Weighted Down: The Complicated Life of Skip Spence

by Cam Cobb

Weighted The Complicated Life of Skip Spence  is scholar Cam Cobb's biography on the legendary '60s cult musician. As a member of era-defining bands Moby Grape, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and Jefferson Airplane, Spence played a large part in setting the agenda and aesthetic for many other groups of the era. His only solo album, the hugely psychedelic and occasionally challenging 'Oar', cemented his reputation, and he has since gone on to be celebrated by the likes of Tom Waits, Beck, and Robert Plant. However, the musician's life was aggrieved by substance abuse, erratic behaviour, and poor mental health. Cobb regards Spence's life as a whole, warts and all, from his visionary recordings, to his idiosyncratic personality and untimely death at the age of 52.

384 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[John Spiller · Rating 2 out of 5]

To the extent that he is remembered at all, Skip Spence is regrettably thought of as an acid casualty, another victim of the "tune in, turn on" ethos of the late 1960's. There is a grain of truth: Spence's massive ingestion of LSD, alcohol, and heroin likely flash-fried his delicate mental state and transmorgrified a whimsical soul into a full-blown schizophrenic. This salacious aspect coupled with his brief but consequential music career fairly cries out for an in-depth biography. Unfortunately, "Weighted Down" misses the mark.

Cam Cobb previously wrote a biography of Moby Grape and appears to have recycled some outtakes from that bio into "Weighted Down". Time and again, "Weighted Down" digresses on the various travails of other members of Moby Grape wholly unrelated to Skip Spence. The book is also padded out with extraneous detail -- did we really need to know the exact highways and byways the Spence family traveled from Arizona to San Jose? -- that is more distracting than illuminating. It's a shame because Cobb does dispel some legends and myths surrounding Spence -- particularly the idea that he drove a motorcycle straight from Bellevue to Nashville in his pajamas to record Oar. A great story, to be sure, but Cobb explains why it likely didn't happen.

While Cobb elaborates on Spence's sad existence post-Oar, we never really get a sense of the man himself. Though Cobb had access to Skip's sister and first wife, it does not appear that they provided much insight into Skip's inner-self. To the extent that he is quoted at all, Spence tends to talk in goofy. hippy-dippy pronouncements signifying nothing. Ultimately, we are left with a description of what happened but with no explanation as to why.

[Seth Arnopole · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is striking about reading this biography is how young Skip was at various milestones in his life: Navy Reserves at 16, married father at 17, drummer with Jefferson Airplane at 19, co-founder of Moby Grape at 20, recorded his last major work (the solo album Oar) at 22. He died just a couple of days before he would have turned 53.

In a sense, Skip was the central figure of Moby Grape, but it must be said that all five of the original members could write (and sing) great songs. His spirit and influence remained part of the band through all their iterations, whether he was mentally/physically present or not. Sadly, a combination of factors stalled their career, not the least of which was a long-running dispute with a former manager that led to them not being able to perform under their own name at some points, and not receiving any royalties from their albums until the 21st century (and even then, those royalties were not retroactive).

After experiencing a violent breakdown in 1968, Skip left the band. He recorded a true solo album (where he played all the instruments), and although he was sometimes able to participate in musical projects after that, his mental health challenges led to him becoming a ward of the state and sometimes living on the street. A friend of mine used to encounter him panhandling in San Jose in the early 90s.

Weighted Down is a bit uneven, but is worth reading for the insights of Skip's family members and musical associates, and for the context into which the author puts the events of this enigmatic figure's life.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the book

Loved the book. I wanted to read it to know this guy Skip Spence a little better. I think I met him back in 1982 or 83 when this guy, who I figured was homeless, knocked on my door. I was playing my guitar and so he heard it from the street. He asked if he could come in. We sat there and he listened to my crappy playing but was very into it for some reason and kept trying to point out some fingerings for me to play. I finally just asked if he wanted to play and he took my guitar and yes, he could play. I asked if he was ever in a band and he said Moby Grape. I only knew nothing of the band except that my aunt had an album in her collection. Other than that I knew nothing. Not sure if it was Skip or not but from reading the book it seems his personality matched up. I'll probably never know but I really enjoyed the book and story of Skip and Moby Grape.

[Steve Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Skip Spence when I was 15-16 years old. I bought the new Moby Grape album and LOVED every single cut. I followed them throughout their tumultuous career, filled with more highs and lows than any other and known. This was the first REALLY in depth telling of Skips trials and tribulations. I was always aware of “acid causality” and drug addiction allegations, but his mental health was a major factor from very early.

[Kenneth Fairfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many useless details.