another opportunity to do what he loves.

“It's good to go back. It's fun,” he told Cronick.

Asked how long he intends to continue touring, Freiberg had a simple answer.

“As long as this band's here, man, I'll be there if I can walk.”

The Story Behind One of Jefferson Starship's Biggest Hits

One of the interview's most revealing moments came when Cronick asked Freiberg about the creation of “Jane,” Jefferson Starship's hard-rock anthem from the 1979 album Freedom at Point Zero.

Freiberg co-wrote the song with his late friend Jim McPherson, but the version that became a hit almost never happened the way listeners know it today.

“I had written it for Marty to sing,” Freiberg recalled, referring to original Jefferson Starship vocalist Marty Balin.

But Balin left the band as the song was being prepared.

“Marty went and quit the band,” Freiberg said. “He said he didn't want to do this anymore.”

That departure created an unexpected opportunity for another singer.

Jefferson Starship began auditioning vocalists, and “Jane” became an important part of the process.

“We figured that whoever sang Jane best would probably get the gig,” Freiberg told Cronick.

Then Mickey Thomas walked into the room.

“Mickey Thomas came in, and from the moment he opened his mouth, we knew he had the gig.”

Thomas would become one of the defining voices of Jefferson Starship's later years and the subsequent group known simply as Starship.

Freiberg also credited guitarist Craig Chaquico with transforming the original composition into the familiar recording.

He said he had initially envisioned a different musical approach, influenced by the sound of 1960s rock.

But Chaquico had another idea.

“Craig heard it and said, how about this? And we said, okay.”

The resulting recording became one of Jefferson Starship's signature songs and helped introduce a new era for the group.

Why Freiberg Walked Away From Starship

Jefferson Starship underwent another major transformation during the mid-1980s.

Following Paul Kantner's departure, the remaining musicians continued under the shortened name Starship, scoring enormous commercial success with songs including “We Built This City,” “Sara” and “Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.”

But Freiberg was no longer part of that lineup.

He told Cronick the increasingly producer-driven direction of the music had become less appealing to him.

“It seemed like producers were taking over,” Freiberg said.

He explained that the creative process had changed significantly from the collaborative environment he preferred.

“It was a producer's band,” he said. “Nothing's wrong with that, but that isn't what I did.”

For Freiberg, the change meant it was time to pursue other musical opportunities.

“That isn't what I did. I didn't belong there, so I was happy to take a break.”

His eventual return came after Kantner revived Jefferson Starship.

Freiberg recalled being invited to sit in with the group around late 2004 or early 2005.

One performance was enough to remind him what he had been missing.

“I did one gig, and it was fun again. I was having a great time, and so I haven't stopped.”

He has remained with Jefferson Starship ever since.

A Band That Keeps Him Going

Freiberg's enthusiasm for his current bandmates was evident throughout the conversation.

He singled out drummer Donny Baldwin, keyboardist Chris Smith, guitarist Jude Gold and vocalist Cathy Richardson as the musicians who make touring such a rewarding experience.

“I am so happy to play with these people,” he said.

“I honestly believe that is what is keeping me alive.”

The current Jefferson Starship lineup combines musicians with decades of experience in the group's history with newer members who help reinterpret its extensive catalog.

Freiberg and Baldwin provide a direct connection to the band's earlier years, while Richardson, Gold and Smith bring their own musical backgrounds to the performances.

“They're so fantastic, and I just love it every bit,” Freiberg said. “I'm having so much fun. Why would I retire?”

He joked that music might be the only profession he was ever suited for.

“If I ever try to do anything else, I always get fired.”

Before his success as a musician, Freiberg said, he worked for Southern Pacific as a freight traffic analyst.

But music ultimately became his life's work.

From Monterey Pop to Atlantic City

Freiberg's musical career reaches back to the earliest days of the San Francisco psychedelic rock movement.

Before joining Jefferson Airplane in 1972 and helping form Jefferson Starship in 1974, he was a founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service.

That group performed at the legendary Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967, an event widely regarded as a defining moment of the Summer of Love.

When Cronick asked about memorable performances from his long career, Freiberg immediately returned to Monterey.

“The first great fun moment I had was when I was playing with Quicksilver Messenger Service before I joined Jefferson Airplane,” he said.

He recalled the extraordinary collection of performers assembled for the festival, including Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Ravi Shankar and Jefferson Airplane.

“It was such a beautiful — and well-produced with beautiful sound,” Freiberg remembered.

During the conversation, Freiberg also corrected a common misconception about his participation in Woodstock.

Although Jefferson Airplane performed at the historic 1969 festival, Freiberg was not yet a member of the band.

He joined several years later.

Jefferson Starship Still Making New Music

Despite the group's extensive collection of hits, Freiberg emphasized that Jefferson Starship isn't simply touring on nostalgia.

The band recently released “Jetpack,” its first new single since the 2020 EP Mother of the Sun.

The energetic rock song was written by guitarist Jude Gold and vocalist Cathy Richardson.

For Freiberg, recording it brought him back to a familiar place.

The band returned to the former Record Plant recording studio in Sausalito, California, now known as 2200 Studios.

It was the same studio where “Jane” had been mixed decades earlier.

“We all happened to be in the San Francisco area, and we went into the very studio where Jane was mixed,” Freiberg told Cronick.

“One day, we recorded this Jet Pack song, which was written with Jude and Kathy.”

The recording also reunited the band with former Jefferson Starship bassist Pete Sears.

The single was released in August and has already become part of the group's live performances.

“It really rocks, and we really love it,” Freiberg said.

He told Cronick the song has been warmly received by audiences.

“It's new, but it fits right in with it,” he said. “It's going over really well, and it's a whole lot of fun to do.”

Additional music is also in development.

Freiberg said the biggest challenge has been finding time to record while maintaining the band's touring schedule.

“We've got a bunch of new stuff coming up, but we have a hard time figuring out when to go into the studio to do it.”

The group has discussed a new album, potentially arriving in 2027, although no official release date has been announced.

Four Classic Rock Bands, One Atlantic City Concert

The November 20 performance at Hard Rock will feature an unusually deep lineup of classic rock favorites.

Jefferson Starship's setlists draw from the catalogs of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship.

Fans can expect material associated with songs such as “White Rabbit,” “Somebody to Love,” “Miracles,” “Count on Me,” “Jane,” “Find Your Way Back,” “Sara,” “We Built This City” and “Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,” although the exact Atlantic City setlist has not been announced.

The evening will also feature three other established American rock bands.

Firefall is known for hits including “You Are the Woman,” “Just Remember I Love You” and “Strange Way.”

Atlanta Rhythm Section built its following with songs such as “So Into You,” “Imaginary Lover” and “Champagne Jam.”

Pure Prairie League contributed enduring favorites including “Amie” and “Let Me Love You Tonight.”

Freiberg told Cronick that touring with the other groups has been an enjoyable experience.

“We've been doing it with them a bunch, and it's a lot of fun,” he said.

“They all sound really good, and they're good guys.”

For concertgoers, the four-band bill offers an opportunity to hear decades of familiar rock music in a single evening.

'I Can't Wait to Get Back'

As the interview neared its conclusion, Freiberg returned to the subject of why he continues to perform.

After decades of touring, recording and experiencing nearly every era of modern rock music, he said he still looks forward to getting back onstage.

“We have a bunch of time off now,” Freiberg told Cronick.

His response to the break was not relief.

“Come on, man. I can't wait to get back.”

That enthusiasm may be the clearest explanation for Jefferson Starship's continued longevity.

For Freiberg, the music remains exciting, his bandmates remain inspiring, and the opportunity to perform for an audience remains something worth looking forward to.

At 88, he still sounds like a musician eager for his next show.

And on November 20, that next chapter brings him back to Atlantic City.

Concert Information

Jefferson Starship's Runaway Again Tour, featuring Firefall, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Pure Prairie League, takes place Friday, November 20, at 8 p.m. at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Tickets start at $69 and are available through Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Ticketmaster.

David Freiberg was interviewed by Scott Cronick on Off The Press, airing Monday through Friday from 4–6 p.m. on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.