Dan and Eric Appreciate The Grateful Dead

Original five members of The Grateful Dead -- from left, Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzman, Pigpen, Phil Lush and Bob Weir.
Original five members of The Grateful Dead — from left, Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzman, Pigpen, Phil Lush and Bob Weir. Pigpen died two years after this photo was taken.

In tonight’s edition of Dan and Eric’s Music Appreciation Hour, we groove on The Grateful Dead. As is necessary, we leave a lot out of the story, but the program is structured around the four major eras in the band’s history, defined by the long-term keyboard players — Pigpen, Keith, Brent and Vince. We play some off the trodden path music and hang loose.

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4 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for this wonderful hour. I fell in love with the Grateful Dead in 1971 and their music has brought me joy and inspiration ever since. I did not stay current with a lot of their later work, however, and before today had never heard “The Days Between.” What a profoundly haunting and moving song. It made me weep — for Jerry, for myself, and for all of us.

  2. Listener Comment:

    Thank you so much for this wonderful hour. I fell in love with the Grateful Dead in 1971 and their music has brought me joy and inspiration ever since. I did not stay current with a lot of their later work, however, and before today had never heard “The Days Between.” What a profoundly haunting and moving song. It made me weep — for Jerry, for myself, and for all of us.

  3. I loved Pigpen, he was so sweet but then he could growl, when he went into Lovelight or Good Mornin Little Schoolgirl, he could work a crowd. Happy times at the Fillmore East with a head full of Bear’s finest. Was at all those Winterland shows, remember how bright the movie lights were. I love the Brent era too, his voice and he seemed to really challenge Jerry to up his playing. About midi, let’s not forget Bob Bralove, who was the sound technician/synthesizer player who was their midi guru. I still go to shows, the music and community is still alive and it’s fun to see the various band members and their current projects in smaller venues. Mickey Hart is experimenting with a scientist at UCSF (Dr Adam Gazzarly) doing mad scientist experiments with rhythm and the brain. The current incarnation of Ratdog is touring and sound great, and Bob Weir’s Tri Studios is broadcasting of new bands online. Phil Lesh is a happy camper playing bass almost every night at his restaurant/club Terrapin Crossroads up in San Rafael and whenever I see him he has a huge grin on his face. Billy K was playing with a great band, Seven Walkers, until he was sidelined by an elbow injury. And Robert Hunter is still writing/occasionally playing. I was never a fan of MegaDead (all those drunk people spilling beer on me) and am glad I got to see them back in the early days. Days Between ALWAYS makes me tear up.

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