Sad day for Phil Lesh.....

[ggunn]

Never understood the Grateful Dead's mass appeal. I never thought they were that good. Its OK if you tell me I'm wrong. Everyone has an opinion.

Did you ever see them live? I heard their recorded music for many years and, like you, I wasn't particularly interested, but then I went to a show. After that, I never missed a nearby show, and I flew hundreds of miles to see them several times. Their element was the stage and their studio work didn't even remotely approach capturing what they were about.

There was nothing like a Grateful Dead show, before or since.

 

[EddieN]

It's not as bad as finding your own band's album in the cutout section, as happened to me.

fer the youngins, the cutout section was the discounted clearance section in Ye Olde Record Stores, called that cause they'd actually cut a tiny little chunk out of the cover or, in the case of cassette tapes, drill a small hole in it.

 

[Busker]

Did you ever see them live? I heard their recorded music for many years and, like you, I wasn't particularly interested, but then I went to a show. After that, I never missed a nearby show, and I flew hundreds of miles to see them several times. Their element was the stage and their studio work didn't even remotely approach capturing what they were about.

There was nothing like a Grateful Dead show, before or since.

Nope. Never saw them live. Hey, when I was a kid I even had a couple of their albums (Skull & Roses, Workingman's Dead), just because I listened to a little of everything and you know, I took a chance on lots of records and found some real gems. But some lumps of coal, too. There's always the chance, too, that I would hear these albums differently 35 years down the road and find an appreciation for them, but I'm not going to run out and buy them.

I do have some love & respect for Jerry Garcia. I think he was gifted. He played steel guitar on "Teach Your Children" by CSN&Y in case you didn't know that. The Greatful Dead as a band? Just not my among my faves.

 

[waffle puzzle]

Live, the Dead were an EVENT...as anyone who has gone to a show knows.
The parking lot was a hippie festival in it's own right, with clothes, food, and drugs for sale. A bizarre bazzar....an anachronistic mind melt.

The show itself was a long intricate party. The Dead weren't always ON, but when they were, it was a groove-fest. When they were OFF, it was usually only one song long, but no one cared...and it wasn't "just the drugs".

For anyone who has never heard the Dead in their prime, at least pick up a "Dick's Picks" live CD at a used store.