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The Surprising Origin of 'Somebody to Love'
10 Jun
Summary
- Grace Slick's hit 'Somebody to Love' was first released by The Great Society.
- Darby Slick wrote the song after a breakup and fueled by frustration.
- The song's success allowed Darby Slick to study Indian classical music full-time.
The chart-topping 1960s single 'Somebody to Love,' widely recognized as a Jefferson Airplane hit, has a surprising origin. It was originally written by Darby Slick and first released in 1966 by his band, The Great Society, with Grace Slick on vocals. This initial version did not achieve significant success.
Following the departure of Signe Toly Anderson from Jefferson Airplane, Grace Slick joined the legendary San Francisco band. She brought with her two songs that would become major hits: 'White Rabbit' and 'Somebody to Love.' Unlike its initial release, Jefferson Airplane's rendition of 'Somebody to Love' soared to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1967.
The success of 'Somebody to Love' provided a financial boon for its writer, Darby Slick, even though he was not part of Jefferson Airplane. He stated that the royalties allowed him to fully dedicate himself to studying Indian classical music for many years, an endeavor he pursued intensely.
