[krzykat]

i was at the vibes and couldn't believe that they didn't say anything about it! (at least not that i heard)

RIP Brent

[Maybeck09]

I agree that Brent's passing was a much greater omen then we knew at the time. I was in Oakland at the time. Sad day that's for sure. Its like the train derailed. Brent was just the perfect guy for that spot at that time. He added so much to the band. Especially a band that can't sing very well. I still love watching the ole DVD's and seeing Jer, lean to his left and eye Brent over the glasses encouraging him to "take it" "go ahead son, take a lead" and then rockin his head and smilin in satisfaction and like "oh, look at that, well I got something that will play off that - bang" and so on. They really connected well musically.
As for leading the band I don't see that. He was just too shy and Weir and possibly others were not as nice as Jer was with Brent. No way Bobby is going to defer that center of stage status to Brent or anyone else really. Certainly not to lead "The Dead' but its all a lost point now. The guy went home after a tour and had too big of a hit. End of story. Very sad. Coulda been a contender! As others have said, Brent's loss was the beginning of the end. Hornsby's energy and new guy status along with enthusiasm and amazing musical understanding and talent got them through that MSG run in fall 90, and a few more. But they all knew that was temporary. And Vince was like a JV player, pulled up to the varsity-he just wasn't at that level. Some, like me, last saw "The Grateful Dead" the last show they saw with Brent. just an opinion....

[ebick]

As for leading the band I don't see that. He was just too shy and Weir and possibly others were not as nice as Jer was with Brent. No way Bobby is going to defer that center of stage status to Brent or anyone else really. Certainly not to lead "The Dead' but its all a lost point now. The guy went home after a tour and had too big of a hit. End of story. Very sad. Coulda been a contender! As others have said, Brent's loss was the beginning of the end. Hornsby's energy and new guy status along with enthusiasm and amazing musical understanding and talent got them through that MSG run in fall 90, and a few more. But they all knew that was temporary. And Vince was like a JV player, pulled up to the varsity-he just wasn't at that level. Some, like me, last saw "The Grateful Dead" the last show they saw with Brent. just an opinion....

As for it being a lost point, very true. But let me offer this. In the beginning, Pig was considered the band's leader. Jerry didn't ask for or want the role, it was thrust upon him. I don't think it would have been an immediate thing....I think there would have still been a period of them finding themselves. But with Brent being a soloing instrument......I think it just would have happend regardless of what Weir wanted.

[Tennessee Jedi]

Mydland was in Weirs band at one time .... I dont think he would be the problem as much as Phil would be.
.02 $

[astroman99]

Miss you Brent, I will always keep the guitar you played and sang with in my room in '88,
I hope you are in a better place!!!!

[Tennessee Jedi]

Miss you Brent, I will always keep the guitar you played and sang with in my room in '88,
I hope you are in a better place!!!!

Whoa whoa whoa !
Lets hear that story !
Brent played your guitar ?

[tigerstrat]

As for leading the band I don't see that. He was just too shy and Weir and possibly others were not as nice as Jer was with Brent. No way Bobby is going to defer that center of stage status to Brent or anyone else really. Certainly not to lead "The Dead' but its all a lost point now. The guy went home after a tour and had too big of a hit. End of story. Very sad. Coulda been a contender! As others have said, Brent's loss was the beginning of the end. Hornsby's energy and new guy status along with enthusiasm and amazing musical understanding and talent got them through that MSG run in fall 90, and a few more. But they all knew that was temporary. And Vince was like a JV player, pulled up to the varsity-he just wasn't at that level. Some, like me, last saw "The Grateful Dead" the last show they saw with Brent. just an opinion....

As for it being a lost point, very true. But let me offer this. In the beginning, Pig was considered the band's leader. Jerry didn't ask for or want the role, it was thrust upon him. I don't think it would have been an immediate thing....I think there would have still been a period of them finding themselves. But with Brent being a soloing instrument......I think it just would have happend regardless of what Weir wanted.

Jerry took on creative leadership very early on, within the first 2 years or so. Not through bossiness, more by example. He liked to say that he wasn't or didn't want to be the leader but c'mon... at no point in their career would Losing Jerry have NOT meant the end of the Grateful Dead.

[ebick]

Jerry took on creative leadership very early on, within the first 2 years or so. Not through bossiness, more by example. He liked to say that he wasn't or didn't want to be the leader but c'mon... at no point in their career would Losing Jerry have NOT meant the end of the Grateful Dead.

That's really my point.....want it or not, it was inevitable that Jerry became the leader.

[tigerstrat]

Jerry took on creative leadership very early on, within the first 2 years or so. Not through bossiness, more by example. He liked to say that he wasn't or didn't want to be the leader but c'mon... at no point in their career would Losing Jerry have NOT meant the end of the Grateful Dead.

That's really my point.....want it or not, it was inevitable that Jerry became the leader.

D'accord!

[seamones]

Jerry took on creative leadership very early on, within the first 2 years or so. Not through bossiness, more by example. He liked to say that he wasn't or didn't want to be the leader but c'mon... at no point in their career would Losing Jerry have NOT meant the end of the Grateful Dead.

That's really my point.....want it or not, it was inevitable that Jerry became the leader.

D'accord!

To clarify my statements, for my own sake...

If Brent was around in 95, would the Grateful Dead continued on with hardly a skipped beat: absolutely not. Definitive No.
If Brent was around in 09, would The Dead be leaning on him heavily: hells yeah.

[ebick]

If Brent was around in 95, would the Grateful Dead continued on with hardly a skipped beat: absolutely not. Definitive No.

Absolutely. Bob put it best. When Jerry died "it was a real body blow".

There's no way they just said oh well, and went on......

[mttourpro]

To clarify my statements, for my own sake...

If Brent was around in 95, would the Grateful Dead continued on with hardly a skipped beat: absolutely not. Definitive No.
If Brent was around in 09, would The Dead be leaning on him heavily: hells yeah.

Hard to say really....I think it's plausible that Brent might have continued playing with TOO and/or The Dead----but, I think it's also very plausible that he wouldda started his own band as well (one that would be designed to be a lot better than Silver for sure), especially since he was writing more/better songs towards the end. I can easily see where he might have focused on a solo career a lot like Bruce did. The only fact of it all is that we can't do much more than speculate. Maybe he'd be playing with Billy's band right now, or they'dve really tried to get Go Ahead off the ground---kinda odd that BK3 does a fair amount of GD without a keyboardist.

[strumminsix]

Mydland was in Weirs band at one time .... I dont think he would be the problem as much as Phil would be.
.02 $

+1

[jdsmodulus]

I have also met Brent but I'll keep that one to myself and just say that I'll never forget the weight at tinley.