Jefferson Starship formed in 1974 in San Francisco from members of Jefferson Airplane, including Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, David Freiberg, John Barbata, Papa John Creach, Pete Sears, and Craig Chaquico. Marty Balin joined in 1975. The band blended rock with psychedelic and progressive elements, releasing albums such as Dragon Fly (1974), Red Octopus (1975, which reached number one), and Spitfire (1976, a top five hit). Lineup changes marked the late 1970s, with Aynsley Dunbar replacing Barbata on drums in 1979 and Mickey Thomas joining as vocalist. The band disbanded in 1984, but Kantner reformed it in 1992. Kantner died in 2016. The current lineup features original member David Freiberg, along with Donny Baldwin, Chris Smith, Cathy Richardson, and Jude Gold. Jefferson Starship is known for live performances drawing on its Airplane heritage and extended rock compositions.