[bcresci]

I was listening to a China-Rider from '74 today. Billy's drumming when he was by himself is always really nice listening. The music wasn't electronically dense yet, and he didn't have to worry about meshing with another drummer - lots of room to maneuver.

Made me wonder if there were any post '74 shows for which the GD had only one drummer. Anyone know of any?

[tigerstrat]

Short answer, no.

You could count the Egypt run as "1 1/2" with Billy's useless broken left wrist...

fwiw JGB always had one drummer, and featured a lot of excellent ones such as Ron Tutt, Daoud Shaw, David Kemper, even Kreutzmann circa 81-82 as well early on, like 1972.

[jdsmodulus]

It almost happened in 94 in FL. But it did not too much drama so they cancelled the show! Now that would have been strange.

[Rusty the Scoob]

I vaguely recall a story about Billy becoming somehow unable to drum (some other time besides the famous Camel incident in Egypt) and Mickey was asked if he could carry the show by himself... he said no and they cancelled.

Might have been in Phil's book? Or the Blair Jackson bio of Jerry. I read them both in the same month.

[Good Times]

I vaguely recall a story about Billy becoming somehow unable to drum (some other time besides the famous Camel incident in Egypt) and Mickey was asked if he could carry the show by himself... he said no and they cancelled.

Might have been in Phil's book? Or the Blair Jackson bio of Jerry. I read them both in the same month.

I just re-read Phil's book a couple of months ago and I believe the story was in there about cancelling the show instead of proceeding with only one drummer. I can't remember the details, off the top of my head, though.

[mijknahs]

I think Billy could carry a show by himself (he's proven it many times!) but not sure about Mickey.

[BuddhaG]

I think Billy could carry a show by himself (he's proven it many times!) but not sure about Mickey.

There are a number of shows in 1968 that feature only Mickey Hart on the skins:

This one is the only Grateful Dead show
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1968-1 ... eok.flac16

Mickey and the Hart Beats was a power trio of Jerry G, Phil Lesh, and Mickey:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10- ... sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10- ... sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-10- ... sbeok.shnf
http://www.archive.org/details/gd68-12- ... sbeok.shnf

[BuddhaG]

Also, Mickey Hart was the original drummer (by himself!) for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Here's the earliest NRPS show that is available on the archive. I believe he was playing with them through 1970.

http://www.archive.org/details/NRPS1969-09-18

[Pete B.]

Also, Mickey Hart was the original drummer (by himself!) for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Here's the earliest NRPS show that is available on the archive. I believe he was playing with them through 1970.

http://www.archive.org/details/NRPS1969-09-18

Micky Hart was not a very good drummer for the NRPS, imho. He didn't have the country/country-rock chops.

[tigerstrat]

Mickey and the Hart Beats was a power trio of Jerry G, Phil Lesh, and Mickey

Hartbeats were a power quartet that featured both Rhythm Devils. MatH was the experiment in a Pig-less and Ace-less Grateful Dead during their temporary "firing" that "didn't take".

[BuddhaG]

Also, Mickey Hart was the original drummer (by himself!) for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Here's the earliest NRPS show that is available on the archive. I believe he was playing with them through 1970.

http://www.archive.org/details/NRPS1969-09-18

Micky Hart was not a very good drummer for the NRPS, imho. He didn't have the country/country-rock chops.

I was just posting for reference so that people could judge for themselves. On the whole, I agree with you that Mickey just doesn't have the ability or desire to provide the consistent driving beat necessary for country/country-rock music. It seems like he gets bored of playing the same pattern for a whole song and is therefore innovating new ways to come into the beat throughout. He takes a lot of risks and this can sometimes pay off in a cool sounding and definitely non-traditional feel but other times it can sound horribly amateur and take away significantly from the song. I think this is true for his playing with the Grateful Dead as well. It ends up being a give and take between innovation and consistency.

[BuddhaG]

Mickey and the Hart Beats was a power trio of Jerry G, Phil Lesh, and Mickey

Hartbeats were a power quartet that featured both Rhythm Devils. MatH was the experiment in a Pig-less and Ace-less Grateful Dead during their temporary "firing" that "didn't take".

Thanks for the correction, TS!

What do you think of that 12-7-68 Mickey show?

[bcresci]

I think Billy could carry a show by himself (he's proven it many times!) but not sure about Mickey.

I've always thought the same, although I'm not a drummer, and will admit that I haven't heard Mickey solo much.

We hear quite a bit about the three GD guitarists and their unique styles and talents, but I never hear much comment on the drummers. I've always wondered what an actual drummer thought of them in comparrison to others that are considered the greats (Keith Moon and Bill Bruford to name two of my favorites).

In fact I'm not sure that I even recall seeing any serious drumming posts in the equipment forum. Mostly dominated by guitar - which probably isn't surprising given the relative proportions of people who play each.

[Pete B.]

'Listening to a Mickey quartet Jam now... please tell me there's a cowbell filter on this thing.

[Smelodies]

Micky Hart was not a very good drummer for the NRPS, imho. He didn't have the country/country-rock chops.

Mickey was not a good drummer, period, but he did provide inspiration and his experimental space sequences had some value (it wasn't drumming though, at least the way we define conventional rock drumming).