On October 30, a social media account highlighted Grace Slick’s birthday, sharing a vintage photo of her. The caption credited her as a key figure in San Francisco’s psychedelic music scene during the 1960s and 1970s. Echoing this sentiment, Van Zandt responded:
“Happy Birthday, Grace! An instrumental woman in Rock’s history and a standout in the 1967 psychedelic ‘Summer Of Love.’ She gave us ‘White Rabbit,’ a song that encapsulated the transformative spirit of that era.”
Happy Birthday Grace! One of the most important women in Rock history and one of the preeminent artists of the 1967 psychedelic Summer Of Love having written THE defining song of the birth of the revelatory consciousness expansion that would soon spread worldwide, White Rabbit. https://t.co/sw14E5dxGZ
— 🕉🇺🇦🟦Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) October 30, 2023
Fans on the platform had varied reactions. Many showered praises, with comments like:
“She’s a powerhouse with incredible vocals and timeless tracks.”
Another added:
“Grace Slick, for me, stands tall among iconic female rock vocalists, even surpassing legends like Janis [Joplin] and Stevie [Nicks].”
However, some brought up Grace’s stance on age and retirement in the music scene. One user pointed out:
“Glad not everyone shared her viewpoint on rockers retiring by 50. Ever heard of ‘Hackney Diamonds?’ [Rolling Stones’ 2023 album]”
In 1990, after a Jefferson Airplane reunion, Grace Slick stepped back from the music world. She later expressed in a documentary:
“Any rock artist over 50 should bow out gracefully.”
This statement sparked debates, especially among rock enthusiasts. Clarifying her stance in a 2007 Musicoholics interview, she said:
“While genres like jazz, classical, and blues can be pursued for a lifetime, rock and rap are outlets for the youth to vent. Performing songs that no longer resonate with one’s current emotions seems inauthentic.”
Post-retirement, Grace kept a low profile, making only a handful of appearances, notably with Jefferson Starship in 1995 and 2001.
