Hot Tuna is an American
blues-rock band formed by bassist
Jack Casady and guitarist
Jorma Kaukonen as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues songs.
Hot Tuna began during a hiatus in Jefferson Airplane's touring
schedule in early 1969 while Grace Slick was undergoing recovery
from throat node surgery that had left her unable to perform. Jorma
Kaukonen, Jack Casady, Paul Kantner, and new drummer Joey Covington
played several shows around San Francisco including the Airplane's
original club, The Matrix before Jefferson Airplane returned to
performing in April to support the album
Volunteers. Although
Covington had been hired as Jefferson Airplane's drummer, Spencer
Dryden continued to perform with the Airplane and Covington was only
called when needed. Their early repertoire was derived mainly from
Airplane material that Jorma played and covers of American country
blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis, Jelly Roll Morton, Bo Carter
and Arthur Blake (Blind Blake). In addition to these shows, Jack
& Jorma would play as a duo with Jorma on acoustic guitar. In
September, 1969, the week of concerts performed at New Orleans
House in Berkeley was recorded and released as a live album in
1970,
Hot Tuna. This album is affectionately known by
Tunaphiles as the "breaking glass album", because of the sound of
breaking beer glasses during the recording of "Uncle Sam Blues".
Jorma's brother Peter Kaukonen soon replaced Paul on rhythm guitar and
Marty Balin joined on vocals for the electric songs. Starting in
October 1969, Hot Tuna would perform as opening act to Jefferson
Airplane with a combination of both electric and acoustic sets,
giving Kaukonen and Casady an opportunity to explore their love of
traditional blues music, and also giving Balin and Covington a
chance to explore soul-rock compositions. In 1970, RCA paid for the
band to go to Jamaica to record their next album, now with Paul
Ziegler taking over Peter's spot, but the album was never finished.
Papa John Creach was brought in to the band in late 1970 (Creach
also joined Jefferson Airplane at the same time) and Jefferson
Airplane and Hot Tuna finished their co-tour in November 1970 with
shows at the Fillmore East.
