Craig Chaquico of Starship Reflects on Success with Big Hits and Teen Stardom in Guitar World
Craig Chaquico’s journey in the music industry is one of teenage talent and rapid growth. At the age of 16, Chaquico was leading a dual life – a high school student during the day, and a session guitarist at night. His introduction to Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner through his English teacher led him to play on solo albums by Kantner and Airplane singer Grace Slick. Despite this exposure to music legends like Jerry Garcia, Chaquico had to balance his burgeoning music career with his responsibilities as a teenager, including attending school and keeping up his grades to avoid having his guitar thrown away by his parents. Chaquico’s involvement with Jefferson Starship began in 1974 when he joined them for a six-week tour, eventually becoming an official member.
Despite his youth, Chaquico proved to be an asset to Jefferson Starship, contributing ripping solos on their debut album Dragon Fly in 1974. He further showcased his talent in songwriting on songs like Fast Buck Freddie and Sweeter Than Honey on the album Red Octopus. His collaboration with former Airplane co-vocalist Marty Balin on the chart-topping track Miracles helped propel the album to number one on the Billboard charts. Chaquico’s evolving role within the band continued as they navigated through changes in membership and musical styles over the next decade.
Jefferson Starship shifted towards a hard-rock sound in 1979, bolstered by Chaquico’s memorable guitar solos on hits like Jane from their album Freedom at Point Zero. The band underwent further transformations with members coming and going, leading to a name change to simply Starship by the release of Knee Deep in the Hoopla in 1984. Despite criticism labeling them as “corporate rock,” Starship found commercial success with anthemic singles like We Built This City and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.
The end of Chaquico’s time with the band came in 1989 following shifts in band members and musical direction. Reflecting on his journey, Chaquico’s early entrance into the music world as a teenage guitarist set the stage for a successful career filled with iconic moments and contributions to rock music history. His ability to balance the demands of being a student and a musician during his formative years laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors in the industry.