• The photo has no copyright markings on it as can be seen in the links above and in the unedited copy of the file.
• It can be dated by various events in the history of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship.

Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship in 1974.

The photo was not issued by the band's record company, Grunt/RCA, as there are no markings but for that of the publicity agency or promoter.

The band did not do any touring in 1977 because of member Marty Balin's reluctance to do so.

By 1978, Grace Slick began having serious issues with alcohol dependence; after an embarrassing public performance, she was asked to leave, not returning to the group until 1981, and not recording until 1982. The news story at the link details that Slick had problems with alcohol prior to 1978, which were said to have been solved, as of 1976. Slick had also gained weight; by 1976, she had lost 30 pounds and was slim again, as seen in this image and in the news story photo.

Jefferson Stars Age Gracefully Milwaukee Journal 2 July 1976. The link is of a news story with photo of Kantner and Slick, who have a similar appearance, age-wise, in the news photo.

While Slick re-joined the band in 1981, Kantner left it in 1984. Legal issues over the band's name developed and lasted for years, with Slick's faction re-naming themselves Starship.

• It was created for publicity purposes-distribution to the media. The image was meant to bring attention and publicity for both the recording artists, the same as the publicity photos for actors and actresses in the film industry were intended to do.

Film production expert Eve Light Honthaner in The Complete Film Production Handbook, (Focal Press, 2001 p. 211.):

"Publicity photos (star headshots) have traditionally not been copyrighted. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them is not necessary."

"There is a vast body of photographs, including but not limited to publicity stills, that have no notice as to who may have created them." (The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook By Nancy E. Wolff, Allworth Communications, 2007, p. 55.)

Creative Clearance-Publicity photos

"Publicity Photos (star headshots) older publicity stills have usually not been copyrighted and since they have been disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain and therefore there is no necessity to clear them with the studio that produced them (if you can even determine who did)."