[jdsmodulus]

Ok Ok! I give. I'll just say that I wasn't really wanting to go into the VW thing as much as we did but while I agree that there are many great players outthere, including Chimenti and others I do know who they are and have seen all of the post Grateful bands many times. That being said; I'll still believe that the real Dead in the VW years was a great band. Leaving me with only the thought that I would rather see VW with the Grateful Dead than anything post Jerry that the boys have given us. But we can't go back in time! As for the Cutler issue I agree He could have easily turned them up in the house but according to him, it was the band members that controlled their own mixes in the house from the stage, leaving him between two rocks. Even so he could have turned them up! I don't think that VW was better than Brent but what could they have done? The train rolled on, yes maybe they should have taken a break and found a better fit in the keys slot but that wasn't what happened.

[strumminsix]

I'd like to think VW had a major says-so in the banks/patches being used. Funny thing about going from Healey to Cutler...I've heard a big reason for axing Healey was he wasn't transparent enough and interferred/took too many liberties for the band's liking (Weir maybe inparticular IIRC)

VW was told NO B3. I wonder if that included patches too?
Insiders have told me when the band heard how different the mix sounded through the mains vs. what was heard on stage that was a big issue. Others were treatment of opening acts and shitty mixes and fucking with Weir and playing favorites with the board taps, etc. Seems like things just got out of hand.

[mttourpro]

Not to beat a "Dead horse"JD, but it wasn't about your feelings.....it was about your statements.

Leaving me with only the thought that I would rather see VW with the Grateful Dead than anything post Jerry that the boys have given us.


I don't think that VW was better than Brent but what could they have done? The train rolled on, yes maybe they should have taken a break and found a better fit in the keys slot but that wasn't what happened.

I completely agree with the top part.

And yes, IMHO, thay should have taken a break and found a better player than VW.

[mttourpro]

I'd like to think VW had a major says-so in the banks/patches being used. Funny thing about going from Healey to Cutler...I've heard a big reason for axing Healey was he wasn't transparent enough and interferred/took too many liberties for the band's liking (Weir maybe inparticular IIRC)

VW was told NO B3. I wonder if that included patches too?
Insiders have told me when the band heard how different the mix sounded through the mains vs. what was heard on stage that was a big issue. Others were treatment of opening acts and shitty mixes and fucking with Weir and playing favorites with the board taps, etc. Seems like things just got out of hand.

Vince did use an organ patch(s) and I understand even had a Leslie miked in a dressing room off-stage. I can only assume they didn't want a B-3 b/c of the weight and the pain it can be to fix it often, etc....I'd love to know if there were any other reasons....like not wanting him to sound like Brent?? Who knows. I've also heard that Healey intentionally mixed openers poorly (Sting was an example) and gave Bob a hard time...it's a shame they couldn't have somehow dealt with whatever the real problems were in some other way because I don't think they ever sounded quite as good live post-Healey.

[Chuckles]

GD Gear, p. 251

[Dozin]

I couldn't stand midi dead. Especially Jerry playing it. Thought it ruined a lot of songs.

I also wasn't a big Hornsby fan. In fact I wasn't a fan of anyone sitting in with the dead. That's me though. Analog Dead, Brent was the best. 87-90 was a powerful time period

[jdsmodulus]

I couldn't stand midi dead. Especially Jerry playing it. Thought it ruined a lot of songs.

I also wasn't a big Hornsby fan. In fact I wasn't a fan of anyone sitting in with the dead. That's me though. Analog Dead, Brent was the best. 87-90 was a powerful time period

well there goes posting pics of my new MIDI rig...

[Dozin]

I'm just saying it wasn't my thing.

[tigerstrat]

I gotta agree with all of Dozin's points on the MIDI use.

At first, like in fall '89 or the preceding summer Spaces- or even 87-88 when Bob & the drummers were experimenting- it was cool and different and used pretty sparingly. But within a few months Jerry started to lean so hard on MIDI tones that I very quickly started to really miss hearing the great electric sounds (w/ or w/o fx) on songs like Bird Song, Eyes, Lovelight, Fire On The Mountain, Mexicali Blues... everything, even (and particularly) Space itself. Eventually MIDI seemed to dominate all of the instrumental sounds. Then in mid 93, even Jerry's basic electric tone (Bolt AND Rosebud, AND Tiger too) became very unnatural-sounding, with that piezo-esque thinness. Jerry's deteriorating performances plus this is what bugged and distracted me much more than any relatively very minor gripe I might have had with Vince... which if I'm being honest, was essentially for not being Brent!

[astroman99]

I don't know about you guys, those years were great, Phils playing and singing was stupendous, and they played Unbroken Chain, their best song ever, it took them over twenty years to get to it, but boy was it worth it!

[jdsmodulus]

nice astroman! I knew I wasn't the only one 65-95 the wheel. hoop circles far out

[ronster]

Phils singing was stupendous

Phil, as in Lesh????

[phpbb]

I made a severe shift to going to JGB shows 93-95, and I am glad I did. While I enjoyed the dead shows I went to during this time when I listen to some of them I ask myself "What was I thinking?".

However, that "Visions of Johanna" in SLC almost made up for the fact that Jerry cancelled what would be my last JGB shows at the Warfield, and I am still pissed about that.

[RiverRat]

Jerry should have quit the band and left those sad sack bunch of losers behind... Devoted himself more to his drug habit, artwork and the Tie business.

[jdsmodulus]

I made a severe shift to going to JGB shows 93-95, and I am glad I did. While I enjoyed the dead shows I went to during this time when I listen to some of them I ask myself "What was I thinking?".

However, that "Visions of Johanna" in SLC almost made up for the fact that Jerry cancelled what would be my last JGB shows at the Warfield, and I am still pissed about that.

Salt Lake City was a great run! Visions was why I went to shows. I swear that (and I'm not alone) when they launched into Sugar Mags that night it was like they were on a flatbed. Total shapeshifters! Very psychedelic

And about the Warfield that was a total burn but whats worse? getting Boston Garden mail orders!