[Pete B.]

I saw them alot in the 78-81 timeframe in the NY/NJ/PA area... mostly MSG, Nassau, and the Spectrum, with some smaller JGB or Bobby & The Midnights shows at Kean College, the Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ, etc.
They were huge in that area at that time.
I remember early on asking a friends older brother if they were only popular in our town (Cranford, NJ), and him saying, oh no maan, they are like world wide now (pulling out E72 to show me).
Funn Stuff!

[FretfulDave]

I knew about them and were following them for two years before I first saw them in 1976. Big, yes, popular? not in my experience. Which at the time was college. I remember that the "merchandising" was not anything like what it was from the early 80s on. I think the parking lot "scene" really expanded during that time. I have recollections of a lot of partying in line waiting for the doors to open. They could do small or pretty big. Passaic and Cap Center as examples. I did the Spectrum starting in the early 80's. That holds about 17,000 and the Capital Theater in Passaic was like 3 - 4 thousand. My later concert bud had seen them at runs at the Tower in the late 70s, which they played a lot and is also in the 3k range. I hit a number of outdoor shows but those were always hard to figure the size of the audience.

One thing I missed later on was in the late 70s, at least, there was a dancing section behind the sound board rather than the now familiar taper section. You could watch the spinners and the human chains writhing below when in the arenas. Or go yourself! The taper section brought us a lot, no doubt, but I always love watching the groove.

Good memories. Lots of tales to be shared, I'm sure.

Dave

[SailorSaint]

At that time was the band accessible to the fans? Did they make appearances on the street before shows?

As well, what was the LSD/drug situation? Could you score at shows or was it bring your own?

I can remember in the late 80's/early 90's it wasn't always easy to get LSD, but when the GD came to town so did the acid and all of a sudden for the next few months everyone was offering it to you.

(sorry if the drug discussion offends anyone but it certainly was a part of the scene)

[deadguise]

While waiting in line (all day) for the show you could see members of the band drive up to the stage loading door behind Winterland. For the incredible price of $6 (plus $1 BASS service charge) you could see 3 sets plus many encores.

[tigerstrat]

I first saw them in 85, and while Alpine Valley was well-attended, tickets were still on sale for $12 at the box office. It wasn't until 1987 that I really saw large numbers of people hard up for tickets at sold-out basketball arenas like UIC, Hampton, Oakland. By 89, even huge outdoor shows became difficult to score if you hadn't mail-ordered or camped out the night before a ticketmaster onsale date... anyone remember "The List" from those ticket campouts??? Those were some good parties for sure... like a little slice of GD chaos broke off for one night and took over the parking lot of a record store or a sporting goods store... the days before the "bracelet" system was enacted.

[I'm on the Bozo Bus]

My two cents....
First show was April 28, 1980. I jumped on the bus about six months later. I have slept in more hotel room bath tubs, backseats of cars.... one learned after a while what the REAL bare essentials were... I always carried a semi-clean towel (Thanks to the Hitch-hikers guide) a hammock, a guitar, paper and pen and when I could afford it a stack of blanks.
As Utopian as it may seem, I was never "without". Sure, there were nights when I couldn't score a ticket, however I wasn't the only one, we made our own music. We always had a crowd. I would venture to guess I have crossed paths with a few folks on RU KIND... Anyone ever not get a ticket and sit around in the parking lot / alley and play, sing and laugh...
As Jer put it once... in an interview I believe... We just went around infesting the countryside. Our biggest concern was scoring tickets, tapes, food, girls (among other "items")....
For my "Period" it was the best of times that will NEVER come back. It was a true family of vagabonds and minstrels.
PEACE,
Phil

[krzykat]

Man I have over 150 shows under my belt, and ya'll are reinforcing the fact that i was born 15 years too late!

[bucketorain]

In the Dark Heads? Understand that some of them only discovered the dead at that time because of their age....not likely they knew what was going on in 1979 at the age of 9.

Just like in 67 or 77 those kids in high school were just starting to discover and understand music like the 17 year olds in 87. Unless you folks were heads then thats different.


My 1st show, 3-30-88 and proud of it...coincidentally the same day i got married 7 years later..

Sorry if I ruffled some feathers, that was not the intention. I am not referring to any of you, or any of the folks that actually got into the dead and the scene, but rather the ones who jumped on the bandwagon when it was fashionable (or for the drugs or party or whatever) and then jumped back off. The ones who yelled "Hell in a bucket!" at shows not realizing how often they play or don't play songs, the ones who were "in the dark" about the whole scene and pretty much remained that way. Not trying to diss anyone, so sorry if I did.

no worries there....i do agree there were some bad apples there just for the party and not the music...and the cultural experience

[bucketorain]

does anyone remember the late eighties "Dupree's Diamond News"?

those were great....you got to see the previous shows or tours set lists.

also, at that time there were dudes selling tour pictures with the previous tour set lists on the back..i had a pick of dylan and the dead

[I'm on the Bozo Bus]

You know it Bucket....

That was the ONLY way to get "News" back in my day. We were all saying then... "No one will have a computer at home...." Now.. at the house, I have a desk top and two laptops and would be somewhat set-back if I didn't have them today.
On one hand technology is a great thing, on the other ... it stinks. My cell phone is nothing more than a leash...
PEACE,
Phil

[tigerstrat]

also, at that time there were dudes selling tour pictures with the previous tour set lists on the back..i had a pick of dylan and the dead

I've got that same 8x10! The 1987 edition w/Dylan. I probably got it by trading one of my poster-sized Jerry photo prints that I sold on tour all through the years 88-92. I always thought it was interesting that in the pic Dylan played a Washburn cutaway dreadnought acoustic (through a Dean Markley combo amp). My first acoustic (that I bought used from a friend in 1986) was (is) a Washburn D-29S. I've also got the 1983 edition of the "photo-backed-with-year's setlists", the pic is of Bob onstage w/Cowboy guitar.

[Oscillation]

personally i like touch of grey

what really changed for me was all the cops in the parking lot

strangers stopping strangers....just to shake their hands

[CountryMile Cadillac]

Not quite as big as STYX...

[BuddhaG]

They played some fairly small venues around here in the late 60's - first half of the 70's, including the Music Box in Omaha....... My attendance was spotty though. The first and best lot scene I remember was in KC Missouri at the Starlight. You know, you could buy or trade homemade tie-dyes or posters, or just watch the hacky sack players and walk around smiling at everyone!

Dude, I absolutely love 4-15-1969 At the Music Box. It is a really interesting show/recording. SOTOTW, The Other One Suite, DS>SS>11>LL is quite interesting that night. I love any dead recording I hear as long as the boys aren't completeley strung out, to be blunt.

I gotta see Bob with Ratdog in the next year, I saw Phil with Trey and that was a great experience. The encore was GDRTFB>Box of Rain. Best Encore Ever!!!! It just felt soooo right! Wish I saw Jerry live but I listen to him on so many live recordings that I know what he's about. Still... if only

[BuddhaG]

Hey Phil, be thankful you don't have a Blackberry yet!

Its basically a portable computer, it does pretty much everything. You can be contacted by phone, e-mail, messaging at any time. Ain't that just peachy?

While waiting in line (all day) for the show you could see members of the band drive up to the stage loading door behind Winterland. For the incredible price of $6 (plus $1 BASS service charge) you could see 3 sets plus many encores.

What year was this kind of scene going on? My dad moved to SF 3 years ago so I have been hanging out there during vacation from school. I love feelin the California Vibe. There really is something different about the Bay Area. Personally, Berkeley is the most loose place I've ever been. So Chill.