Jefferson Starship: The Runaway Again Tour - with Pure Prairie League, Firefall, and Atlanta Rhythm Section

Overview

Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful arena rock bands of the '70s and '80s, earning 3
platinum and 8 gold records, as well as numerous Top 40 Billboard singles. As they celebrate
their 50th anniversary, the band reaches a rare milestone that only a few bands ever achieve.
Founded by Paul Kantner in the '70s, Jefferson Starship was conceived as a collective of musical
adventurers contributing to his epic concept albums and eventual catalog of rock classics. When
the current lineup came together in 2012, with many members having joined years earlier,
Kantner couldn’t have predicted the band would become the road-conquering force they are
today.
The five members of Jefferson Starship often describe themselves as both a "family" and a
"gang," and this sense of camaraderie shines through in their performances. Over the years,
they've played in all 50 U.S. states, five continents, and countless countries. A recent tour of
New Zealand was noted as one of the band's favorites, and their live shows continue to offer a
non-stop mix of rock hits.
The band’s current lineup includes founding member David Freiberg, drummer Donny Baldwin
(who first joined in 1982), keyboardist Chris Smith (who joined in 1998), guitarist Jude Gold
(who joined in 2012), and singer/guitarist Cathy Richardson (who joined in 2008 after Kantner
saw her perform with Big Brother and the Holding Company).
As Jefferson Starship celebrates its 50th anniversary, the band reflects on the legacy of Paul
Kantner, who passed away in 2016. The spirit of exploration and adventure he instilled in the
band lives on in their music and performances. As Gold puts it, “To me, that ‘Paul Kantner
thing’—getting on a rocket ship and blasting off into the unknown—is the very essence of
Jefferson Starship. And that spirit is very much alive in the band today.”

PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE
From their beginnings in mid-Sixties Ohio as a group of friends playing cover tunes to the presentday
unit Pure Prairie League continues to embellish the rich 50-plus year history of one of
Country-Rock’s pioneering forces. Their eponymous first album has been hailed as a “major early
influence in the emerging popularity of Country-Rock music”. Their second eJort, the multiplatinum
“Bustin’ Out” brought us the Craig Fuller-penned classic Amie, along with other gems of
the genre. Other PPL hits include Falling In and Out of Love and Let Me Love You Tonight among
many others. Now in their sixth decade, Pure Prairie League continues to lead the way for the new
generation of Country/Rockers.

ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION
They’ve been part of the Southern Rock scene for over fi7y years. Their biggest hits include So
Into You, Champagne Jam, Imaginary Lover, Homesick and Spooky. With 15 albums of
outstanding songwriBng and performances, The Atlanta Rhythm SecBon represents the good
things the phrase classic rock implies. ARS was one of many Southern Rock bands to hit the
upper reaches of the charts during the late ‘70s.

FIREFALL
Firefall is an American country rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado, in 1974. Their radio
hits include You Are the Woman, Just Remember I Love You, Strange Way, Cinderella, Headed
for a Fall, and Staying with It. Fifty years after their debut, founder Jock Bartley and the gang
are still going strong, touring the world and bringing their music to the fans.