I was in San Francisco when Skip Spence and Moby grape we're at their best. Such energy!

I lived in a dingy apartment in front of Skip's dingy apartment in downtown Los Gatos (right next to San Jose) in the late seventies. We shared a communal shower, along with some other tenants, where I'd bump into him every once a month or so . . . one of us waiting for the other to get out of the shower. Neither Skip nor I showered a lot in those days. We'd chat briefly, but never really had a significant conversation. He was quite clearly "out there" but he was quiet and polite and didn't seem to go out much, or have any visitors. After a couple of years I moved to Santa Cruz (to a place with a private shower ! ! !). I don't remember ever seeing him that area. All I can say is that he was a good neighbor and seemed like a nice man. RIP, Skip Spence.

I saw Skip walking down the street in San Jose a couple of times. Instantly recognizable. Couldn't be anyone else.

Thank you to the people who pointed it out in the comments, that in 2:33 and 3:53 it is actually Jack Casady the bass player of Jefferson Airplane and not Skip Spence. I have no idea why I mixed them both up (they don't even look that similar to be honest). Anyway sorry for this, and I hope you can still enjoy the video in spite of this blunder. Thank you for watching. Edit: The date in 3:24 is also supposed to be May 1966 instead of May 1965.

Moby Grape was a killer band!! Too much talent! Skip was the inspiration for the band!! Great work

On the contrary Skip was very coherent with me when I met him in the’80’s. He was a caring and loving person who loved all of his band members in EPICENTER. He never hurt me or anyone else as far as the time I had known him. I had mental illness too but we looked after each other. He was a good friend and we all stuck together. Geez I miss him.

In the summer of 1967, Moby Grape with Skip Spence, a musical energy source heretofore unknown, performed 3 nights a week at Winterland in San Francisco. These were epic performances. Bob Mosly, Jerry Miller, and Skip Spence presented a front-line that had the most astounding three-part harmonies and synchronous playing any of us had ever seen or heard. Loved and appreciated by the most discerning musical fans! That first Moby Grape album was in every record collection in California, North and South.

What a true classic. OAR is a masterpiece, and it (and the story of Skip) reminds me of the unsung masters that don’t get nearly enough credit-though they inspired so many more heralded musicians after them. I immediately think of Paul Kopaz (who I know was a fan of Skip), Jim Sullivan, Tav Falco, and Mark Lanegan (who is on the More Oar record). Some get their dues after they die and some never truly do. What a heartbreaker. Thank you for shining a light on a forgotten masterpiece and a misunderstood artist of the highest caliber!

Some people just can’t handle the dopamine rush that comes with playing music and jamming for crowds, then the chemicals come in and it’s over and out.

Oar doesn't get enough credit. It's an amazing album.

What a sad story. I was a Grace Slick fanatic in my teens after seeing Jefferson Starship. I only knew of Skip Spence's name because he was part of Airplane. Now I must listen to OAR. The painting of him that I clicked on to see this story looked like it was done by Grace. I read her book and she had a fling w/ him too. I was very touched by this story and will be looking forward to more.

I love Oar. Brilliant album

Oar is stunning! I love it so much. It’s original and honest.

My man just keeps casually making videos about my favorite rockstars ever

Skip reminds me of Jaco Pastorius, or vice versa. Both were troubled, but connected to the universe as a beautiful, dangerous gift.

Remember that it only Takes a Few Weeks To what was in the Day a Drum Set Consisting of Two Tambourines and a Brass Plate To Bang Upon !!! But in Those Days Bands Could Rejuvenate Any Style Into A A Good Hit Album For The Hungry Youth , Many A One Hit Wonders Were Born in This Era of Artistic Wonder !!! Peace To All Souls !!!

Awesome. Was just listening to moby grapes debut album today walking my dog.

I met Skip in Soquel, CA. He was friends with my then-girlfriend. He had stayed at her apartment occasionally, burn marks on the couch arms as testimony. He didn’t say a whole lot, but was friendly. It appeared that he had a caregiver with him. The last time that I saw him was on a bus in San Jose (early '80s). I told other riders who he was, but they didn’t believe me.

Thanks for the video. I did not know Skip's story. I was a big fan of his back in the Moby Grape days. I was lucky enough to see him live one night at The Filmore in 1968. I live in Santa Barbara, and Moby Grape teamed up with smoother noteable groups of the time, and played a concert between big shows in LA and SF. "Omaha" is one of my top three most listened to songs, though "Motorcycle Irene" is a great in its own way. I don't remember that he was the drummer when the Airplane took off. I was pretty much interested in Grace Slick, so no wonder.

Shared an elevator with Skip at the Looking for Your Long Lost Mind show in Marin in the 80s. I did get kind of a lost soul vibe.

Great work! I recall listening to Oar and then seeking out the tribute album. Listening to these two albums and hearing the new interpretations was a real pleasure. Learning about Skips life in the liner notes I was convinced this would make a great movie culminating in his bedside listening to the album made in his honor. Your video reminded me of this. I hope someday that can happen.

Can't wait to read the book being released about Skip next year.

What a compassionate assessment of Skip's life and contribution to humanity.

AMAZING DOCUMENTARY. DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT SKIP. THANKS FOR POSTING 👍

Oar is an incredible album, I group it with Syd Barrett’s solo records. Both had turned into “acid casualties” but still managed to produce incredible solo works. rest in peace to both.

RIP. A sad story.

I’ve just only recently discovered “Oar” for myself… fascinating. Still absorbing it - even though I’ve listened to it multiple times…

Spence was sadly one of the early acid casualties along with Syd Barrett. Whether his mental illness would have developed without the drugs will be a question that will never be answered. Mental illness and drugs aside some of the best of 60's psychedelic rock was by Moby Grape.

I love OAR.

OAR is a true Masterpiece! I luckily found an original vinyl copy at a record show many years ago. PLAY LOUD

I liked Skip, starting in 1965, Golden Gate Park.

Good on you mate, thanks for this, love all that SF music of the late 60s and early 70s, good video.

David Rubinson’s words at the end…..sorry, bad pun, but wow. Choked me up a bit.

New York will chew you up and spit you out

Personally the best word that I can find to describe Oar is refreshing. It's not bogged down with heavy lyrics it just kind of flows. Kind of ambient but I mean this in a good way. If you have watched this video and then listen to Oar see if you agree with me that it sounds like Skip, who was a troubled man, felt relaxed and confident in the studio making that album and that at least during that time he found a place where he could leave his demons behind. R.I.P. Skip Spence.

Bob Mosley's solo album from 1972 is worth a listen too, it's actually pretty good. He sort of looks a bit lost on the cover,

Funny I was just listening to the song Little Hands today in my school bus.

A man in pajamas with an axe goes into a bar… [the taxi driver: “Yea! Get in buddy” - it was a different time]

He also spent a short time playing with Quicksilver Messenger Service

I love that despite just trying to kill someone while in his pajamas and with an axe yet the cab driver was like "sure I'll take you"

Thanks for this video

yes. very well done. you explain the lives of many from that era. it was the times and the drugs so ready available to be honest and folks such as Skip, already with head problems, just couldn't handle it. smart talented people trapped in that lifstyle. I lived it. how I was lucky to make it thru is beyond me. yr story made my eyes leak. I have all of Moby Grape and both Oar lps and I guess I'm still stuck in the 60's and 70's at times. many good memories and I'm grateful for that but many not so good as well. theres hardly any of us left. its folks like you that carry the story on...thanks..

Just a note - the Neil Young album that was released the same week as "Oar" was the one with Crazy Horse, "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere." Enjoyed this video, nice job!

Oar is one of my favourite albums

Yes, this guy was the real deal

The first Neil lp is not jive!!

Capitola , santa cruz, lsd capitol

While I'm very happy to see Alexander getting some more posthumous recognition. It's a bit insensitive to call a man with serious mental illness an oddball. Don't you think? Otherwise though, great work and thank you for making this.

You should read up on Craig Smith/Maitreya Kali. He was a quintessential 60’s psych rock acid casualty.

Diana is my favorite song by skip

He WAS an original!!

Discovered OAR just weeks before Skip left us all here...been playing on a constant rotation for the last 24 years & it never gets old...absolute purity! Can't imagine my time in California without this record....bigger than Pet Sounds.....bigger than Da Capo.....total musical bliss & I wish I could've met him tomorrow!

Great album. I bought it in 94. If you like Spence’s work try the very best of moby grape as it contains demo songs with spence that are quite nice like skip song.

Very interesting thanks

@2:30 that’s Jack Cassidy you zoom in on. Spence already departed The Jefferson Airplane by that point (replaced with Spencer Dryden (second from left)) though original vocalist Signe Anderson appears to still be in the group so that pic was taken in a very short time frame of only a few weeks.

Love love love

Of late, I've been introduced to many musical acts that I had NO idea even existed, and yet they are now getting huge attention and acclaim from, and are influencing, other artists: Skip, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, and some wacky musical duo - brothers - Sparks! I feel like those kids who watch & listen to music from the 70s and 80s - before _their_ time - and can't believe what they've missed!

Groovy!

Never knew he was still in the band when grace slick joined

Jack Cassidy (bassist) isn't Skip Spence (not pictured)

thanks

Man, you are into some cool shit.

You asked for it…3:24. The departure date should be May 1966 if he started in September 1965 as you stated earlier. Otherwise he left 5 months before he started.😊

Skip was connected to the Doobie Brothers in San Jose later but didn't join.

Is OAR available on CD?

2:38 That’s Jack Casady, not Skip.

You keep zooming in on Jack Cassidy

(O)n (A)nother (R)eality.

No one seems to mention the obvious: On Oar, Skip's voice is slowed down. That's what makes the album so effective, and what distinguishes it from his work in Moby Grape.

Sad

Who?? Way too deep. Thank you so much for the info!

Uhhh...that guy you keep focusing on is Jack Cassidy, not Skip Spence. Fookin' ejits.

Ah, so this was the dude who tried to kill someone with a pick axe in an NYC hotel. Yeahhh, don't do drugs people. Your mental health is everything.

also known as 'rock's biggest pedarest'

This video keeps focusing on Jack Cassidy's face when mentioning Skip.

Becoming the Airpane's drummer- you close upped on Jack Cassidy, Skip wasn't in the picture. dork

It shows how amature things were in the 60's, he was picked to play drums because of what he looked like, and he did not even play the Drums, but was on TV a month later, (similar thing with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason, he started playing when the Band started, zero previous drum experience, not even a interest in it until one was needed, and then he went Wild and got Super Good), And leaving a tour to go get high should happen once and that's it, you don't get another chance with anyone established. You can start a garage band and rebuild your reputation as someone else.

Yet another example of Tavistock at work.

The substance abuse never fit, but it was part of the deal already in the Beat era that birthed hippies. Why wasn't being high on life, love and music enough? They anointed themselves our ultimate visionaries and prophets, and that couldn't clash more jarringly with self-immolation by pills, blotters and hard liquor. Countless fans have followed them down the road to destruction.

These CIA bands!

So I assume you did some research before making this video. How could you possibly mistake Jack Cassidy for Skip? I mean they don't even look alike! 😂

Neeeeever heard of him

So... This is not about dude... Its all about you reading the book...Shame..!

One more victim of the patriarchy

What a bunch of BS...

Great video, man.

Why does your video keep zooming into Jack Casady when mentioning Skip Spence?

Imagine getting kicked out of Jefferson airplane for using drugs???!!!