[myoung6923]

Here's an old video from the day after Jerry died -

Here's the video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7_gW9heutk

Here's the story:

Back when Jerry died in ’95 I was living in Buffalo, NY and was playing with the Maniacs. Well, We had a regular Wednesday night gig at the Central Park Grill in Buffalo and on the morning of Wed. August 9th we found out that Jerry had passed.

Enormously saddened none of us knew quite how we would pull off this gig. As it turned out, a lot of fellow Deadheads that night needed a place to get together and they chose the Central Park Grill. When we showed up to play there was quite a crowd and they had adorned the stage with pictures, posters, flowers, candles... it was really moving.

We started off the set with He’s Gone and I don’t think that there was a dry eye in the house. People were just sitting on the floor crying and cheering at the same time. I think everyone got out their tears in that first song because the rest of the night ramped up into a blazing night of celebration - the celebration of Jerry.

So at around 11:00 PM the local news crews come in to cover the story of the deadheads in mourning and were surprised at this “wake”. They did the “live at 11” spots from the outside of the bar (they had asked us to turn down so that they could film inside - not likely!).

One of the news producers had asked me and the other guitarist (Bryan Staddon) if we could come in to the studio in the morning for a local morning news show called AM Buffalo and they would do a bit about Jerry and we could play a couple of songs on acoustic. Of course, we agreed.

The bars in Buffalo are open until 4 AM and we played right up to closing time. After tearing down and making it home I was lucky if I hit the pillow by 6 only to be in the studio by 8 (VERY hungover I might add...).

There was this wired little producer that ran us through the soundcheck and told us to play Sugaree and... I don’t remember what the other one he wanted was. And finally the time came, the wired little producer guy counted down & we were on... We went right into He’s Gone and the producer was just about pulling his hair out because it wasn’t the song that he wanted.

The piece went well and when they cut to commercial I thought they were going to kick us out. But they didn’t - the producer ended up loving the selection. Towards the end of the show we were able to finish with Friend of the Devil.

All in all it was great fun and an honor to be able to give our little tribute and fare thee well to Jerry. I also thought that the station did a pretty good job giving Jerry a nice tribute. With so many news organizations focusing on Jerry’s problems - this one didn’t.

Mike Y.

[jck_strw]

That's very cool. You're the non tie-dyed fellow, right? Well done, both songs.

[gr8fulbluz]

I needed that story, I dont know why but I did. Thanks for sharing made my night all the better

[myoung6923]

Thanks! Yse I'm the non-tye dyed guy.

[jackr]

Mike,
That was great. THANK YOU!

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

Yeah Mike, that was fantastic. I needed that too.