[smile_smile_smile]

IMO the 70s is the Dead at there best, and my man Keith was on the piano.

I love those fender rhodes, deep baritone solos, it compliments jerry's sound so well.

Keith was just the better all around musician, he could play really jazzy then go right into rock n roll.

I love them all in different ways

[AugustWest]

This is an easy one for me. Brent is my favorite individual player (vocalist) and played in my favorite dead period (79-83) so it's brent without even a lot of internal debate. Followed by kieth who was an absolute monster from (72-75). Next is Pigpen just for the good lovin and lovelight raps. Followed by Vince, who I do like. I thought he had some good energy and his first couple tours were really great. 91-mid 93. I think drop off wasn't really his fault either. A collective issue.

[nicolasalk]

PIG-PEN

[bodiddley]

Keith was ok, he rarely took leads though and when he did I always thought they were rather unremarkable, toward the end he was clearly spent.I always thought Pig was way overrated, but his Lovelights do make Bob's versions sound like some cheesy lounge act. Hornsby was great but was guilty of showboating. Brent was then man,unfortunately he suffered from writing some very cheesy/poppy tunes.

[Tennessee Jedi]

Gonna go with Brent.Thought he was the more versatile guy of the bunch.
Kieth would be 2nd for me.Love his style.
There was a guy who did overdubs on Europe 72 (Melvin Seals?)who gets the 3rd spot.

[bodiddley]

Seals did overdubs on Skull&Roses too. At the risk of sounding clueless(Which I usually am), Who the hell is Paige?

[spacehead333]

im guessing paige mcconnel

[Tennessee Jedi]

Phish.
Hes alright.I guess.Sorta.Eh.

[Shaggy]

Merl Saunders did the overdubs on Europe 72.

Jerry didn't meet and start playing with Melvin Seals until 1980.

[Tennessee Jedi]

I couldnt remember his name.
Saunders should get a vote.
Before I found out it wasnt Pig ,I loved it.I still love E 72.

[Shaggy]

This is a bit like asking what era's you prefer.

The thing is when I think of the Grateful Dead as a whole being, not in any time frame I think of a band that has Pigpen in it.

So I have to vote for Pig. Even though on a technical playing level Keith and Brent were both better.

[bodiddley]

Merl Saunders did the overdubs on Europe 72.

Jerry didn't meet and start playing with Melvin Seals until 1980.

That's right, I confuse the two all the time.

[st. stephen]

keith...his style allowed for the most and best full band interplay....

Fully Agreed, that's my favorite Dead Time...., jazzy, warm and bride and very vintage sounding. And that's not just because of Keith of course, but the sound of a sweet piano, a sweet natural guitar (tiger), an undesrcibable rhythm guitar and an awesome bass plus some jazzy Bill drumming will always make me feel sooooo good.......=) I think you know what I mean....

[warrenMFKNhaynes]

I personally think Keith was not that great at all. he was hardly noticeable. He almost blended in as part of the percussion.

[krzykat]

Brent....but seriously Paige puts all of them to shame

and Jo Jo puts paige to shame!