`Starship' Is Still Flying, Landing In Everett Next

----------------------------------------------------------------- Concert Preview

Starship, The Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby, Everett. Dec. 2 and 3; 8 p.m.; $20. December 3; 2 p.m. show; $10. Tickets available at various local merchants; Ticketmaster outlets, 628-0888. For more information, 258-6766. -----------------------------------------------------------------

It seems like they have been around forever. Across the years after name changes from Jefferson Airplane to Jefferson Starship to Starship and with many changes of passengers, Starship is still sailing on with Mickey Thomas aboard.

Thomas first made his mark in 1976 as lead vocalist with the Elvin Bishop Band and the hit "Fooled Around and Fell in Love." When Grace Slick and Mary Balin left Jefferson Starship in 1979, Thomas was asked to join, the band's name was changed to Starship. Thomas immediately started scoring number-one hits.

Slick returned to the group a few years later, but in 1988 she dropped out again. Jefferson Airplane and Slick, who had been with the band since its birth in the 1960's, are known for hits such as "White Rabbit" and "Go Ask Alice."

Starship and Thomas had number one hits beginning with "Jane" (1979), "No Way Out" (1984)," `"e Built This City" (1985), `"ara" (1985) and `"othing's Going to Stop Us Now" (1987).

Other top hits include, "Find Your Way Back," (1981); "Stranger," (1981), "Layin' It On The Line," (1984) and "It's Not Over Till It's Over," (1987).

In 1990 Starship disbanded. Guitarist Craig Chaquico and bass player Brett Bloomfield left to form their own band, Keyboardist Mark Morgan moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in movie and television music.

In 1992 Thomas reformed the band, and he signed with Capitol Records. During the two year hiatus, Thomas says, "I didn't do too much except assessing what I wanted to do. I found I missed the band and the music."

Mickey Thomas and Melisa Kary, both formerly with Starship, provide vocals. Bill Slais, formerly with the Elvin Bishop Band, and John Sandersis, formerly with Uncle Rainbow, are on saxophone and keyboards. From Cold Blood, Jeff Talamaire plays guitar, T. Moran is on drums and Max Hasket is on trumpet. Brett Bloomfield, another Starship original, is on bass.

Since the band's resurrection, no new albums have been released, but Thomas says he is busy working on one.

"I hope to start it in January or February and have it out in the late spring or early summer. It's hard to get the time when we're touring."

The San Francisco-based band tours about 30 weeks out of the year. "Touring is hard, but I enjoy being on the road more as I get older," says Thomas. "I'm 43, but I feel 23." (A band member quips in the background, "You don't look 23!")

Opening for Starship will be Luv, Tattoo (formerly TKO), a duo that has been performing in the Northwest for the past two years. The duo goes from blues to rock and roll to country to reggae.

Both performances are in The Historic Everett Theatre that first opened its doors in 1901 as a plush opera house. After closing

in 1989, it reopened a year ago after a major restoration.