Shakedown Street

[coolbreeze]

Tonight at 8 EST, a live stream of the remastered Grateful Dead Movie!

Edit: the poem and the argument are some of the best fan moments ever. Also loved the dude in the concourse dancing during Sugar Mag--he's so smooth it looks like he's roller skating!

 

[bulllee]

Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar David Nelson - lead guitar, vocals John Dawson - rhythm guitar, vocals Mickey Hart - drums Phil Lesh (source notes) or Bob Matthews - bass

 

[bulllee]

 

[coolbreeze]

I found a transcription of the poem from the GD movie; I thought I'd stick it here for posterity and your enjoyment.


"If the dead were to die
I'd have reason to cry,
'cus the band i used to see
would be a cold memory.

But if the dead were to live,
free concerts they'd give;
Jerry G. on guitar
Would bring 'em in, near and far.

If the dead were deceased
there would be no street peace,
we'd take all the power,
skin the cat and take a shower!

But if the dead live long
we'll be singing their songs,
and we'll all be so glad
momma' hated diesel so bad."

 

[Polarbearboy]

Phil Lesh passed away today. He was the co-author of Dark Star. That alone ensures that he has an immortal place in the stars.

 

[coolbreeze]

Phil Lesh passed away today. He was the co-author of Dark Star. That alone ensures that he has an immortal place in the stars.

This breaks my heart. He was the best.

With Ryan Adams:

Phil Lesh and Friends Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on 2005-07-16 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

BAND: Phil Lesh and Friends DATE: 2005-07-16 VENUE: Red Rocks CITY: Morrison, CO ---------------- SOURCE: Oktava MC-012 (Cards DIN) > Edirol UA-5 (Oade...

archive.org

When the drums stop...

Thanks for the high times, Phil.

 

[vapviking]

He was the fucking Pride of Cucamonga.
It's a sad day.

 

[bulllee]

 

[coolbreeze]

Few more:

And of course, Phil & Ned:

For me, this is as devastating as when Jerry died, but I guess not as sad. Phil lived a full life with the last ~25 on borrowed parts and made every moment of it count.

 

[Bakin4Life]

For me, this is as devastating as when Jerry died, but I guess not as sad. Phil lived a full life with the last ~25 on borrowed parts and made every moment of it count.

Saw the news crawl roll by, and I couldn't have described my feelings better than this. TY

One of my bass heroes (and one of the very few of mine who played pickstyle, exclusively).

What do you want me to do
To watch for you while you're sleeping?
Then please don't be surprised
When you find me dreaming too

Cross gently, Phil.

 

[coolbreeze]

Saw the news crawl roll by, and I couldn't have described my feelings better than this. TY

One of my bass heroes (and one of the very few of mine who played pickstyle, exclusively).

What do you want me to do
To watch for you while you're sleeping?
Then please don't be surprised
When you find me dreaming too

Cross gently, Phil.

I loved the Q and some of the other more stable lineups but what I loved mostly was Phil's constantly evolving lineups. Have a look at 1999 on the archive: Phish, Little Feat, Dylan, String Cheese, Allman Brothers, etc. And then the following decades of dozens of other players, some rejoining regularly in a variety of lineups, some one-off. He reimagined and expanded his catalog with each new lineup, and restlessly searched for the sound. I also appreciated that he loved playing with his kids and supported the development of that generation's rising stars. One of my real rock heroes.

 

[coolbreeze]

With Billy K, Kimock, and the New Riders:

 

[bulllee]

 

[Spy Car]

Hello friends. I burst into tears when I learned of Phil's passing.

What a talent and I'm truly grateful for what his musical genius brought to my life. May he rest in peace.

Although I never had the opportunity to meet Mr Lesh, I did get Mr Garcia, Mr and Mrs Godchaux, and Maria Muldaur quite stoned on some absolutely superb Maui Wowie backstage at the Keystone Berkeley back in the Fall of 1979.

Who could believe that members of the Jerry Garcia Band could be backstage "partying," while lacking any herb?

They had plenty of other things (it was a blizzard that only got more insane when the Hells Angeles showed up with a major re-supply), but no herb. I swear! And I know how unbelievable that sounds.

I walked backstage just as Donna Jean and Maria M were freaking out about not having any herb to balance the overstimulation they were experiencing. I'm telling you, it was the best "timing" ever.

I was holding some absolutely superb Hawaiian and offered it up immediately (becoming a hero in the moment), and was then invited to sit with Jerry and company while the scene got weirder and weirder and weirder. Holy crap.

Life is fleeting. Have fun while you can.

Bill