Fifteen years ago, Jerry Garcia died.
Did that sink in?
The year was 1995. I had just graduated high school. And was about to start my freshman year of college. I had begun working on a feature film that would prove to be my first foray into the audio profession. For me, it was a time of new beginnings and new experiences. For others, it was the end of an era.
First off, let me say that it took me 33 years to appreciate the Dead. My first introduction to the band was when I was about fourteen and listened to a cassette of 60’s Hits that belonged to my friend Aaron’s parents. The song on the compilation was Truckin’ (even though song was released in 1970). I thought it was a great song but dared not say anything when Aaron began making fun of the lyrics:
Truckin’ like the doodah man…
“What is a doodah man?” asked Aaron. I shrugged my shoulders.
My second introduction was during art class in high school. While we worked, we were allowed to listen to the radio. One day, Touch of Grey came on. It was such a nice relaxing groove that I never wanted it to end.
We will get by, we will get by…
When it did, I moved on.
Probably the same year, I bought the soundtrack for Fillmore: The Last Days. At the time, I was a huge fan of the rock promoter Bill Graham. For those who don’t know, Graham was responsible for the concert venues the Fillmore East and Fillmore West as well as Winterland. Name any major act of the 60’s, and there is a good chance he promoted them. One of the Graham’s favorite band was the Grateful Dead. Even that didn’t make me a fan, but I did appreciate the Dead’s contributions to the album, Casey Jones and Johnny B. Goode.
This is the one that it’s all about… (intro to Johnny B. Goode)
One day, a cassette of the Grateful Dead’s greatest hits album, Skeletons from the Closet appeared in my car. I really don’t know whose it was or how I came into possession of it. But I would listen to it some days as I was driving to and from school. My favorites were Turn on Your Love Light (which would sometimes reach 30 minutes live) and Rosemary (the Dead’s shortest song at under 2 minutes). I still didn’t consider myself a fan. Or admit that I was a casual listener.
When I was a senior in high school, I decided I would make an honest effort to become an actual fan of the band. I purchased a CD of American Beauty which was considered their best studio album. Yes, it was good. But I felt it was bit overrated. Or at least I convinced myself of it.
That same year, Jerry Garcia would die. I still remember that one of their last concerts was at the Pyramid in Memphis. And I knew someone who went to it. I was even a little jealous. Still, Garcia’s passing had little effect on me as say Kurt Cobain’s did a year prior.
A year later, I would visit my hippie cousin Hal in Oregon. He traveled with a garbage bag full of Grateful Dead bootlegs and a dog named Ripple. During our road trips, his musical choice would be David Grisman where as mine would be the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and the Magnetic Fields. It seemed that my chance to really get into the Dead had passed me by.
Or so I thought.
Then out of nowhere, I become a Deadhead at 33 years old. I don’t even know how it exactly started. But when it did, it was intense. And like Lays Potato Chips, it’s hard to have just one. So, I have accumulated far too many Dead shows from Internet Archive. And have probably spent way too many hours listening to the same ole songs.
So what is it about the Dead? Well, the boys are relaxing. Listening to the Dead is like laying on the couch watching college football on a cool autumn day. That’s a compliment.
Without a doubt, the core the Dead was Jerry Garcia. And when he died, the Dead died too. Sure, there have been many incarnations of the Grateful Dead (some that are actually quite good) but they all pale in comparison to the contributions of the original architect. Garcia might have had a drug habit and a poor diet. But he was also an extremely talented, disciplined musician. He was also a kind individual that had a quirky sense of humor.
Check out this hilarious video of Garica joking around with comedian/politician Al Franken about his missing finger that he lost when he was 12 years old:
Tonight, the San Francisco Giants are honoring the musical legend as part of a Jerry Garcia Tribute Night with members of the Dead throwing out the first pitch and singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. The event is sold out:
I wish I could be there. Finally, I wouldn’t be too embarrassed to show my love.
– Expect a few more posts throughout the day as I finally admit my admiration for the Grateful Dead.