[shakedown_04092]

This is more for a question for those of you who were touring or saw the Dead in the early-to-mid-80's.

I was just watching that Althea vid that someone posted on another thread. It's from early '81, and Jerry still hasn't gotten big yet, so I started wondering, at what point was it that really he started to pork out to the point where his weight became a health issue? I'm guessing between '82 and '86, but do you guys specifically remember watching him get bigger over the years? And when was the point where you said "wow, Papa Bear's gotten pretty fat since last tour, what's up with that?"

I mean, gradually from the 60's to the 80's he filled out with age (as most of us do), but the point from that to the point where his weight was an issue was really a fast transition and probably facilitated his health issues to the point where he fell into the coma.

I was always impressed how Bob, Phil, Mickey & Billy were able to keep their shape through their careers, being on the road and all. Bob has put on some weight nowadays, but he's getting older, so it's sort of expected, and it's not even that much. But Phil is skinnier than ever, most likely due to his operation/disease and subsequent health status & having to keep keep in fair health, etc.

[ker1227]

i think a little white powder was helping bobby and phil stay slim in the 80s

[humboldtnorm]

I saw alot of shows in the 80's. I consider it my deacade for Dead shows. Phil was getting kind of chunky(he talks about it in "Searching for the Sound") in the early to mid 80's. Ya, it seemed like every tour Garcia looked worse durring that time. '85 was really bad but they sounded great. I think that was when I first saw bumper stickers saying "The Fat Man Rocks" followed by "The Fat Man Melts". Bobby seems to be the most healthy. He's looking good in his early 60's, these days.

[b weird]

Yeah, Bobby, Mickey, and to a certin extent Billy stayed pretty slim. Phil got a little big but he lost it sometime between '95-'00 must have been from his operation/illness as stated before. Now Phil looks pretty decent for a man of his age what is he 67? Poor Jerry though he really balloned in the '80's. In '80-'81 he was a little chubby but bt '85-'86 he was quite large. Maybe if he had watched his weight like Bobby or Mickey he would be still here rockin' with the boys. Maybe we also wouldn't have that evil Deborah Koons runnin' Jerry's estate. Well peace.

[CountryMile Cadillac]

How in the hell can ya'll remember that far back? All I know is the faster we go, the rounder we get...

[astroman99]

As I remember, 1982 was the last kinda of thin year for Jerry, by the end of 1983 he had already ballooned up, 1982 is how I remember him long hair and thin and crazy, crazy playing and still a great voice!!!

[gratephulphish123]

i think a little white powder was helping bobby and phil stay slim in the 80s

jerry was using the same white powder and he balooned, and yeah in phils book he mentions getting fat and being a drunk but i dont remember a cocaine reference

[astroman99]

Phil didn't mention all the bad things he did, would you? I mean he is a well repsected Father and Husband now.

[BlobWeird]

i think a little white powder was helping bobby and phil stay slim in the 80s

As far as I know Bobby and Phil stayed off that stuff after the late 70's. Phil being a big drinker in the 80's and Bobby I think was pretty much clean at that point on. But from like 75-80 they were definitely a bit coked up.

[LazyLightnin]

round '87 Jerry looked like a completely different person then any other year. the greasy flannel didnt help either, and his guitar just looks like a toy propped on his gut

[AugustWest]

summer 83 and then by 84 he was huge! and got bigger in 85. Imo the sight of him in 87 was a pleasant change he looked about 60 pound lighter.

Phil does mention in his book that he would take a bump of coke to wake himself up in the morning then get jittery and drink some beer. Then feel tired and take a line. then drink to calm himself down. So yeah phil was big into the coke to. I think all that kinda stopped for phil in about 81 or 82.

[Tennesse]

I feel really lucky to have seen the Man 30 times from '86-90.I think I remember reading a quote from R.Hunter(I think) saying he kept wondering when he would see the headline "Jerry Garcia,famous in the 60s',dead."Pretty amazing that he lived how he lived and made it as long as he did.He might have left the planet,but his music never will.......

[LazyLightnin]

this is the Jerry from '87 i was talkin about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urxteho4Rr4

btw i love WPCS, so simplistic but the lyrics are great, and for awhile they seemed to like playin it.

[shakedown_04092]

this is the Jerry from '87 i was talkin about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urxteho4Rr4

btw i love WPCS, so simplistic but the lyrics are great, and for awhile they seemed to like playin it.

Agreed - I always was a big fan of this song but most folks I knew weren't for some reason. Wish they'd kept playing it....

[spacehead333]

it doesnt matter he is still a god