Darby Slick
Head shot of Darby Slick
Darby Slick in Hanapepe, Kauai in 2011
Background information
Birth nameDabney Roger Slick
Born (1944-02-26) February 26, 1944
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1965–present

Dabney Roger "Darby" Slick (born February 26, 1944)[1] is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known as a former member of the Great Society and the writer of the Jefferson Airplane song "Somebody to Love."

Early life

Slick was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Hawaii before his family settled in Palo Alto, California.[1][2]

The Great Society

In 1965, Slick co-founded the Great Society with his brother Jerry Slick, sister-in-law Grace Slick, and Jenn Piersol (David Miner and Bard DuPont joined shortly afterward). Darby played lead guitar and occasionally sang backup vocals. Slick wrote "Someone to Love"—originally titled "Mind Full of Bread"[3]—in the process of writing a novel, which he started in 1962. Slick's literary aspirations tapered off as he concentrated more on guitar, and he finished the song in 1965 after a breakup. He intended the song to address giving love instead of the cliché of wanting it.[4][5]

"Someone to Love" was issued as a Great Society single by North Beach Records with "Free Advice" as its B-side. The single saw limited distribution and made little impact at the time. The Great Society dissolved when Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane, who recorded the song—retitled "Somebody to Love"—and scored a top 10 hit on the national charts in 1967.

Slick composed other Great Society songs such as "Darkly Smiling," and "Free Advice," which displayed his budding interest in Indian music.[6][7]

Later work

After Slick's time in the Great Society, he took an interest in Indian music.[8] He took several trips to India to learn more about the genre. He published an autobiography in 1991 titled Don't You Want Somebody to Love: Reflections on the San Francisco Sound detailing his time with the band and lessons while on trips to India.[6]

Discography

The Great Society

Solo

  • Sandoland (Taxim, 1995)
  • King of the Fretless Guitar (Taxim, 1998)
  • Following Yonder Stars (Self-released, 2019)

References

  1. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "Darby Slick Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  2. ↑ Slick, Darby (1991). Don't You Want Somebody to Love: Reflections on the San Francisco Sound. Berkeley, California: SLG Books. pp. 15–16. ISBN 0-943389-08-9.
  3. ↑ "Original Lyrics For Sale". jambands.com. March 26, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Darby Slick Interview". famousinterview.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  5. ↑ Slick, Grace; Cagan, Andrea (December 14, 2008). Somebody to Love?: A Rock-and-Roll Memoir. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446554428. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Unterberger, Richie. "Biography: Darby Slick". Allmusic. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Bay Area, Darby Slick". bay-area-bands.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  8. ↑ Zickos, Coco (May 1, 2013). "One Guitar, Two Different Styles". MidWeek Kaua'i. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
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