Artists like Led Zeppelin and Elton John toured around in a Boeing 720 private jet that featured a bar and a waterbed see inside The Starship
Taylor Rains
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
- The Starship was a Boeing 707 variant that carried famous rock artists like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin.
- The plane was built in 1960 and flew for United Airlines before being bought and turned into a flying tour bus.
The age of rock and roll started in the 1950s with iconic artists like Elvis Presley and Little Richard.
Little Richard performing in 1957 for the movie Mister Rock And Roll. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Source: Britannica
These world-famous musicians pioneered the genre, recording Billboard top hits like Presley's 1956 Heartbreak Hotel, which sold over 300,000 copies in its first week.
Getty
Source: Billboard, The Current
These artists inspired other rock groups, like The Beatles, to rise in the 1960s and reshape the genre into the styles we know today.
The Beatles rehearsing in the basement of the Deauville Hotel on February 15, 1964. Getty Images
Source: Britannica, Readers Digest
Bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones took the world by storm, with adorning fans traveling all over to see them play.
Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images
With their rise in fame, they set off on month-long tours, parading from show to show in buses and limousines.
The Rolling Stones in a limo in Zurich in 1967. Blick/RDB/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Source: Britannica
However, as the 1970s rolled around and their fame grew, these rock bands wanted to take their wealth and success to new heights.
Boeing's first Boeing 720 aircraft, registered N7201U. Boeing
Source: Britannica
So, some started chartering a Boeing 707 quad-engine variant, known as "Starship," for a staggering $2,500 per hour, which is about $17,000 today.
The Starship with "Led Zeppelin" written across the fuselage. Laurance Ratner/WireImage via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
Here's a look inside the impressive Boeing private plane that carried some of the most famous rock artists to ever live.
Deep Purple singer David Coverdale onboard the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
The Starship aircraft was a Boeing 720, which was a variant of the Boeing 707 that was built to fly shorter flights and operate on shorter runways.
The Dash 80 (pictured), which is the prototype for the 707, first rolled off the assembly line at Renton in May 1954. The Boeing 720 program was launched in 1957 and the first flew commercially in 1960. Boeing
Source: Boeing
Delivered to United in October 1960, the Starship was the first-ever Boeing 720 to be built.
The first Boeing 720 flew commercially with United Airlines. Bill Larkins/Flickr
Source: Boeing
The 138-seater plane flew commercially for 13 years before being sold in 1973 and transformed into a rock and roll private jet.
Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones onboard the Starship in 1975 during the band's Tour of the Americas. Christopher Simon Sykes/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Source: Billboard
The 720 was purchased by pop singer Bobby Sherman and his manager, Ward Sylvester, for $600,000, which is more than $4 million in 2023.
Deep Purple members disembarking the Starship during their 1974 tour. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Dollar Times, Billboard
The pair then started a $200,000 (more than $1.3 million in 2023) project to retrofit the interior of the jet to create an extravagant flying home for world-famous rock bands.
Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones and his wife Mo by the Starship's fireplace during the 1973 North American tour. Express/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Source: Dollar Times, Billboard
With many grandiose amenities, like a white fur bedspread and an electric organ behind the bar, the plane was the height of luxury.
Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones plays a Thomas electric organ located behind the bar. Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Source: Billboard
Big-name artists like Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, and The Allman Brothers Band all chartered the tricked-out jet, which only sat 40 people after the redesign.
The Starship with "Allman Brothers Band" written across the fuselage. Steve Williams/Airliners.net
Source: Billboard
Led Zeppelin was the first to use the 720 to travel between cities on their 1973 North American tour, paying Sherman and Sylvester $30,000 (about $200,000 in 2023) to rent it for the remainder of their shows.
From left to right: Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant pose in front of The Starship during their 1973 tour. Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Source: Billboard, Far Out Magazine, Dollar Times
Well-known author and photographer Bob Gruen took an iconic portrait of the band in front of the Starship in 1973, telling Insider his photo "sums up the excess of the 70s."
Bob Gruen poses with his photographs of John Lennon and Led Zeppelin during "Punk, Myths + Legends" Private Viewing in July 2022 in London. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Source: Bob Gruen
"They didn't even have to button their shirts," he said. "A lot of musicians told me that was the goal, to be a guy who just walked around with their shirt open and flew around on their own plane."
Members of Deep Purple pose in front of the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
He also explained that the jet was a better option for the bands who didn't like the inconvenience of moving hotels and continuously unpacking and repacking.
Deep Purple poses with gold discs onboard the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
"With the plane, they could base at one hotel like the Four Seasons in New York and just take a car to the airport, skip security, and commute to work," he said. "It was a much easier way to travel."
The Starship parked and ready to pick up members of Deep Purple during their 1974 tour. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Described by Gruen as a "flying tour bus," the jet had myriad spaces to sit back and relax, like a long brass bar…
Deep Purple singer David Coverdale at the Starship bar during the band's 1974 tour. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…an electric organ built into the bar to play live music…
Deep Purple singer David Coverdale (left) and bassist Glenn Hughes (right) at a piano onboard the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…a 30-foot-long couch…
Deep Purple members (left to right) Jon Lord, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Paice sit onboard the Starship and its famous couch in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…a TV and video player…
A young woman sits in front of the TV on the Starship during Led Zeppelin's 1973 tour. Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…plush revolving armchairs…
Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice sits on the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…a bedroom complete with a king-sized water bed, an electric fireplace, and a standing shower…
Deep Purple singer Dave Coverdale on the white fur bedspread onboard the Starship. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…and a first class section with giant loungers and tables.
Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore on the Starship during the band's 1974 American tour. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
With the sleek finishes, Zeppelin slapped their band name across the fuselage and put the plane to good use, hosting parties and getting into plenty of shenanigans onboard.
The paint job on the Starship during Led Zeppelin's 1975 tour. Laurance Ratner/WireImage via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
Led Zeppelin's road manager, Richard Cole, told the New York Times in 2003 that there was plenty of alcohol to go around, calling the jet "a floating gin palace."
Led Zeppelin manager Richard Cole and singer Robert Plant sit on the white fur bedspread on the Starship. Express Newspapers/Getty Images
Source: The New York Times
However, the band's success shined through with the thousands of dollars worth of champagne they had onboard.
Deep Purple poses by the bar onboard the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: The New York Times
"In those days, we went through a phase where we only drank '64 and '66 Dom Pérignon," Cole said. "If we found a good deal we'd have one of the assistants buy several cases and store it on the plane."
Led Zeppelin at the Starship bar during their 1973 tour. Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Source: The New York Times
The English band was not the only artist to travel in style onboard the custom 720. Deep Purple used the plane in 1974…
Deep Purple in front of the Starship in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Billboard
…while Elton John used the jet for his tours from 1973 to 1976.
Late photographer Terry O'Neill posing with his book "Eltonography A Life in Pictures" at his exhibition of the same name in 2008. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
Source: Elton John
Gruen told Insider that he was onboard the jet with a hungover John, who was not in the mood to do much before his evening show. But, unbeknownst to John, Gruen said the team secretly snuck Stevie Wonder onboard to play the piano.
Stevie Wonder playing the piano in Detroit in 1974. Bob Gruen took a photo of John and Wonder in the Starship, which was posted to his website and Twitter. Icon and Image/Getty Images
Source: Bob Gruen
"Finally, Elton walks to the bar, and Stevie was playing Crocodile Rock or something on the piano, and Elton's mood immediately changed," he said.
Elton John and photographer Bob Gruen at the 20th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing in 2012. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for EJAF
Source: Bob Gruen
While the jet was the height of luxury during its hey day, the 720's poor operating economics and inefficient four engines made it unsustainable.
Rolling Stones photographer Christopher Simon Sykes boards the Starship in 1975. Christopher Simon Sykes/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Guitarist Peter Frampton was the last to use the Boeing aircraft in 1976 for his European tour.
Peter Frampton live concert in Berlin in November 2022. Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Peter Frampton
The plane had a few more years of service with Aeroamerica and Private Jet Services before being parked in London in 1979 and scrapped in 1982.
Deep Purple singer Dave Coverdale in the Starship cockpit in 1974. Fin Costello/Redferns via Getty Images
Source: Simple Flying
Despite its short life as a VIP transport aircraft, the Starship will go down in history as one of the most iconic private jets to ever fly.
Rolling Stones guitarists Keith Richards (left) and Ron Wood (right) chat onboard the Starship in 1975. Christopher Simon Sykes/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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