Weighted Down: The Complicated Life of Skip Spence

Skip Spence was a soldier, a rock star, a folkie, a husband and father, a biker, an innovator, an addict, a cult phenomenon, and a ward of the state. The cast of characters in his story includes some of the biggest stars in music: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and many more. However, the highs and lows of fame took their toll, and Spence spent much of his life battling addiction and mental illness. He was in and out of hospitals and group homes, but would perform in various bands during his lucid moments and is best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and as the co-founder of Moby Grape. Songs from his cult solo album Oar have been covered by Tom Waits, Beck and Robert Plant. Weighted Down is the first book to tell the full story. With family photos and accounts from his friends, bandmates, and family, this biography offers new revelations about Spence that illuminate the troubled life of a complicated man.