Here are some of my favorite comical moments of the Dead:
Here, Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia appear on David Letterman in 1982, quite possibly under the influence, yet entertaining with tales from their unconventional lifestyle and their unique philosophies. Garcia even asks Letterman if he has an ashtray.
Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia return to David Letterman in `87 after the release of In the Dark. The results are even funnier than last visit as Weir demonstrates a parlor trick where Weir, David, Paul, and Biff attempt to lift Garcia easily into the air with everyone’s fingers. My favorite line is from Garcia, “My mom didn’t raise me to be no benchwarmer.” Also, there is a hilarious part of the interview where Garcia admits that the Dead have bad nights and have blown some of the biggest concerts of their lives (Monterey, Woodstock, Egypt). Also, there are some funny details shared about their Woodstock performance where there was a short in the electrical system so every time the boys touched their instruments they would be shocked.
This is a hilarious Al Franken interview with keyboardist Brent Mydland from a Halloween night in 1980, as Mydland explains to Franklin how he doesn’t know how to play “St. Stephen”. Fair warning, language not suited for the young-ins.
Could there be a more clash of styles than when the Grateful Dead appeared on Playboy After Dark? What a different time it was…