Passed away after long illness. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen says on his site: http://www.jormakaukonen.com/thoughts.htm Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Austin, Texas The times of a man's life. Sometimes the scenes flit by your eyes like the 3D images in a viewmaster. I just heard that my old band mate and friend, Spencer Dryden, died last night. I was so fortunate that I was able to talk to him several times in the past couple of months. We joked together that some of our contemporaries considered us in late middle age... late middle age if you plan on living to be 130 years old. Yes, we were two older men talking together from the perspective of our age... and it felt like home. For me, the incarnation of the Airplane I liked best was the one with Spencer, Paul, Marty, Jack, Grace and myself. We struggled together... occasionally lived together... argued together... loved together... and made some great music together. A time past... a time of being young together... a time that only exists today in our mind's eye. Indeed... What a time! Spencer had been so sick for such a long time. It is easy of course, to say that he is in a better place, but I believe it to be so. When the quality of life diminishes beyond acceptability if we are lucky, we get to move one. Spencer, you were a part of my youth, my growth... my journey. In the last year we became reacquainted again and you became a part of my journey once more. I will treasure the things you said to me when "Friends" used Embryonic Journey for their closing episode. There are many who will always be a part of my life, living in my heart and my memory... You are in that grand company for sure. Your pain is gone... that jaundiced eye with which you always looked at the world is bright again... No one could say 'Awww man,' with more dripping disdain than you. It was in a class with my Grandmother saying 'Feh!' to the world. Your door into summer has opened... enjoy the journey old friend. Ride free to the edge of the world!