Jefferson Airplane band name meaning

Certified psychedelic rock pioneers, coming from San Francisco, California and also the first band from SF that was commercially successful. 

The origins of the band name are being disputed. Jefferson Airplane seems to be the nickname of an ingenious tool that can be made at home, consisting of a lucifer split at one end, burnt or not. In such a do-it-yourself roach clip one can stick one’s joint, so that it can be smoked to the bitter end. 

Blind Lemon Jefferson

Former band member Jorma Kaukonen however rejects this explanation. The name supposedly was invented by his friend Steve Talbot, as a kind of parody of the names of blues artists such as Blind Lemon Jefferson (photo). 

In 2007 Kaukonen apparently said the following: ‘I had this friend [Talbot] in Berkeley who came up with funny names for people. His name for me was Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane. When the guys were looking for band names and nobody could come up with something, I remember saying: you want a silly band name? I got a silly band name for you!’. See also Blind Lemon. 

Share