# Marty Balin dead at 76 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 29, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148 "2018-09-29T00:13:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/1 "2018-09-29T00:13:01Z")
RIP, [founding member of the Airplane](https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/jefferson-airplane-co-founder-marty-balin-dead-at-76/ar-BBNGIb2?li=BBnbfcL), blessed with a sublime tenor. I was fortunate enough to see them twice, once at Woodstock and then later at the Music Hall in Boston. Always a great show. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/2 "2018-09-29T00:31:51Z")
Fuckity fuck fuck. RIP, Marty. You were over-shadowed, but never outclassed. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/3 "2018-09-29T01:18:09Z")
A solo piece of his: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dIF74lH4KPM/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgYChUMA8=&rs=AOn4CLBJwixgMyyFdQQItaWTjZDBa3UehQ "Marty Balin - Hearts") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIF74lH4KPM) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/4 "2018-09-29T03:26:00Z")
The Airplane was more than the sum of its parts, and its parts were individually great. Balin supplied the gentle folk heart of the group, tempering Paul Kantner’s sonic snarl much the same way that McCartney tempered Lennon. An era is ending piece by piece, day by day. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/5 "2018-09-29T04:11:23Z")
Rest in peace, Marty. And peace to surviving members Jack, Jorma and Gracie. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/6 "2018-09-29T06:27:45Z")
I got a taste of the real world When I went down on you girl. RIP, Marty. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/7 "2018-09-29T06:40:23Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I got a taste of the real world > When I went down on you girl. > RIP, Marty. One of the best rock vocalists ever! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/8 "2018-09-29T12:43:42Z")
“Hey man, I’d like to mention that the Hell’s Angels just smashed Marty Balin in the face.” Ah, good times. Er, um … Well, maybe, uh, “interesting times”??? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/9 "2018-09-29T13:50:11Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I got a taste of the real world > When I went down on you girl. > RIP, Marty. I always liked “Miracles”, even before I realized how dirty it was. What a great voice. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/10 "2018-09-29T13:52:18Z")
Never a fan, but that damn _“Miracles”_ sure can bring back strong, distinct memories. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/11 "2018-09-29T19:24:43Z")
Bilbo, Thorin, and the rest of the Dwarves are inconsolable. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/12 "2018-09-29T21:20:36Z")
Sad. “We built this city on rock and roll” was the anthem of my generation. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/13 "2018-09-29T21:24:38Z")
TWEET!!! You, **CarnalK**! Out of the pool! 1. That song blows. 2. Marty had nothing to do with it in any way, shape or form. 3. That song blows. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/14 "2018-09-29T22:42:46Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Bilbo, Thorin, and the rest of the Dwarves are inconsolable. I have no idea what this is supposed to mean, but, whatever… [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NdvMT32skw)one of Marty’s most achingly beautiful vocals. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2018, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/15 "2018-09-29T23:16:39Z")
I got it. I went from anger to amusement to laughter in 5 seconds. Good job, **Tim**! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/16 "2018-09-30T00:33:03Z")
The Airplane broke up when I was nine years old. I’ve been a stone(d) Hot Tuna fan since the mid-70s. I saw Jefferson Starship at the Blossom Music Center, a brilliant outdoor venue located in the rolling hills between Cleveland and Akron, in the late 1970s. I thought the Starship sucked but I was delighted to have the chance to see Balin, Kantner, and Slick onstage together. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/17 "2018-09-30T01:48:03Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I have no idea what this is supposed to mean, but, whatever… Balin was the name of one of the dwarves of Thorin’s company in “The Hobbit.” In “Fellowship of the Ring,” it’s his tomb which the Fellowship finds in the ruins of Moria. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/18 "2018-09-30T03:02:01Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Sad. “We built this city on rock and roll” was the anthem of my generation. Marty Balin had nothing to fucking do with that. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/19 "2018-09-30T20:43:40Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Marty Balin had nothing to fucking do with that. And it was called just _We Built This City_. It was released by the 1985 version of “We lost the naming lawsuit because we have no remaining members of JA” Starship. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2018, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148/20 "2018-10-01T14:36:49Z")
I always thought of Marty as the “voice” of JA, as opposed to Grace Slick. Who would have thought Grace would be the survivor (a la Keith Richards)? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marty-balin-dead-at-76/822148.md?page=2)