Alexander "Skip" Spence

The Profile

Alexander “Skip” Spence (1946–1999) was a Canadian-born American musician, an early drummer with Jefferson Airplane and a founding member of Moby Grape. In 1969 he released Oar, recorded solo in Nashville, a cult album blending psychedelia, folk, blues and country.

Early drummer for Jefferson Airplane and founding member of Moby Grape; recorded the solo album Oar in Nashville in 1968, released in 1969, playing all instruments; born in Canada and active in the U.S.; died in 1999.

Three reviews circle around Oar, the 1969 solo album Alexander “Skip” Spence recorded in Nashville, playing every instrument himself. They stress its haunted loneliness and mix of psychedelia, folk, blues, and country. Songs like Little Hands, Grey/Afro, Weighted Down and War in Peace stand out. Spence’s troubled history with Jefferson Airplane and Moby Grape frames the record, and comparisons to Syd Barrett recur.