Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin dies at 76

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Marty Balin, cofounder of psychedelic rock band Jefferson Airplane, died Thursday, his representative has confirmed to Rolling Stone. He was 76.

Born Martyn Jerel Buchwal, Balin helped found Jefferson Airplane in San Francisco in 1965. The group came to national fame within two years, playing shows including the Woodstock festival of 1969.

Balin quit the group in 1970, later citing prevalent drug use as a cause for departure. "[S]ome of the chemicals made people crazy and very selfish, and it just wasn't any fun to be around for me," he said. "So I bailed." He eventually reunited with some of the band members to form Jefferson Starship, of which he was a member until 2008.

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Balin is survived by his wife, Susan Joy Balin, and three children. "Marty and I shared the deepest of love — he often called it Nirvana — and it was," Susan said in a statement. "But really, we were all touched by his love. His presence will be within my entire being forever." His cause of death has not been released.