The Beatles' Iconic Rooftop Concert: A Tale of Inspiration and Rivalry
The Beatles' legendary rooftop concert in 1969 is a defining moment in rock and roll history. But did you know that they weren't the first band to take their performance to such dizzying heights? Enter Jefferson Airplane, a band with a rebellious spirit and a unique approach to music.
Jefferson Airplane, rooted in grassroots politics and DIY music, aimed to bring their music to the people without selling out to the industry. They managed to strike a deal with RCA Victor, giving them an impressive budget and allowing them to live a wild life of rock and roll excess. Their stories are tripped-out and unbelievable, from Grace Slick's plan to dose President Nixon with LSD to the West German riot that resulted in multiple arrests during their days as Jefferson Starship.
In 1968, months before The Beatles' rooftop concert, Jefferson Airplane took to the skies above Manhattan, bringing their acid-dripped hippie rock to the rooftop of the Schuyler Hotel. Their impromptu performance lasted only one full song, 'The House at Pooneil Corners', before the NYPD came to crack down on the public concert. Grace Slick later recalled the experience, laughing that they were the first to disturb an entire neighbourhood of office workers on a rooftop, performing two songs loud at midday. No one knew where the music was coming from or why.
The inspiration for Jefferson Airplane's rooftop performance came from the architect of French New Wave cinema, Jean-Luc Godard. He put them up there and filmed them from across the street, as well as people looking up. The shot was a planned segment for his documentary One AM, but it never materialized. Instead, it saw the light of day within DA Pennebaker's One PM, already overshadowed by a more chilled-out rooftop gig in London.
Despite the NYPD's intervention, Grace Slick fondly remembers that 1968 trip up to the roof. She concluded, 'No one went to jail,' which should give you a good indication of just how wild the rest of her stories are. Jefferson Airplane's legacy is one of rebellion, excess, and a unique approach to music, leaving an indelible mark on the history of rock and roll.
