All I was working on was that they were as old as my parents, and the lead singer looked homeless. As the years went on, my taste in music shifted to the likes of Dinosaur Jr, Pearl Jam, Butthole Surfers, Henry Rollins, Fugazi, etc. But I always found time for the Grateful Dead. Fast forward to 1997. HS graduation, time to be an adult, the Navy was right around the corner all was rolling full steam ahead. My oldest brother Daryl brought some "tapes" down with him. Those tapes contained something I was not ready for. Something that I have to talk about, something that has to be known.
The gospel was contained in those tapes. I had no idea that there was another side to The Grateful Dead, the side where numerous people would gather in a section of the audience and record the concert. This wasn't your ordinary "Darkstar" or "Cream Puff War." This was live Dead, Jerry would preach the gospel, Bob Weir took up the collection plate, Phil Lesh made sure you paid attention with thunderous six-string notes, Krutzman/Hart kept you in line long enough to melt your face in space. I never got to see the Dead live. The closest I came was in 2001 in Va Beach during the Phil & Friends Tour...still amazing.
Every August since about 2000, I made it a point to listen to nothing but the Grateful Dead for the first week in August...for Jerry, for my brother, for music. I become a "music snob" when it comes to the Grateful Dead; I just don't understand how you can't just stop and listen. Thank you, Jerry, Bob, Phil, Mickey, Bill, Donna, Keith, Pigpen, Brent, Vince (why not), Bill, & Daryl. May the memories continue, and may someone read this and become so sick and tired of me talking about the Grateful Dead that you close your eyes, press play, & live.
