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    marye
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    So twice in the last week I've gotten into conversations with folks who were pretty intense Deadheads back in the day, and their general drift was look, the band no longer exists, they haven't played for 12 years. It is so Over. Get on with your life. Which, of course, is a perfectly reasonable point of view. And yet, here we are. And "we" includes people who never saw the band in the first place but definitely consider themselves on the bus now. So what's up with this? Why are we here? Discuss...

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  • gratefaldean
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    Gonzo
    I dropped out of the scene in the late '80s because there was so much other stuff that I was into, and the Dead started seeming irrelevant to me. Jerry's death kind of jolted me back to reality in a way, and by the time the first Other Ones tour came around in '98 I was ready to climb back onto the bus -- it was actually a lot more complicated situation than that, things happening in my life that I won't get into here, so it wasn't exactly like the light switch just turned back on...but it was something like that. There still IS so much other stuff that I'm into (which is one reason why I delight in posting non-Dead tidbits on the "Listening to Now" thread), and it's hard to tell how much being back has to do with aging and boomer nostalgia, and how much is just reinvigorated love of the music of my younger days--with the associated feeling that I'm playing catch-up on something I regret having missed and can never truly recapture. At this point, I don't care why, I'm just back enjoying the ride. It could all end tomorrow, but I hope that it doesn't. So I know where you are coming from, I think. But hang in, it's a plus-plus experience having you around these parts.
  • ripple70
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    Iits not over till we say
    It aint over for me till i pop my cloggs jerrys death hit me hard but he left us with so much music there must be nearly 3000 shows in the archives some grate some not so.I got on the bus about 30 years ago via deadset and when jerry hits that solo in candyman etc my insides still explode and a big smile appears on my face.Ok further, the music is not the same no where near but the bus is still running please dont get off!!!!!!!!!!! GIMME A LITTLE LIGHT.
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    I find myself wondering the same thing...
    ...after posting on this site for 2+ years. The Grateful Dead have indeed gone away but there is ever so much music and fun and news and whatever else is going on -- like 9k kazoo players at a Giants game, Furthur in the Park and Rhythm Devils on tour with Keller. I mean, there is A LOT to keep up with. That is not even mentioning keeping up with Rhino farts on the Kalahari, making sure you order in time to get your bonus disc. Having said that, I do wonder sometimes if I'm too much involved in a scene that went way sideways in about 1993 and ended, tragically, in 1995. I always feel it is better to look forward than backward but I do enjoy reliving really fun times in the past. In some ways hanging around this site is like looking into an old photo album. It is also fascinating to catch up with old tour buddies and see where they are at now and make some new friends when you can. So that is what it's all about for me. Still, I'm wondering how much longer I can hang on as a regular. Definitely feel my days are numbered here as there are so many new people and places to be discovered.
  • hypodoche
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    living in the past
    Look to 1965-66 for the real center of gravity that keeps tugging at us 40 years later.Legal, high quality LSD hit the streets of Palo Alto and surrounding CA in quantities that are unimaginable by today's standards. What happened? People put down their weapons, looked into each other's eyes, picked up instruments and paint and fabric and clay and said "No!," to the politicians, armies, and "straight society." Jerry was among those who took it upon themselves to preach this new gospel, and rode that wave of love until his death. It helped that he was an unbelievable musician, but the music, the band, the tours and parking lots were about more than that. That stuff was just the means by which we could still reach out and touch that magical time, break off a piece and infuse ourselves with it. I often temporarily forget that message, in this age of manipulation and exploitation, but it always returns, and no matter where life takes me, no matter what happens, I always find that sly grin, those happy memories, and a magical inner life untouched by profit, war, hatred, neglect, disease, and poverty. For anyone who can turn their back on that, I feel for you and hope you get there one day. There's more than enough room for all of us. ______________________________________________________________ I think I'll go up on a mountain, I'll fling myself off into space I'm not doing it because I'm desperate, I'm just trying to save some space...
  • da roach
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    AAAHHHHHH............
    It's better to have loved and lost-------than never to have loved at all!
  • jdwilgus
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    My wife is not on the bus with me, never was/never will be
    What I get from her is: "why do you have so many copies of the same music....it all sounds the same!". What she doesn't understand is that so many of the live recordings I have from them, (some are boots; some are ligit.), are from shows that I actually attended. I have told her many times that they never did the same song exactly the same, so each song/jam is unique within themselves. There is nothing as boring as seeing a band who performs E-X-A-C-T-L-Y the same upon each performance. The Grateful Dead have been on a wonderful trip for several decades, when they perform for us, they invite us on for the ride. It's beautiful, they're beautiful. Always were & always will be.
  • DeadReckoning
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    Life after Dead?
    Of course!.......is the simple answer. Life is a continuum, always evolving, ever changing....all things are connected (wise man once said). Grateful Dead have been entwined in my life as far back as I can remember (thanks to the influence of some older brothers). The bus kept coming by until I got on. By then Pigpen & Keith were gone. Never got to as many shows as I wanted to but grateful for the ones I did. Have been to some Furthur shows, Other Ones, Ratdog, and most recently The Dead in Chicago. Not a day goes by I don't miss the space Jerry & the Dead created for us to frolic in and the wondrous discoveries of youth made there. I'm older now but the learning and changing never stops. My point being..... There is no going back. Life moves ever onward (until it doesn't). The Dead with Jerry was a very special moment in time that can't be duplicated. All we really have is this moment in the here & now. So.....we make the most of this here & now. This (older) Head has been pleasantly surprised at times by moments of magic at post-Jerry shows and by other bands in other places. Is it the same as when Jerry was around? Of course not. No more than yesterday can be the same as today. We all have the capacity to create magic. See the beauty that surrounds us. ~Sometimes you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right. (good words to live by) "When in doubt, open up and give your love" ~Spanish Bert Thanks Peace
  • jeffr-DoseMePlease
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    Jacie's comments
    Your words hit home to me like few others have. The Music-All Through Tunes. Unfortunately I only caught one show this last summer, I still have the heart to do full or partial tours but I realize how much I've aged since '95. The scene of people has changed, I don't see as many folks from the '60's or '70's. I sorta still feel young but if I let my hair and beard grow the greys sprout all over. The young ones eye me suspiciously now and I don't care to freak any out but,what can you do. One thing that appears nicer now is the apparent lack/lower numbers of jonny law as compared to the last few years with Jerry. Also, return to smaller venues that hadn't been played since the '80's. Boys please play together again--soon. Thanks, jeffr
  • Jacie
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    A place for being free
    When I hear the boys play I am transported back to a time when I first felt free. A time when I became me. I wasn't my mothers daughter or my mans girl. I was me. When I'm felling lost, when I'm feeling blue, I can find a tune or two that will help me regain my footing and help me pull myself up out of that place. Today I found Lost Sailor and just closed my eyes and traveled back. I can go back and think about what is really important in my life. What do I really want? All through tunes. This summer I went to Albany, I went to Buffalo and I tried to relive the trip (travel) but it isn't the same, it's new. I'm only as good as I am today. I'll never be what I was yesterday. If I can enjoy today, I can enjoy tomorrow even more. Peace & Love
  • Anonymous (not verified)
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    GD lives forever !
    Went away 14 years ,and suddenly I find out deadheads are all still kicking, dancing, going places;and ever had a few jokers up their pranksters sleeves ,playing new games to keep in touch together via computers ! So, these people are definitly awake and alive As for Grateful Dead music the sounds are cruising live in the winds of Times/Spaces and who knows,some entities ,immortels,aliens,might groove hearing such sounds why not,indeed !!!
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So twice in the last week I've gotten into conversations with folks who were pretty intense Deadheads back in the day, and their general drift was look, the band no longer exists, they haven't played for 12 years. It is so Over. Get on with your life. Which, of course, is a perfectly reasonable point of view. And yet, here we are. And "we" includes people who never saw the band in the first place but definitely consider themselves on the bus now. So what's up with this? Why are we here? Discuss...
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There's nothing wrong with being proud of, or preferring the music of your younger days. In fact, most of the music of the '60s-'70s-early '80's was better than most of the music of the last 20 years. But when I do hear something I like, like Arcade Fire's Neon Bible, or some other good stuff on Austin City Limits, it makes me especially enthusiastic and hopeful for the future. I wouldn't call being hooked-in to a lot of the popular music of the moment a critical asset!
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It's All Over Now? I beg to differ. If you have been to see Furthur then you know the boys in the band are still out there. In fact, they are again starting up a whole new interest from younger folks in their 20s and 30s who missed out on all the fun back "in the day." Mickey & Billy are out there somewhere on the road, with their various pick-up bands and projects also. But they seem a bit more transient as they forever shift between various line-ups. Of course, it is all over now as far as Letting The Good Times Roll and mass experiments in consciousness-raising. That is over now. Jerry passed and maybe it was time for the experiment to end. Which isn't to say that you can't do some exploring of inner space on your own. i find it fantastic to see the wide and diverse array that the deadheads have become. It is so over now and yet it is not. Clear, some have not gone Furthur enough and are still pushing their trips to the edge. Bravo Brothers & Sisters! We will survive. In fact we have survived and are thriving. So get over it, you who are "it's so over!"!
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as the lyricists said back in the day, new ones coming as the old ones go. Or, the future's here, we are it, we are on our own. I mean, just the other day my godson the college student was pointing his parents' Deadhead pals to his latest digitally remixed rendition of Speedway. The music has worked its way into all kinds of corners of life, and the four surviving guys seem to keep finding interesting stuff to do, and people keep finding it interesting enough to follow. Meanwhile, new people keep discovering the old stuff, too. It's good to be along for the ride, or portions thereof.
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...cause I consider myself a bigger DH now than what I was from 89-95. It's sad but back then I thought being a deadhead mean't wearing tie-dyes and patchoulie and being stoned out of my fucking skull all the time. Of course I was between 17 and 25 at the time so perhaps I can be forgiven. Now being a deadhead means just listening to good music and to keep trying to be a good/kind person. I don't have the time to go on tour with Furthur or whoever else. I don't wear tie-dyes or get stoned anymore. And life is grand.
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until something more formal comes along:http://www.jambands.com/news/2012/02/13/bob-weir-warren-haynes-chris-robinson-jackie-greene-and-more-will-help-phil-lesh-open-terrapin-crossroads/ Published: 2012/02/13 Bob Weir, Warren Haynes, Chris Robinson, Jackie Greene and More Will Help Phil Lesh Open Terrapin Crossroads Phil Lesh has confirmed the opening run of shows at his new venue and restaurant Terrapin Crossroads. Lesh will perform in a number of different configurations throughout March and April, including gigs with Bob Weir, Jackie Greene, Chris Robinson, Jimmy Herring, Jaz Sawyer, Jeff Chimenti, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Warren Haynes......
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I missed the P& F webcast last night, but here's the setlist: Althea Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain Saint Stephen > Layla Cryptical Envelopment -> Magic Bus -> The Other One > I Know You Rider E: Unbroken Chain GDTRFB
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the music is what keeps it from being over. example jim morrison died in 1971, but the bands popularity with younger fans(im 20 so im in that boat as well) never went away. i love the dead, and so do most of my friends. so it aint over and it will not be over. flower children are still everywhere. plus lets not forget we have bands like phish too.
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Interesting. Life after Dead. Never posted here. The Grateful Dead is Still Rocking and Jamming. It just has different letters in Its' name now. Oh and a number too. Nothings changed. Life after Dead well I will let you know when we get there, if I am here then. Tomorrow Never Knows. I love you, all. It's still true.
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its quaint that sometimes i hear whispered in the background you know she used to be a dh just because i dont run around in tie dyes and the hipster hippy attire or pack my bags at a drop of the hat to play vagabond for a couple months. its assumedthat the dead is part of my past only something i used to do,but that is further from the truth, seeing shows and going on tour was only part of the picture the music was and is the mainstay, and although ill not see jerry again it doesnt stop the music nor creativity that is and will be immortal bliss what ended was just the bizarre sideshow tours became near the end when shakedown street became more like a dirty boulevard., after 92 it actually started to be a scary world out there and touring lost its appeal. my only regret was that i didnt go to more shows in the last years but made up for it,since then by seeing alot more of bob phil and mickey and many other great preformers and smile everytime something new comes on the radio that i can put my finger on and say wow you can hear the dead influence in that song. btw my favorite is a jerry tune only heard preformed live once in all my tours that u robert hunter for making it possible.and jerry for belting it out that night, and know what i found the keys to the rain afterall.the dead wasnt a lifestyle for me it was a journey and lordy be it was a long strange trip.with many roads still left to go.
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Hermann Hesse wrote a book titled Journey to the East, the theme of which is that while we are active participants in something we feel it is vibrant and happening but once we drop out of the thing we feel it has stopped for everyone, no matter if it remains as active and progressive for all other participants. Seems to be universal, in my experience.
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The time go? I remember being in the parking lot of a show reading a letter from the band with the usual stuff about people without tickets. The warning at the end was "When this stops ain't nothing going to bring it back." But then Jerry went to the limit and that seemed to effect the boys in the band quite a bit. I can imagine that they fely like they were in their prime as musicians and it would be a shame to break it up. Of course the name Grateful Dead was retired, as it should have been but the rest of the members of the band continued unabated. There was a period of a couple years of mourning but by 97' the Furthur Festival was back on tour as well as Ratdog and Phil & Friends shows and various side projects by the drummers. They drifted somewhat apart and to me,the closest they ever got to being back together was the 2002 Other Ones lineup that had Phil & Bruce returning with Baracco on lead. Mickey really stepped up to organize the playing and it was awesome. In 2002 the parking lot scene was still very reminiscent of a Dead show with very quality tie-dyes and other official and unofficial merch. out there. There wasn't the burnt edge of hard drugs being readily available among heads following the tour that became very evident in 2003-2004 as The Dead reunited. Then a few more years of going their separate ways and then one more tour as The Dead in 2009. Now we have Furthur for over three years thanks to Phil's transplant (Happy belated birthday Phil). The point is the scene had quality musicians and momentum and the musicians remaining seem to be willing to carry this body of music to their own deaths. And we can all remain around for the ride for as long or little as we like. Let the naysayers neg. on this one if they want. Jerry is gone along with the Grateful Dead but the music goes on and on and on and from this vantage point I see one or another of the boys carrying on for at least 5 more years. Dedication to The Heart Of Gold Band. You have to be Grateful
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They are out, both on MOFI, who are hot right, I am listening to MOFI's SACD of The ABB's "Brothers and Sisters", sounds so exquisite. They have now released "Workingman's Dead" and "American Beauty". Why isn't there a HDCD of "Mars Hotel" anywhere? Well,groovin' to "Jelly,Jelly"
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I've been reading in several news articles about a fan club pre sale on feb 9-11 but there's no information confirming that on the dead50 site or the gdtstoo site. I'm a member of several GD fan clubs but am not receiving any emails or info on a presale from them. Does anyone have more info? Thanks brothers and sisters, see you in chi town. Di
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◾Dead pre sale begins Feb 12th @ 10 a.m. CST via Dead Online Ticketing. Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required. Before checking out, all users must create an account after tickets are added and before completing the transaction.
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It not JUST about the shows,it's a way of life.It's about Peace,Love,Harmony,Music,Family,and telling those youngsters how it was and can be again.I'm 61,seen everybody from Areosmith to Z Z Top.I have played( drums) for fun & professionally.Most of the people I hang out with are 30-40 years younger than I am.I'm the "Old Hippie" that tells stories of huge gatherings of people from all walks of life to come and hear music and dance in the isles.That there was no black,brown,yellow or white there was only US a peaceful group of like minded individuals. I tell them we don't need no stinkin' guns.Spread the love,share the music,get involved,stand up against social injustice,Make A Difference.Pass those stories of awesome gathering and great shows on to the younger generation and have them pass it along.Is Hendrix,Janis, The Dead & Led Zeppelin still relevant? .........HELL YES Peace The Dude
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well, based on the phenomenal interest in Fare Thee Well before,during AND after both runs, I'd say this question is a bit premature. But if you're over it, that works for you. (the generalized "you" of course)
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It's safe to say FTW put a different aspect on things...
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....don't hear her singing yet..... that's just Donna ;-)
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Howdy folks, Been a .com member for a long time, but never had much to say...until Fare The Well. Put out for ppv for the first time for the last concert. Best 50 bucks I ever spent. It was profound for me. The Dead have been the sound track of my life since '65 and my wife and me from '72-'12. She would have liked this concert. Wait until November for the cd/dvd release? I'll never make it! Have some good video and instrument, but yet to find a good vocal video. The second set YouTube share of the complete second set from Zoe Alyse is the only video set I've found and the crowd sounds damp the vocals...like if you were there; the vibe is like live. Got the whole soundboard audio, no vid. YouTube is new to an old codger like me. Only Dead vids drew me in and then, not until I got a Roku Streaming Stick to access YouTube on my TV. High recommendation for a really inexpensive entertainment add-on. Just know you don't stream from your device to the TV, you get to access stuff you have "in the Cloud", which is pretty cool getting my Pandora and YouTube playlists played over good speakers and get that body feel and not just audio in my head. You can get me at rickpucko@yahoo.com also.
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I think not..for some maybe, but not me.September will be my third straight Lockn Music Festival in VA! Great fun Great vibes Great shows! Phil, Billy with their current bands this year...Bobby the last two as well. Also had the opportunity to meet and converse with Sam Cuttler (former band mgr) last year. Who knows what lies ahead unless you go furthur... Check out the 4 day schedule..so many great reasons to stay on the bus! iGrateful
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I never saw Jerry. I have a fear of buses and basically anything that resembles an "us". A friend tells me last December "Listen to an Althea" I was moved. Then I came here and found a beautiful family. I was blessed to be able to attend all 5 FTW shows. I was changed forever. Am I on the bus? Am I a Dead Head? I don't know but I am honored to share this earth with such a beautiful group of human beings.
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I have come to embrace the fact that the 'Grateful Dead' is an entity that lives on in all those incredible songs. They have an enduring quality that continues to have meaning for people. They really were Built To Last! Listening to Stu Allen rip it up at the last Jerry Day it occurred to me that Jerry's unique form of mind expanding guitar work could be thought of as a sort of spiritual or wisdom tradition wherein in a lineage of great guitar players could keep the music alive far into the future. I think any so called Head who has decided 'it's over' probably never really went to shows for the music anyway. Not that there weren't a thousand other good reasons to go, I guess. I can understand people not wanting to look back and there's a hell of a lot of great music out there to sustain them. Hey, each to their own.