Darby Gould
Encyclopedia
Darby Marie Gould is an American vocalist best known for her work with Jefferson Starship
and World Entertainment War
. Over the years she has developed a loyal following based on her passionate, soulful vocals and intense stage presence.
, California. In high school she also performed at weddings, musicals and sang the National Anthem at various events.
Darby attended the University of California, Santa Cruz
, receiving a BA in Music. She received the Chancellor’s Award for the performance of her Senior Recital. Throughout her college years, she was a member of various bands, including The Same, Rickardo’s Bandoleros and Barbie Berkeley & the Redirects.
group, World Entertainment War
(WEW), fronted by astrologer Rob Brezsny
. WEW built up an enthusiastic following in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area, releasing an independent album, “Televisionary” in 1989 and a self-titled album in 1991 on Popular Metaphysics
(formerly 415 Records
), distributed by MCA Records
. The band was managed by Bill Graham
, with Graham developing plans to have WEW tour as an opening act for R.E.M.
Graham’s untimely death in October 1991 prevented these plans from being realized. Darby began an association with Paul Kantner
, appearing first as a guest singer on several dates with Paul Kantner’s Wooden Ships and also contributing lead vocals to one track of Kantner’s still unfinished album with women vocalists.
, initially adding on the “Next Generation” moniker (JS-TNG) to differentiate it from the commercialized and controversial version of the band from the 1980s. From Wooden Ships, Kantner brought in lead guitarist Mark “Slick” Aguilar
and keyboard player Tim Gorman
. Jefferson Airplane
and Hot Tuna
members Jack Casady
on bass and Papa John Creach
on violin also signed up, along with Tubes
drummer, Prairie Prince
. With Grace Slick
in retirement, the female vocalist position went to Darby Gould.
JS-TNG made their public debut at Konocti Harbor
in California on January 24, 1992, with a song list composed of Jefferson Airplane classics (Darby initially resisted performing “Somebody to Love
” and “White Rabbit
” out of respect for her predecessor), Jefferson Starship material and songs from Paul Kantner’s solo albums. Gould also brought along two songs from World Entertainment War’s repertoire, “Dark Ages” and “In a Crisis”. JS-TNG began touring extensively. Concurrently with the launch of JS-TNG, World Entertainment War was winding down and Darby started her own band, Blind Tom, composed of Gould on lead vocals, Tom Venegas and Tim Gilman on guitars, Jim Bailey on drums and Jared Rodgers on bass. Blind Tom’s style was centered more on her personal preference for hard rock and heavy metal than the music Gould had performed with bands in the past.
Scheduling difficulties ensued as Darby decided to perform primarily with Blind Tom, and JS-TNG began working with original Jefferson Airplane female vocalist, Signe Toly Anderson
, and hiring a previous unknown, Diana Mangano initially as Gould’s substitute. Some of Darby’s highlights during this period with JS-TNG included tours of Europe during March 1993 and Japan in 1995.
By 1994, Darby was splitting JS-TNG vocal duties with Mangano.
Gould’s highest profile show with JS-TNG occurred on January 21, 1995 at the House of Blues
in Hollywood, CA. The concert, set up as a fundraiser for the family of Papa John Creach who had passed the previous year, saw the return of Grace Slick to the band, albeit for one show only. Darby sang the lead vocals for the first two hours, contributing what many consider to be the recording highlight of her career, on a version of Nona Hendryx
’s “Women Who Fly”, a song Gould had been performing with JS-TNG since early 1992. Slick took over the lead vocals for the next half hour, with Darby contributing backing vocals (along with Paul and Grace’s daughter, China Kantner
) to some of the songs. Highlights of that concert were released later that year on the live album, “Deep Space – Virgin Sky
”.
In mid-1995 Diana Mangano permanently took over the female vocalist position in JS-TNG for the next 13 years. Darby continued to focus on Blind Tom and also started an acoustic duo with Tom Venegas, dubbed Goo Bonnet, playing cafes and small venues in the Bay Area. In 1996 she returned to the workforce, deciding to sing only on a part-time basis. During this period she also began appearing as a substitute for the female singers in the Bay Area party band, Big Bang Beat, as well as making occasional appearances with Jefferson Starship and filling in for other local bands.
. Darby also participated in numerous session work, including Electronic Arts
Sims 2
Nightlife
computer game expansion pack. December 2008 saw Gould’s debut in the 1960s girl group tribute theatrical performance of The Coverlettes Cover Christmas at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Several critics singled out Darby for her performances. October 2009 saw a reunion concert featuring all six members of World Entertainment War for the first time since 1992. In December 2010, Darby began contributing vocals to a continuing series of recordings under the group name, "Paul Kantner's Windowpane Collective".
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...
and World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...
. Over the years she has developed a loyal following based on her passionate, soulful vocals and intense stage presence.
Early life
The daughter of a minister father and a pianist mother, Darby Gould’s first experiences of singing in front of an audience occurred in church. At age 12 she joined her first band, Eclipse, in TustinTustin, California
-Top employers:According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile...
, California. In high school she also performed at weddings, musicals and sang the National Anthem at various events.
Darby attended the University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
, receiving a BA in Music. She received the Chancellor’s Award for the performance of her Senior Recital. Throughout her college years, she was a member of various bands, including The Same, Rickardo’s Bandoleros and Barbie Berkeley & the Redirects.
World Entertainment War
After college, Darby continued to sing with several bands. In Spring 1987 she joined the newly formed Santa CruzSanta Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
group, World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War
World Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...
(WEW), fronted by astrologer Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny
Rob Brezsny is an American astrologer, writer, poet, and musician. His weekly horoscope column Free Will Astrology , has been published for more than 28 years, runs in 120 periodicals, and can be subscribed to for free via email.- Career :Brezsny is the first well-known horoscope columnist...
. WEW built up an enthusiastic following in Santa Cruz and the Bay Area, releasing an independent album, “Televisionary” in 1989 and a self-titled album in 1991 on Popular Metaphysics
Popular Metaphysics
Popular Metaphysics was a record label created by Sandy Pearlman in Studio C of the Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco in 1989. The label was short lived, but it signed a few solid acts and released their records on the MCA label, including Love Club , Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, and World...
(formerly 415 Records
415 Records
415 Records was a San Francisco record label created in 1978. The label focused its efforts on local punk rock and new wave music acts of the late 1970s through the late 1980s, including The Offs, The Nuns, Romeo Void, and Wire Train...
), distributed by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. The band was managed by Bill Graham
Bill Graham (promoter)
Bill Graham was an American impresario and rock concert promoter from the 1960s until his death.-Early life:...
, with Graham developing plans to have WEW tour as an opening act for R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
Graham’s untimely death in October 1991 prevented these plans from being realized. Darby began an association with 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 :...
, appearing first as a guest singer on several dates with Paul Kantner’s Wooden Ships and also contributing lead vocals to one track of Kantner’s still unfinished album with women vocalists.
Jefferson Starship – The Next Generation
In late 1991 Kantner began plans to convert his Wooden Ships project into a reconstituted version of Jefferson StarshipJefferson 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...
, initially adding on the “Next Generation” moniker (JS-TNG) to differentiate it from the commercialized and controversial version of the band from the 1980s. From Wooden Ships, Kantner brought in lead guitarist Mark “Slick” Aguilar
Slick Aguilar
Mark "Slick" Aguilar is an American guitarist. He has worked with a number of notable musicians but is probably best known as a member of Jefferson Starship. His son Mark Aguilar is an upcoming rapper from New Jersey....
and keyboard player Tim Gorman
Tim Gorman
Tim Gorman is a rock keyboardist born and based in San Francisco. He has worked as a session musician from the 1980s until the present, his most notable collaborations being with Duane Eddy, Paul Kantner and The Who....
. 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....
and Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna
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.- Jefferson Airplane side project :...
members 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...
on bass and 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...
on violin also signed up, along with Tubes
The Tubes
The Tubes are a San Francisco-based rock band, whose 1975 debut album included the hit single, "White Punks on Dope". During its first fifteen years or so, the band's live performances combined quasi-pornography with wild satires of media, consumerism, and politics...
drummer, Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince is a rock drummer. He was a member of The Tubes and a founding member of Journey...
. With 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...
in retirement, the female vocalist position went to Darby Gould.
JS-TNG made their public debut at Konocti Harbor
Konocti Harbor
Konocti Harbor is a resort and music venue in Kelseyville, California. It is situated at the base of Mount Konocti on the south shore of Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake interior to California...
in California on January 24, 1992, with a song list composed of Jefferson Airplane classics (Darby initially resisted performing “Somebody to Love
Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane song)
"Somebody to Love" is a rock song that was written by Darby Slick and originally recorded by 1960s folk rock band The Great Society and later by the psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane...
” and “White Rabbit
White Rabbit (song)
"White Rabbit" is a song from Jefferson Airplane's 1967 album Surrealistic Pillow. It was released as a single and became the band's second top ten success, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100...
” out of respect for her predecessor), Jefferson Starship material and songs from Paul Kantner’s solo albums. Gould also brought along two songs from World Entertainment War’s repertoire, “Dark Ages” and “In a Crisis”. JS-TNG began touring extensively. Concurrently with the launch of JS-TNG, World Entertainment War was winding down and Darby started her own band, Blind Tom, composed of Gould on lead vocals, Tom Venegas and Tim Gilman on guitars, Jim Bailey on drums and Jared Rodgers on bass. Blind Tom’s style was centered more on her personal preference for hard rock and heavy metal than the music Gould had performed with bands in the past.
Scheduling difficulties ensued as Darby decided to perform primarily with Blind Tom, and JS-TNG began working with original Jefferson Airplane female vocalist, Signe Toly Anderson
Signe Toly Anderson
Signe Toly Anderson is an American singer who was one of the founding members of the American rock band Jefferson Airplane.-Early life and joining Jefferson Airplane:...
, and hiring a previous unknown, Diana Mangano initially as Gould’s substitute. Some of Darby’s highlights during this period with JS-TNG included tours of Europe during March 1993 and Japan in 1995.
By 1994, Darby was splitting JS-TNG vocal duties with Mangano.
Gould’s highest profile show with JS-TNG occurred on January 21, 1995 at the House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Hollywood, CA. The concert, set up as a fundraiser for the family of Papa John Creach who had passed the previous year, saw the return of Grace Slick to the band, albeit for one show only. Darby sang the lead vocals for the first two hours, contributing what many consider to be the recording highlight of her career, on a version of Nona Hendryx
Nona Hendryx
Nona Hendryx is an American vocalist, producer, songwriter, musician, author, and actress.Hendryx is known for her work as a solo artist as well as for being one-third of the trio Labelle, who had a hit with "Lady Marmalade." Her music has ranged from soul, funk, dance, and R&B to hard rock, art...
’s “Women Who Fly”, a song Gould had been performing with JS-TNG since early 1992. Slick took over the lead vocals for the next half hour, with Darby contributing backing vocals (along with Paul and Grace’s daughter, China Kantner
China Kantner
China Wing Kantner , is an American actress of television, theatre and the cinema. She is also a former MTV VJ.-Biography:...
) to some of the songs. Highlights of that concert were released later that year on the live album, “Deep Space – Virgin Sky
Deep Space / Virgin Sky
-Expanded Track Listing :-Personnel:*Jack Casady – basses*Marty Balin – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion*Paul Kantner – lead vocals, 12-string guitar*Prairie Prince – drums*Slick Aguilar – lead guitar*Tim Gorman – keyboards, vocals...
”.
In mid-1995 Diana Mangano permanently took over the female vocalist position in JS-TNG for the next 13 years. Darby continued to focus on Blind Tom and also started an acoustic duo with Tom Venegas, dubbed Goo Bonnet, playing cafes and small venues in the Bay Area. In 1996 she returned to the workforce, deciding to sing only on a part-time basis. During this period she also began appearing as a substitute for the female singers in the Bay Area party band, Big Bang Beat, as well as making occasional appearances with Jefferson Starship and filling in for other local bands.
Recent activity
Balancing parenthood with work and her part-time music career, she still found time to rejoin her old band-mates. After a five year absence from Jefferson Starship, Darby returned in 2000 on a part-time basis. Gould contributed lead vocals to three tracks on the 2008 Jefferson Starship album, Jefferson’s Tree of LibertyJefferson's Tree of Liberty
Jefferson's Tree of Liberty is a 2008 studio album by Jefferson Starship, released on September 2, 2008. It is the tenth studio album recorded by the band under the Jefferson Starship name, the first studio album since 1999's Windows of Heaven and the first on a major label by the band since 1989...
. Darby also participated in numerous session work, including Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
Sims 2
The Sims 2
The Sims 2 is a strategic life simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims, which debuted on February 4, 2000. It was first released on September 14, 2004 for Microsoft Windows. A port to Apple Mac OS X...
Nightlife
The Sims 2: Nightlife
The Sims 2: Nightlife is the second expansion pack for The Sims 2, which was released on September 13, 2005 and September 16, 2005 . It was released for Mac OS X on March 27, 2006...
computer game expansion pack. December 2008 saw Gould’s debut in the 1960s girl group tribute theatrical performance of The Coverlettes Cover Christmas at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley, CA. Several critics singled out Darby for her performances. October 2009 saw a reunion concert featuring all six members of World Entertainment War for the first time since 1992. In December 2010, Darby began contributing vocals to a continuing series of recordings under the group name, "Paul Kantner's Windowpane Collective".
Selected discography
- Televisionary World Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...
(1989) - Psychefunkapus PsychefunkapusPsychefunkapusPsychefunkapus was a thrash funk band from the San Francisco Bay Area that released two albums for Atlantic Records in the early nineties. They got their name from their love of psychedelic music and a reference to a P-Funk song warning the coming of the "Funkapus".-History:Psychefunkapus formed in...
(1990) - World Entertainment War World Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...
(1991) - Troubadours of Folk Various Artists (VHS) (1993)
- Deep Space – Virgin SkyDeep Space / Virgin Sky-Expanded Track Listing :-Personnel:*Jack Casady – basses*Marty Balin – lead vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion*Paul Kantner – lead vocals, 12-string guitar*Prairie Prince – drums*Slick Aguilar – lead guitar*Tim Gorman – keyboards, vocals...
Jefferson StarshipJefferson StarshipJefferson 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...
(1995) - Downtown America Dave SharpDave SharpDave Sharp is an English guitarist who co-founded, along with Mike Peters, the Welsh punk rock band The Alarm.-Early career:...
(1996) - Windows of HeavenWindows of Heaven (album)Windows of Heaven is Jefferson Starship's first studio album since reforming in 1992. It was first released in Germany, but the band told fans to wait for a new American remixed version. The single "Let Me Fly" was released along with the American release, but did not chart on the Billboard charts...
Jefferson StarshipJefferson StarshipJefferson 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...
(1998) - Give Too Much World Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment WarWorld Entertainment War is an American funk rock band, formed in 1986, noted for its memorable costumes, props, and antics, both on and off-stage and for songs containing intricate lyrics of a political and often humorous nature...
(2000) - Deeper Space - Extra Virgin Sky Jefferson StarshipJefferson StarshipJefferson 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...
(2003) - Sims 2The Sims 2The Sims 2 is a strategic life simulation computer game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to the best-selling computer game, The Sims, which debuted on February 4, 2000. It was first released on September 14, 2004 for Microsoft Windows. A port to Apple Mac OS X...
Nightlife Expansion PackThe Sims 2: NightlifeThe Sims 2: Nightlife is the second expansion pack for The Sims 2, which was released on September 13, 2005 and September 16, 2005 . It was released for Mac OS X on March 27, 2006...
(Computer Game) (2005) - Summer of Love - 40th Anniversary Various Artists (2007)
- Jefferson’s Tree of LibertyJefferson's Tree of LibertyJefferson's Tree of Liberty is a 2008 studio album by Jefferson Starship, released on September 2, 2008. It is the tenth studio album recorded by the band under the Jefferson Starship name, the first studio album since 1999's Windows of Heaven and the first on a major label by the band since 1989...
Jefferson StarshipJefferson StarshipJefferson 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...
(2008) - Chet Helms Tribal Stomp Various Artists (2008)
- Windowpane Collective Vol. 1 - A Martian Christmas (2010)
- Windowpane Collective Vol. 2 - Venusian Love Songs (2011)