Spencer Dryden used to complain about the length of the songs, especially due to Kaukonen and Casady's solo parts, and I guess this video is a testimony of how he could spend all of his energy in just one act. He left the band (or was fired, according to versions) shortly after this performance, to be replaced by Joey Covington, for a less subtle but more powerful work at drums.
Drydens fills have been a pleasant surprise. Just occurred to me, his departure may have been partly related to Slick switching allegiances to Kantner. Could be wrong of course.
@@DM-hh7wl No, you're right. It's one of the factors that led to his departure. The Airplane was divided into factions. In the early days of glory (1967), there was Slick-Dryden on one side, Kaukonen-Casady on the other. Their manager, Bill Graham, made them tour intensively, Slick-Dryden objected because they wanted more free time, when Kaukonen-Casady were always willing to play. Finally, Slick-Dryden threatened to leave if Graham stayed, so the band had to fire Graham in early 1968 because they couldn't do without Slick. But in the summer of '68, Slick-Dryden's relation began to deteriorate (they'd formed a couple in early 1967). Meanwhile, Kantner was patiently waiting his turn, because he had a secret crush for Slick. And at the same time, Kaukonen-Casady were willing to transform the band into something like Cream, Hendrix Experience, that kind of heavy Blues-Rock music which required more strength and endurance on drums. Slick was really fond of Dryden, she tried to save their couple, but Dryden made no effort of his own. In addition, he had already threatened far more than once to leave, for one reason or another, which led Balin to search for a replacement as early as 1968 (and he found it in the person of Joey Covington, that same year). Finally, just before the spring of 1969, Slick gave up and dated Kantner instead. Dryden becoming isolated, he no longer wheighed much, still the band didn't hurry to fire him. He played all the festivals throughout 1969, but refused to go to Altamont, saying he could feel "bad vibes". Although time has proved he was absolutely right, I think that was what decided the band to fire him for good. So in january of 1970, he got married to Sally Mann, recorded "Have you seen the saucers", played this gig at the Family Dog, and that was it. Even in 1989, for the reunion, they didn't call him. Kantner said that he couldn't forgive the fact that they had to fire Graham as their manager, who was also the most influential local promoter in those days (in fact, Graham continued to have good relations with the band).
