Hot Tuna
Encyclopedia
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.
'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 and 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
.
(1972) and The Phosphorescent Rat
(1973) followed, with Papa John leaving before Rat was recorded. These two albums featured compositions mainly of Kaukonen original material and included some of the guitarist's most delicate and poetic works. David Crosby
sang supporting vocals on the Burgers track "Highway Song," and keyboard player Nick Buck made his first appearance on what would become a semi permanent tenure during the 1970s. As the band prepared for its 1974 tour in support of Rat, Jorma decided to have the band perform acoustic on the next tour and Piazza was let go. Jorma and Jack then proceeded to record Jorma's first solo album, Quah
.
(1975), Yellow Fever
(1975), and Hoppkorv
(1976), showcase a power trio
with the addition of new drummer
Bob Steeler. Jeff Tamarkin's liner notes on the RCA "Platinum Gold Hot Tuna Collection" refer to this trilogy as the band's "rampage years". Kaukonen is quoted as saying the change of focus was due to the fact "it was just fun to be loud". His electric guitar playing was multi-layered and used a wide array of effects, especially the Roland Jet phaser and is evidenced by the solos on "Funky #7" and "Serpent of Dreams" on America's Choice. This style continued on Yellow Fever, on tracks such as "Song for the Fire Maiden," "Sunrise Dance with the Devil," and the closing number "Surphase Tension." Hot Tuna live performances during this period were typified by free-flow improvisational jams and very long sets (up to six hours uninterrupted) with extended versions of their studio material. The unreleased live WNEW FM recording at the New York Palladium in November 1976, for example, features a 16 minute version of "Invitation" ( from America's Choice). However, when new producer Harry Maslin had the band in the studio, he did not appreciate Jorma and Jack's free-form jam style and held them to a more traditional rock format and had them include several cover songs. In 1977, Jorma re-added an acoustic portion of the show by performing solo sets before the band would perform. These combination sets were documented with the double live album
Double Dose in 1978 containing one side of Jorma's acoustic performance and three sides of the electric band. Hot Tuna stopped touring at the end of 1977 and Casady and Kaukonen went their separate ways and pursued short-lived careers in the new wave bands SVT and Vital Parts, respectively. Grunt Records
released the compilation Final Vinyl in 1979 to signify the end of the band.
Hot Tuna was reformed again as an acoustic band in 1986 performing classic material, with Joey Balin joining on rhythm guitar until 1987. Kantner joined the band in 1987 and 1988 adding some old Airplane songs to the setlist. Grace Slick
showed up on stage as well for one show at The Fillmore
in March, 1988. The band continued into 1989 and Jorma and Jack joined the 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion album
and tour, performing acoustic Hot Tuna sets in the middle of each show.
At the end of the Airplane tour, Hot Tuna resumed their electric performances adding drummer Joey Stefko and rhythm guitarist Michael Falzarano to the lineup.
New Yorker Harvey Sorgen soon replaced Stefko on drums and Galen Underwood joined on keyboards for their first album of all new material in almost 14 years, 1990's Pair a Dice Found
. Kaukonen and Falzarano both contributed original songs.
Throughout the 1990s, Tuna again alternated between acoustic and electric styles. The two Sweetwater albums were predominantly acoustic sets with guests Bob Weir
from the Grateful Dead
, singer Maria Muldaur
, and ex-Rod Stewart
, Jefferson Starship
keyboards player Pete Sears
; the latter was to join the group on a permanent basis during the decade. The 1997 release Live in Japan was in many ways reminiscent of the very first Hot Tuna album, having a minimalistic sound and being recorded live at a tiny venue (Stove's in Yokohama). Falzarano stayed with the band until 2002 when he left to release and promote his solo album The King James Sessions, which also featured Pete Sears
.
and drummer Erik Diaz, and have played electric shows with guitarist G. E. Smith
. In April 2006, Hot Tuna appeared at Merlefest
, America's largest folk music festival. In 2007, they played at Bonnaroo. In August 2009, Skoota Warner
took over on drums. For the first half of 2011, blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite
is also touring with Hot Tuna.
In November 2010 Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen announced on his blog that Hot Tuna had begun recording its first studio album in 20 years. The album Steady as She Goes
was released by Red House Records
on April 5, 2011.
album lyrics insert with a mock headline proclaiming "Hot Tuna! R. Nixon Misplaced. For details see sports section."
In 2004 Eagle Records re-mastered and re-released Live in Japan, Live at Sweetwater and Live at Sweetwater Two with some new tracks that hadn't been included on the Relix releases and some tracks removed.
Hot Tuna has released many of their recent 2009 - 2010 live concerts directly for sale on iTunes
.
Blues-rock
Blues rock is a hybrid musical genre combining bluesy improvisations over the 12-bar blues and extended boogie jams with rock and roll styles. The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, piano, bass guitar and drum kit, with the electric guitar usually amplified through a...
band formed by bassist Jack Casady
Jack Casady
Jack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
and guitarist Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
as a spin-off of Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
. It plays acoustic and electric versions of original and traditional blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
songs.
Jefferson Airplane side project
Hot Tuna began during a hiatus in Jefferson AirplaneJefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
's touring schedule in early 1969 while Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
was undergoing recovery from throat node surgery that had left her unable to perform. Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Kaukonen
Jorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
, Jack Casady
Jack Casady
Jack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
, Paul Kantner
Paul Kantner
Paul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
, and new drummer Joey Covington
Joey Covington
Joseph "Joey" Edward Covington is a US drummer, best known for his involvements with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.-Brief biography:...
played several shows around San Francisco including the Airplane's original club, The Matrix
The Matrix (club)
The Matrix, a renovated former pizza shop, was a nightclub in San Francisco from 1965 to 1972 and was one of the keys to what eventually became known as the "San Francisco Sound" in rock music...
before Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
returned to performing in April to support the album Volunteers
Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)
-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Marty Balin – vocals, percussion...
. Although Covington had been hired as Jefferson Airplane's drummer, Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden
Spencer Dryden was an American musician best known as the longest-serving drummer for Jefferson Airplane. He also played with New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Dinosaurs, and The Peanut Butter Conspiracy.-Early life:...
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 and blues artists such as Rev. Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis, was an American blues and gospel singer and guitarist, who was also proficient on the banjo and harmonica...
, Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, Bo Carter
Bo Carter
Armenter "Bo Carter" Chatmon was an American early blues musician. He was a member of the Mississippi Sheiks in concerts, and on a few of their recordings...
and Arthur Blake (Blind Blake
Blind Blake
"Blind" Blake was an American blues and ragtime singer and guitarist.-Biography:...
). 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
Hot Tuna (album)
Hot Tuna is the self-titled debut album by the blues-rock band Hot Tuna, released in 1970 on RCA Records, catalogue LSP 4550. It was recorded live at the New Orleans House in Berkeley, California in September of 1969. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
. 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
Peter Kaukonen
Peter Kaukonen is a San Francisco bay area guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter. He is the younger brother of Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna...
soon replaced Paul on rhythm guitar and Marty Balin
Marty Balin
Marty Balin is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life:Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
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
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
paid for the band to go to Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
to record their next album, now with Paul Ziegler taking over Peter's spot, but the album was never finished. Papa John Creach
Papa John Creach
Papa John Creach played for Jefferson Airplane , Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship, Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, the San Francisco All-Stars , The Dinosaurs , and Steve Taylor...
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
Fillmore East
The Fillmore East was rock promoter Bill Graham's rock venue on Second Avenue near East 6th Street in the East Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City. It was open from 1968 to 1971, and featured some of the biggest acts in rock music at the time...
.
Independent Hot Tuna
In September 1970, Hot Tuna performed two acoustic shows without Jefferson Airplane at Pepperland and received good reviews signifying that Hot Tuna could survive without the other band to support it. As Jefferson Airplane wound down and stopped touring after the Fillmore East shows, Hot Tuna—for whom live performance was always of prime importance—became an independent group consisting of Jorma, Jack, new drummer Sammy Piazza, and Papa John, moving fully to the electric band format. This line-up was documented on the album First Pull Up, Then Pull Down (1971), recorded live at the Chateau Liberte (a nondescript club favored by the band) near Santa Cruz, California. The studio albums BurgersBurgers (album)
-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – guitars, lead vocals*Jack Casady – bass, vocals, eyebrow*Papa John Creach – violin, vocals*Sammy Piazza – drums, tympani, other percussion, vocals-Additional personnel:...
(1972) and The Phosphorescent Rat
The Phosphorescent Rat
-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitars*Jack Casady – electric bass, bass balalaika*Sammy Piazza – drums, spoons, percussion-Additional Personnel:*Tom Salisbury – conductor of strings and woodwinds on "Corners Without Exits" and "Soliloquy for 2"...
(1973) followed, with Papa John leaving before Rat was recorded. These two albums featured compositions mainly of Kaukonen original material and included some of the guitarist's most delicate and poetic works. David Crosby
David Crosby
David Van Cortlandt Crosby is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. In addition to his solo career, he was a founding member of three bands: The Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash , and CPR...
sang supporting vocals on the Burgers track "Highway Song," and keyboard player Nick Buck made his first appearance on what would become a semi permanent tenure during the 1970s. As the band prepared for its 1974 tour in support of Rat, Jorma decided to have the band perform acoustic on the next tour and Piazza was let go. Jorma and Jack then proceeded to record Jorma's first solo album, Quah
Quah (album)
Quah is the first solo album by Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane. The album was recorded with Tom Hobson. The initial plan was to have side-A be Kaukonen and side-B be Hobson. However, RCA felt that Hobson's recordings would not be accepted by the public...
.
Rampage years and breakup
July 1974 marked a departure from their primarily bluesy, acoustic style when Hot Tuna dropped their acoustic sets completely and morphed into a heavy rock band. The albums America's ChoiceAmerica's Choice
America's Choice was the fifth album by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna, recorded in 1974 and released the following year. The first of the "Rampage" trilogy albums recorded by the now power trio, it marked a major shift in musical direction by the group...
(1975), Yellow Fever
Yellow Fever (album)
-Additional Personnel:*Nick Buck – synthesizer on "Bar Room Crystal Ball"*John Sherman – 2nd guitar on "Baby What You Want Me to Do"-Production:*Hot Tuna – producer*Mallory Earl – producer, engineer*Pat Ieraci – production coordinator...
(1975), and Hoppkorv
Hoppkorv
-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitar*Jack Casady – bass*Bob Steeler – drums, percussion-Additional Personnel:*Nick Buck – keyboards*John Sherman – 2nd guitar on "Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man"*Karen Tobin – background vocals-Production:...
(1976), showcase a power trio
Power trio
A power trio is a rock and roll band format where the traditional power trio has a lineup of guitar, bass and drums, leaving out the rhythm guitar or keyboard that are used in other rock music to fill out the sound with chords...
with the addition of new drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Bob Steeler. Jeff Tamarkin's liner notes on the RCA "Platinum Gold Hot Tuna Collection" refer to this trilogy as the band's "rampage years". Kaukonen is quoted as saying the change of focus was due to the fact "it was just fun to be loud". His electric guitar playing was multi-layered and used a wide array of effects, especially the Roland Jet phaser and is evidenced by the solos on "Funky #7" and "Serpent of Dreams" on America's Choice. This style continued on Yellow Fever, on tracks such as "Song for the Fire Maiden," "Sunrise Dance with the Devil," and the closing number "Surphase Tension." Hot Tuna live performances during this period were typified by free-flow improvisational jams and very long sets (up to six hours uninterrupted) with extended versions of their studio material. The unreleased live WNEW FM recording at the New York Palladium in November 1976, for example, features a 16 minute version of "Invitation" ( from America's Choice). However, when new producer Harry Maslin had the band in the studio, he did not appreciate Jorma and Jack's free-form jam style and held them to a more traditional rock format and had them include several cover songs. In 1977, Jorma re-added an acoustic portion of the show by performing solo sets before the band would perform. These combination sets were documented with the double live album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Double Dose in 1978 containing one side of Jorma's acoustic performance and three sides of the electric band. Hot Tuna stopped touring at the end of 1977 and Casady and Kaukonen went their separate ways and pursued short-lived careers in the new wave bands SVT and Vital Parts, respectively. Grunt Records
Grunt Records
Grunt Records is a vanity label founded in 1971 by Jefferson Airplane and distributed by RCA Records. Initially created to sign local Bay Area acts, the label later was used only for Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna releases. The label ended use in 1987 after Grace Slick left...
released the compilation Final Vinyl in 1979 to signify the end of the band.
Reunions
Rhythm guitarist Michael Falzarano and drummer Shigemi Komiyama joined core members of Hot Tuna in a first reunion tour in 1983. Kaukonen decided to play very few Hot Tuna songs and instead concentrated on newer material which changed the band to a hard rock and heavy metal direction. The band was not well received at all and fans walked out of shows.Hot Tuna was reformed again as an acoustic band in 1986 performing classic material, with Joey Balin joining on rhythm guitar until 1987. Kantner joined the band in 1987 and 1988 adding some old Airplane songs to the setlist. Grace Slick
Grace Slick
Grace Slick is an American singer and songwriter, who was one of the lead singers of the rock groups The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, and was a solo artist, for nearly three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s...
showed up on stage as well for one show at The Fillmore
The Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California, made famous by Bill Graham. Named for its original location at the intersection of Fillmore Street and Geary Boulevard, it lies on the boundary of the Western Addition and the Pacific Heights neighborhoods.In 1968,...
in March, 1988. The band continued into 1989 and Jorma and Jack joined the 1989 Jefferson Airplane reunion album
Jefferson Airplane (album)
Jefferson Airplane is the reunion album of San Francisco rock band Jefferson Airplane, released on Epic Records in 1989.-Overview:Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Casady, who had played together on Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing at Baxters, Crown of Creation and...
and tour, performing acoustic Hot Tuna sets in the middle of each show.
At the end of the Airplane tour, Hot Tuna resumed their electric performances adding drummer Joey Stefko and rhythm guitarist Michael Falzarano to the lineup.
New Yorker Harvey Sorgen soon replaced Stefko on drums and Galen Underwood joined on keyboards for their first album of all new material in almost 14 years, 1990's Pair a Dice Found
Pair a Dice Found
Pair a Dice Found was the first studio album since 1976 by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna. It was their only album recorded with Epic Records...
. Kaukonen and Falzarano both contributed original songs.
Throughout the 1990s, Tuna again alternated between acoustic and electric styles. The two Sweetwater albums were predominantly acoustic sets with guests Bob Weir
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
from the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, singer Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur is a folk-blues singer who was part of the American folk music revival in the early 1960s...
, and ex-Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
keyboards player Pete Sears
Pete Sears
Peter 'Pete' Sears is an English rock musician. In a career spanning more than four decades he has been a member of many bands and has moved through a variety of musical genres, from early R&B, psychedelic improvisational rock of the 1960s, folk, country music, arena rock in the 1970s, and blues...
; the latter was to join the group on a permanent basis during the decade. The 1997 release Live in Japan was in many ways reminiscent of the very first Hot Tuna album, having a minimalistic sound and being recorded live at a tiny venue (Stove's in Yokohama). Falzarano stayed with the band until 2002 when he left to release and promote his solo album The King James Sessions, which also featured Pete Sears
Pete Sears
Peter 'Pete' Sears is an English rock musician. In a career spanning more than four decades he has been a member of many bands and has moved through a variety of musical genres, from early R&B, psychedelic improvisational rock of the 1960s, folk, country music, arena rock in the 1970s, and blues...
.
Current
Other musicians have come and gone over the group's several incarnations, as Hot Tuna has always been a fluid aggregation, but the name "Hot Tuna" has essentially become shorthand for "Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen." Most recently (2004–2009), they have toured with multi-instrumentalist Barry MitterhoffBarry Mitterhoff
Barry Mitterhoff is a musician who plays mandolin. He is a former member of Skyline and Silk City, and current member of Hot Tuna.Mitterhoff is also known for contributing to movie soundtracks, including You've Got Mail and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. His work on the latter film, unfortunately,...
and drummer Erik Diaz, and have played electric shows with guitarist G. E. Smith
G. E. Smith
George Edward "G. E." Smith is an American guitarist. He was the lead guitarist in the band Hall & Oates and the musical director of Saturday Night Live. Smith was lead guitarist of Bob Dylan's touring band from June 7, 1988 to October 19, 1990...
. In April 2006, Hot Tuna appeared at Merlefest
MerleFest
MerleFest is an annual "traditional plus" music festival held in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on the campus of Wilkes Community College . The festival, which is held the last weekend in April, is hosted by Grammy Award winner Doc Watson and is named in memory and honor of his son, Eddy Merle Watson,...
, America's largest folk music festival. In 2007, they played at Bonnaroo. In August 2009, Skoota Warner
Skoota Warner
Skoota Warner is an American musician and was the former drummer from rock band Ra. Warner is currently working on The Emeril Lagasse Show on The ION Network, Hot Tuna, G.E. Smith, Screaming Headless Torsos, KIF, Patrick Stump, Cyndi Lauper and completing his solo record due to be released early...
took over on drums. For the first half of 2011, blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the non-black bluesmen who came to prominence in the early 1960s, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Though he has often been identified as a "white bluesman", he claims Native American heritage...
is also touring with Hot Tuna.
In November 2010 Hot Tuna guitarist Jorma Kaukonen announced on his blog that Hot Tuna had begun recording its first studio album in 20 years. The album Steady as She Goes
Steady as She Goes (Hot Tuna album)
Steady as She Goes is the first Hot Tuna studio album since 1990. After Jorma Kaukonen recorded his solo album in 2009 at Levon Helm's studio in NY, he asked his new record company Red House if they would be interested in a Tuna album...
was released by Red House Records
Red House Records
Red House Records is an American independent record label specializing in folk music and is based in St. Paul, Minnesota.The label was originally created in 1981 by Greg Brown as a method to distribute his own music, and is named for a farmhouse in Iowa where he was living...
on April 5, 2011.
Taping policy
Throughout their history, Hot Tuna garnered much fan support based on their pro-taping policy, allowing fans to record their live shows. In July 2006, the band changed their stance and no longer permit taping.Band name
The band name Hot Tuna came from someone Kaukonen refers to as a "witty wag" who called out, "hot tuna" after hearing the line 'What's that smell like fish, oh baby,' from the song "Keep On Truckin'." Before their debut album was released, their name was seen on the Jefferson Airplane VolunteersVolunteers (Jefferson Airplane album)
-Personnel:*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Farm", "Hey Fredrick", "Eskimo Blue Day", and "Volunteers", organ on "Meadowlands", recorder on "Eskimo Blue Day"*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar*Marty Balin – vocals, percussion...
album lyrics insert with a mock headline proclaiming "Hot Tuna! R. Nixon Misplaced. For details see sports section."
Members
The band has performed live as Hot Tuna between 1969 and 1977; in 1983; and from 1986 to presentCurrent members
- Jack CasadyJack CasadyJack Casady , is an American musician considered one of the foremost bass guitarists of the rock music era and best known as a member of Jefferson Airplane. First playing as a lead guitarist with the Washington D.C...
– bass (1969–present) - Jorma KaukonenJorma KaukonenJorma Ludwik Kaukonen Jr. is an American blues, folk, and rock guitarist, best known for his work with Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna.-Biography:...
– guitars, vocals (1969–present) - Barry Mitterhoff – mandolin (2002–present)
- Skoota WarnerSkoota WarnerSkoota Warner is an American musician and was the former drummer from rock band Ra. Warner is currently working on The Emeril Lagasse Show on The ION Network, Hot Tuna, G.E. Smith, Screaming Headless Torsos, KIF, Patrick Stump, Cyndi Lauper and completing his solo record due to be released early...
– drums (2009–present)
Former members
- Will Scarlett – harmonica (1969–1971)
- Peter KaukonenPeter KaukonenPeter Kaukonen is a San Francisco bay area guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter. He is the younger brother of Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna...
– rhythm guitar (1969–1970, 1989–1990) - Marty BalinMarty BalinMarty Balin is an American musician. He is best known as the founder and one of the lead singers of the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life:Martyn Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
– vocals (1969–1970) - Joey CovingtonJoey CovingtonJoseph "Joey" Edward Covington is a US drummer, best known for his involvements with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.-Brief biography:...
– drums (1969–1970) - Paul KantnerPaul KantnerPaul Lorin Kantner is an American rock musician, known for co-founding the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane and its spin-off band Jefferson Starship.- Overview :...
– rhythm guitar (1969, 1987–1988) - Papa John CreachPapa John CreachPapa John Creach played for Jefferson Airplane , Hot Tuna, Jefferson Starship, Jefferson Starship - The Next Generation, the San Francisco All-Stars , The Dinosaurs , and Steve Taylor...
– electric violin (1970–1973) - Sammy Piazza – drums (1970–1973)
- Paul Ziegler – rhythm guitar (1970)
- Bob Steeler – drums (1974–1977)
- Greg Douglass – 2nd lead guitar (1975)
- Nick Buck – keyboards (1977)
- Michael FalzaranoMichael FalzaranoMichael Falzarano is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has been working as a professional musician since the 1970s, most notably in Hot Tuna, the New Riders of the Purple Sage, and the Memphis Pilgrims, a Memphis-style rock and roll/blues band that he founded in 1986.Having signed...
– rhythm guitar (1983, 1990–2002) - Shigemi Komiyama – drums (1983)
- Joey Balin – rhythm guitar (1986–1987)
- Joey Stefko – drums (1988–1990)
- Galen Underwood – keyboards (1989–1990)
- Harvey Sorgen – drums (1990–2000)
- Pete SearsPete SearsPeter 'Pete' Sears is an English rock musician. In a career spanning more than four decades he has been a member of many bands and has moved through a variety of musical genres, from early R&B, psychedelic improvisational rock of the 1960s, folk, country music, arena rock in the 1970s, and blues...
– keyboards (1992–2000) - Erik Diaz – drums (2004–2009)
Discography
- Hot TunaHot Tuna (album)Hot Tuna is the self-titled debut album by the blues-rock band Hot Tuna, released in 1970 on RCA Records, catalogue LSP 4550. It was recorded live at the New Orleans House in Berkeley, California in September of 1969. It peaked at #30 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
(1970) - First Pull Up, Then Pull DownFirst Pull Up, Then Pull DownFirst Pull Up, Then Pull Down was the second album by Hot Tuna. The album was recorded live with electric instruments, instead of the acoustic instruments used on the previous album, Hot Tuna. The album rose to #43 on the Billboard charts...
(1971) - BurgersBurgers (album)-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – guitars, lead vocals*Jack Casady – bass, vocals, eyebrow*Papa John Creach – violin, vocals*Sammy Piazza – drums, tympani, other percussion, vocals-Additional personnel:...
(1972) - The Phosphorescent RatThe Phosphorescent Rat-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitars*Jack Casady – electric bass, bass balalaika*Sammy Piazza – drums, spoons, percussion-Additional Personnel:*Tom Salisbury – conductor of strings and woodwinds on "Corners Without Exits" and "Soliloquy for 2"...
(1973) - QuahQuah (album)Quah is the first solo album by Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane. The album was recorded with Tom Hobson. The initial plan was to have side-A be Kaukonen and side-B be Hobson. However, RCA felt that Hobson's recordings would not be accepted by the public...
(1974) (by Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson, produced by Jack Casady) - America's ChoiceAmerica's ChoiceAmerica's Choice was the fifth album by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna, recorded in 1974 and released the following year. The first of the "Rampage" trilogy albums recorded by the now power trio, it marked a major shift in musical direction by the group...
(1975) - Yellow FeverYellow Fever (album)-Additional Personnel:*Nick Buck – synthesizer on "Bar Room Crystal Ball"*John Sherman – 2nd guitar on "Baby What You Want Me to Do"-Production:*Hot Tuna – producer*Mallory Earl – producer, engineer*Pat Ieraci – production coordinator...
(1975) - HoppkorvHoppkorv-Personnel:*Jorma Kaukonen – vocals, guitar*Jack Casady – bass*Bob Steeler – drums, percussion-Additional Personnel:*Nick Buck – keyboards*John Sherman – 2nd guitar on "Bowlegged Woman, Knock-Kneed Man"*Karen Tobin – background vocals-Production:...
(1976) - Double Dose (1978)
- The Last Interview? (1978)
- Final Vinyl (1979 compilation)
- SplashdownSplashdown (album)Splashdown is a Hot Tuna album released in 1984 containing the tracks from a previously unreleased live acoustic performance that had been played on the short-lived radio station WQIV in the mid-1970s...
(1984) - Historic Live TunaHistoric Live TunaHistoric Live Tuna is a Hot Tuna album released in 1985 with side A containing some previously unreleased tracks from a live acoustic performance played on KSAN radio in 1971 and with side B containing some previously unreleased live material from a live electric performance in 1971 recorded at the...
(1985) - Pair a Dice FoundPair a Dice FoundPair a Dice Found was the first studio album since 1976 by the American blues rock band Hot Tuna. It was their only album recorded with Epic Records...
(1990) - Live at SweetwaterLive at SweetwaterLive at Sweetwater is a live Hot Tuna album recorded in 1992 at Mill Valley, CA. It was their first new recording made for Relix Records, although they had previously released older performances with Relix...
(1992) - Live at Sweetwater TwoLive at Sweetwater TwoLive at Sweetwater Two is a live Hot Tuna album recorded at the same time as the album, Live at Sweetwater, but contains no tracks from the previous release. The live performances feature Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, blues-singer Maria Muldaur, and keyboardist Pete Sears. Also included is the...
(1993) - Trimmed & Burning (1995) (UK release)
- In a Can (1996 compilation of Hot Tuna, First Pull Up Then Pull Down, Burgers, America's Choice and Hoppkorv)
- Classic Hot Tuna AcousticClassic Hot Tuna AcousticClassic Hot Tuna Acoustic is a Hot Tuna album released in 1996 and is an expansion of the A-side of the previous vinyl release Historic Live Tuna. The B-side of the previous release was expanded as Classic Hot Tuna Electric and released at the same time as this album...
(1996) - Classic Hot Tuna ElectricClassic Hot Tuna ElectricClassic Hot Tuna Electric is a Hot Tuna album released in 1996 and is an expansion of the B-side of the previous vinyl release Historic Live Tuna. The A-side of the previous release was expanded as Classic Hot Tuna Acoustic and released at the same time as this album...
(1996) - Splashdown TwoSplashdown TwoSplashdown Two is a 1997 CD release and expansion of the previous Hot Tuna vinyl release from 1984, Splashdown. It is a recording of a live acoustic performance from the mid-1970s that had played on the short-lived radio station WQIV.-Track listing:...
(1997) - Live in JapanLive in Japan (Hot Tuna album)Live in Japan is a live acoustic album by Hot Tuna recorded in 1997 in Yokohama, Japan. Originally the band planned to play an electric set as part of their Japanese tour, but the venue in Yokohama was quite small and there wasn't any room for an electric setup...
(1997) - The Best of Hot TunaThe Best of Hot TunaThe Best of Hot Tuna is a Hot Tuna compilation album released in 1998. It covers songs from all the Hot Tuna albums released on Grunt Records. Bill Thompson, former manager of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna helped select the songs for inclusion. The artwork on the cover is a painting of Jorma...
(1998) - And Furthurmore...And Furthurmore...And Furthurmore... is a live album by the American rock band Hot Tuna. It was recorded on the 1998 Furthur Festival tour. It was released on October 12, 1999.And Furthurmore... was released in HDCD format...
(1999) - Steady as She GoesSteady as She Goes (Hot Tuna album)Steady as She Goes is the first Hot Tuna studio album since 1990. After Jorma Kaukonen recorded his solo album in 2009 at Levon Helm's studio in NY, he asked his new record company Red House if they would be interested in a Tuna album...
(2011)
In 2004 Eagle Records re-mastered and re-released Live in Japan, Live at Sweetwater and Live at Sweetwater Two with some new tracks that hadn't been included on the Relix releases and some tracks removed.
Hot Tuna has released many of their recent 2009 - 2010 live concerts directly for sale on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
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