JGB: Pirate's Party & Pirate's Ball

[old man down]

One day years ago I was messing around with the chords to Tangled Up in Blue and I mentioned to a friend how I really liked the way Jer would play this song. My friend said he heard the song played by the JGB when on a boat on the Hudson River. He said he got there early and was sitting on the floor close enough to Jerry that he could touch him if he really tried. I stopped playing and asked, "What did you just say? You were close enough to touch Garcia when he was playing?" "Yeah, it was on one of those sort of Circle Line boats that goes up and down the Hudson, around New York City." I asked him how he ever found out about that and wasn't it sold out or anything? He said that at the time he didn't even know anything about JGB and just happened to be in NYC in that area at the time and it was something to do.

Apparently, twice Jerry played this sort of venue. With Old And In The Way on September 5th, 1973 and with the Jerry Garcia Band on September 15th, 1976, the show he must have seen because Tangled Up In Blue is listed on the set list in DeadBase XI.

Anyone know anything about these shows? Did you go to these? What were they like? (I've lost touch with this friend.)

It must have been one of the most obscure places to hear Jerry, really small intimate environment, you could buy drinks I imagine, you've got the evening NYC skyline going by, and open air for whatever else you had in mind.

[jonarobb]

Both gigs were Electric Jerry. The one in 73' was Jerry and Merl, John Kahn and Bill Kreutzman. The one in 76' was Jerry Garcia Band with Keith and Donna, John Kahn and Ron Tutt from Elvis Presley's Band. Both were private Hells Angels parties. Absolutely legendary here in NYC. I know someone personally that went to the 1976 one and said everyone, including the band ate tremendous amounts of mushrooms.

The 1973 Pirates Party on the boat was a bookend of the Deads legendary Sept 73' shows at Nassau Colliseum.

I think this is also when Jerry got nailed on the NJ Turnpike for weed and acid.

My mistake, i just looked that up and he got busted March 27th, 1973 for speeding and LSD. It's in the Newark Star Ledger archives

[tigerstrat]

Yeah, I think your friend must have been an Angel... or perhaps w/ some very good connex in the music world.

It's also the very first show where Jerry played the Irwin Wolf, as near as anyone can tell.

[jonarobb]

Here's audio from the 1976 Pirates Party....

http://tela.sugarmegs.org/_asxtela/jgb1 ... sParty.asx

[astroman99]

I believe it was a wedding, Bo Diddley and Elepahant's Memory also performed.

[old man down]

I've been thinking about this a LOT since reading all of your replies. I'm still not sure which of two possible friends told me this story. One friend, who was a BIG Jerry fan, and was the lead guitarist in the band I was in, who I haven't seen in 30 years, may have been the guy, or another friend may have told me and and if that were the case then it was like I described, that he really didn't plan ahead for this and just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

The one thing I am sure about was the detail of his sitting on the floor, literally right at Jerry's feet.

Neither of them was a Hell's Angel so I still can't imagine how he got on board.

I've been on a couple of Blues Cruises around Manhattan since hearing of this and it is a blast when the weather is nice, no matter who's playing. It's just a really fun experience, and a cool concept.

Keep the replies comin'!

[jonarobb]

I believe it was a wedding, Bo Diddley and Elepahant's Memory also performed.

Again, there were 2 seperate Hells Angels Pirates Parties, one in 1973, and one in 1976. The 73' one had Bo and Elephants Memory. The 76' show was just The Jerry Garcia Band

9-5-1973
SS Bay Belle (New York City Harbor), New York, NY

Jerry Garcia, Merl Saunders, John Kahn, Bill Kreutzmann

It's No Use
Favela
You Can Leave Your Hat On
Mystery Train
Harder They Come
Think
Finders Keepers
That's Allright Mama






9-15-1976
Hells Angels Private Party Benefit For S. Alexander Legal Fund
SS Duchess (New York City Harbor), New York, NY

Jerry Garcia, Keith Godchaux, Donna Godchaux, John Kahn, & Ron Tutt


How Sweet It Is
Catfish John
After Midnight
Stir It Up
Tore Up

Sugaree
Midnight Moonlight
The Way You Do the Things You Do
They Love Each Other
Stop That Train
Mighty High

[Moe]

Yes, it was for real. I was there, and found this post when I was looking up info. The Dead were in the bottom of the boat, and few people were allowed down there, just the Angels. There were video screens set up around the boat. My boyfriend took me, I have no clue how he got the tickets. It was wild..and lasted all night.

[540EYE]

Hi all........
I was at the Pirate's Ball with Elephant's Memory and Bo Doddley. I seem to remember some sorta wedding, but I'm shakey on those details......brain functions somewhat depleted since then. What I do remember is that the ticket was a actually poster about 8" X 11" with a drawing of a pirate ship and all the group's names, date, time the boat would sail and from which pier.
I STILL HAVE THIS POSTER!! ------uh, ticket filed away in an archive box. My curiosity is peaked and I'm gonna pull it out this weekend to gaze at it !! Then frame it!

I also remember Hell's Angel guys on the upper deck with lotsa nitrous cylinders and clear fish-tank tubing rigged to them. You could just walk up and take a hit---no hassle or anything!!

This thread brought back huge memories......and chills !!

gERV

[JonnyBoy]

Wow man, that's cool. Can you take a picture of it and post it here? I would love to see it. That would be an awesome show!!

[masonskids]

There are video snippets of the 73 boat ride in the movie Hells Angels Forever, which I believe Jerry had a part in the making of. One of the Angels got married and Jerry & Merle played the reception. Looked like a pretty good time. Would love to come across the outtakes from it!

[tcsned]

I found this on YouTube - pretty funny

[Bill460]

Just thinking about this show today and found this forum.
I was there in 76. High times Mag. provided the free N2O. Lost my hat & Coat so I did buy poster that I still have.
Great Show, when we hit the wake from another boat Jerry started bending his notes to go with the rockin.
Thanks to all for remembering this show. Up the Hudson to GW Bridge, down then up East River under Brooklyn Bridge. Hours of music.
We bought tickets in NJ, Ticketon?......

[sayboah]

I was just thinking of this show this morning. Great time. If my memory is correct ( and like most dead heads, it might not be ), the wedding was an impromptu thing. I mean this couple planned to get married at the show, but it wasn't part of the original show. I've never been so close to Jerry. When they took the stage ( he had to go thru the crowd to get there ) he kinda brushed by me and I remember very clearly the look that I got from one of the Hell's Angels escort that put the fear of God in me. Don't remember though how I got tix or how I found out about this show.

[mkaufman]

I've seen pictures of the '76 show - can't remember where... Maybe I have them in storage?

mk