[jck_strw]

11 years ago today.

"Never had such a good time in my life before"

I remember I had just woke up (this was back when I was bartending and I usually woke up around 2 or 3pm) and I was sitting on my front step smoking a cigarette. I used to listen to 93.3 WMMR out of Philly and I noticed they were playing a lot of Dead songs. And then Pierre Robert came on and said that Jerry had died. I was still waking up and I was like, wtf did he just say? I distinctly remember not being that shocked. More of a disappointed acceptance to the news.

Some friends and I went to Woodstock (a hippie shop in Cherry Hill, NJ) to commiserate with others and then we went over to Independence Mall in Philly.

Still sucks.

[Benthegoodbum]

I was eight when Jerry died and I didn't know of The Grateful Dead back then. When I did start getting into the Dead around 3 years ago I always found myself wishing he was still here making music and travelling with the band, I feel like I missed out on something majestic.

[wisedyes]

I was at work that day, and had gone out for my lunch break. The radio newsguy came on with the 12:00 teaser, and the first item was "Tragedy strikes a member of the Grateful Dead". I just knew right then, after seeing them about three weeks prior at RFK Stadium in DC, it was so obvious that Jerry was a walking dead man, and it was going to be sooner rather than later, probably much sooner.

Here's to you, Jer, wherever you are. Thanks for the music, the inspiration, and the good times.

[amyjared]

I was falling in love with my wife at the time. It was my birthday and I was staying over at her house. Her roommate, who I knew from tour and who introduced us, had just gotten a call from her mother to tell her the news. Her mom was on East Coast time, so she heard sooner than those of us in the west. Since I was feeling so good about falling in love and having my birthday, I just buried all feelings and went on. Wasn't until much later that I dealt with it. Still tough, to have it on my birthday!

[phreaker]

I can't really say anything that hasnt already been said. I just miss him, that's all there is too it.

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

I was living in the Berkshires with my band, at that time known as The Jack Trippers, we had all just graduated from college and spent the summer working on music. My friend got a phone call from his dad. His dad called ot tell him. He got off the phone and looked at me and said "It's over". I knew exactly what he meant without having to explain himself. So we woke up the bass player and drummer, ripped some 6 foot bongs and we went into our rehearsal space in our house and played about a 55 minute Dark Star. It was pretty emotional, it was also pretty friggin hot as we had no AC in the house. I didn't know if it was sweat or tears that kept falling off my face. That night, we all drove into NYC to see a bunch of friends and it is safe to say, we drank our blues away. Jerry, you the fucking man!!!!!!!!!! Love ya baby!

[st stephen]

i was 16 and it was my summer vacation. I was working at my brothers summer home out east on long island making some xtra cash... when he called me and said a message that jerry died just came across the new york stock exchange news feed. I actually was shocked and really upset. I had just seen them in 94 and was really excited to do the whole 95 msg run.
I was 16 and my mom was finlly like if u want to spend ur money on 6 grateful dead shows than go for it.

I have to admit that before jerry died, i had been a really big bobby fan...(hey i was young) but when he died something changed and i felt more connected to jerry.


Thought I heard a jug band playin' "If you don't who else will?"
From over on the far side of the hill
All I know is the sun don't shine
And the rain refuse to fall
And you don't seem to hear me when I call

Wind inside, the wind outside
Tangled in the window blind
Tell me why you treat me so unkind
Down where the sun don't shine
Lonely and I call your name
No place left to go - ain't that a shame

New York to San Francisco
So many roads I know
All I want is one to take me home

Man chills ripping up and down my body as this song popped in my head while i was typing this message.

I miss you jerry G!!

[hesgone95]

i just miss him...fare you well jerry.

[goofydrummer]

"...nothin left to do but smile, smile, smile"

RIP Captain Trips

[b weird]

This is from the song Down The Road by Robert Hunter. I heard a sweet guitar lick, an old familiar sound

Code: Select all

I heard a laugh I recognized come rolling from the Earth                                             Saw it raise into the skies like lightning giving birth It sounded like Garcia but I couldn't see the face                                                Just the beard and the glasses and a smile on empty space 

R.I.P. J.G.

[justcoophere]

I was working in the WV mountains at a resort for my brother when I got a call from a friend. I just happened to be in my apt. taking a bong break when the phone rang. We saw the 6/24 show at RFK and talked all the way home about how Jerry didn't look very "striking" on stage. And even though we laughed about it we both knew something was amiss. What else is there to say?
Jerry was like no other musician in the World. A legend simply because he loved to play. Thanks Jerry! You left behind a HUGE archive of tunes for us to sift through and enjoy. You will never be forgotten
Ps. Sometimes I wonder what music he would have written if he was still here. The World has changed in 11 years...dramatically

[ssrythm]

I was driving in to work this afternoon, and I looked up at the post thunderstorm sky and suddenly became very reflective. I thought about how the sky, for the first time this year, appeard to be transitioning into an autum sky. I thought about how we had taken the brutal brunt of the summer heat in stride once again, and although there were many days of high heat to come, the worst was over. I thought back to when I was a teenager and playing in tennis tournaments every weekend that August always seemed to be the point where I just didn't care about being competetive as much. That thought took me into thinking about the state tennis tournament that was always played in August in the town I'm living in now, and I racked my brain as to what the dates of the tournament were. Then Weird Beard came over the radio and started talking about this being a day he could not forget. Then it hit me. I was 27 and a teaching tennis pro when Jerry died. All of my kids had lost in the state tournament and a man from my hometown asked if I would stay and coach his kid until he was out of the tournament, as he had to return home to work. I obliged and the next day, as I was watching this kid play who I hardly knew, a friend who knew I was a deadhead came up and told me. My guy lost the match and we drove three hours back home with me sporadically crying and listening to brokedown palace over and over as it was the last song I took in in DC. Our band got together and numbed our minds and tried to play, but we just could not get the energy going. I miss him something fierce, and it feels like I'm still waiting for the next show. 11 years! I love you Jerry!

[st stephen]

just want to add that it does not feel like 11 years ago. I listen to the guy so much and read about him so much that i feel he is still here with us. Well maybe he is.

I am now 27 and feel like its just a matter of time before i hear him live again.

[shakedown_04092]

just want to add that it does not feel like 11 years ago. I listen to the guy so much and read about him so much that i feel he is still here with us. Well maybe he is.

I am now 27 and feel like its just a matter of time before i hear him live again.

Couldn't agree with you more. It's gotta be just around this corner.....

I am 26, and never got to see the man in person...just the dusty old bootlegs I'd trade for or buy off old friends who had gotten "master" copies. At the time, I thought, "Hey, a tape is a tape, I don't care what it sounds like, as long as I get to listen to them!"

I was 15 when Jerry passed away. I was new to the Dead by less than a year, but, like a lot of you out there, I was hooked the first time I heard that "sound".

I was sitting in my living room, listening to a show, and my brother called me and told me to put it on WBLM. I asked why, he didn't answer. So I turned the radio on, and we both sat there in silence, listening to Scarlet Begonias finish, and I was like "Sweet! BLM is finally playing some Dead!". When it ended, the DJ came on, said some stuff about Scarlet, and informed me of the tragic news right there. I was half awake, bleary-eyed, psyched I was listening to Scarlet on the radio at 9:45 in the morning.

Upon reflection in the weeks, months, and years that followed, I found it so interesting and sublime how my brother wouldn't answer me when I asked "why" I needed to turn the radio on. He just sat there, choked up, tears in his eyes, and let me hear it for myself, just as he had on the radio moments before, so I could FEEL IT, the way I was suppose to. It blew my mind. The rest of the day was teary, but a celebratory teary day.

In memory of Jerome John Garcia.

Thanks, man.