[Henry]

It would be interesting to know, how does everyone consider him? I'm mostly a guitar player but always liked the sound of the B-3 organ and think Pigpen's way of playing was nice, it's obvious he was no virtuoso like Brent, but what he played was simple but effective and fitted the song. I understand the others eventually found him too limited but at the time, in the '60s, it sounded like the right thing. Is it true he was pretty much self taught? Also, can anyone name some shows where Pigpen played a lot of organ and it came through well? It seems after '70, even after TC quit, he played less and less of it and limited himself to the songs where he sang lead or the occasional harmonica. For instance, on Three From The Vault there still are some nice organ parts, on DP 35, a few months later, sadly there isn't really that much of it.

[High Peaks]

his old man was a local dj at an R and B- blues station. So he was exposed to a lot of the music. He was more of their front man then a player to me. Although he did play a sweet harp!

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

I love Pig, don't get me wrong, but on the keys he kind of sounds like a bad Bar Mitzvah band player.

L'chaim Pig, l'chaim.

[IamDocWatson]

i dont like his organ playing...to be honest he was cool and fun but i really dont listen to alot of pig stuff...except stuff when tc or keith was there also...most of the songs where he played organ were all like 1 4 5 standard progressions anyhow so overall i just get a little bored

[nicolasalk]

i like a lot pigpen organ playing, but i dont remember many shows in where i have listened to it up in the mix

[st. stephen]

most of the songs where he played organ were all like 1 4 5 standard progressions anyhow so overall i just get a little bored

I agree to a certain degree. I mean in their heavy psychedelic era (65 to 69 maybe) it matches quite well with the music but from 72 on the band became musically so accomplished that his playing could'nt keep up with the rest of the band

[Tango_grass]

I love Pig's Organ playin.
Some of those Europe 72 shows have some great stuff where Keith would play piano licks and Pig would hold these chords on the organ, man I love em, unfortunatly, not very many of them....

[IamDocWatson]

yea when he lays back and keith accompanied him its was better...but the like birth of the dead stuff with pig just slammin chords...thats not my cup of tea....which reminds me...im gonna go make a cup of tea

[lonesomecowboyBILL]

I think the organ on the birth of the dead is great. I don't know what it is on that album, but i love it.

[Shooster]

I love Pig's organ on early Darkstars.
doo doo doot do do doot da doot.
Just as simple descent that really ties the song together, because it's the only unchanging anchor of the song.

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

I think the good organ on the keys in those early Dark Stars is TC not pig.

[Shaggy]

Pigpen served a purpose on the organ and how can anyone really dislike his funky vibe of the early stuff. Thats what it was all about. But yes time soon moved on and it wasn't suited anymore but Pig was a great frontman and harp player and had unquestionable soul, musical timing and taste. The only natural frontman the GD ever had.

[spacehead333]

i think he sounded great for the era. he fitted the band perfectly, and didn't need to be spectacular

[tigerstrat]

I think the good organ on the keys in those early Dark Stars is TC not pig.

On the earliest Dark Stars, such as 1/20/68, 8/24/68, 9/2/68, 10/13/68, 11/1/68 etc., the simple organ part IS played by Pigpen. T.C. didn't join until 11/23/68... and obviously he elaborated quite a bit.

[Shooster]

I think the good organ on the keys in those early Dark Stars is TC not pig.

On the earliest Dark Stars, such as 1/20/68, 8/24/68, 9/2/68, 10/13/68, 11/1/68 etc., the simple organ part IS played by Pigpen. T.C. didn't join until 11/23/68... and obviously he elaborated quite a bit.

Booyah! Anyways am I alone in really digging that simple figure he plays?