Grateful Dead
The Wharf Rats are a group of concert-goers who have chosen to live drug and alcohol free.
Our primary purpose at the shows is to make ourselves available to anyone who feels we
may have something they want. We offer support, strength, fellowship and hope. Look for
the yellow balloons, signs and the Wharf Rats information table.
We are not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous nor any other
twelve-step group. We are a group of friends sharing a common bond, providing support,
information and some traction in an otherwise slippery environment.
The Wharf Rats began during the 1980s as a group of Deadheads under the name "The Wharf Rat Group of Alcoholics Anonymous". The Wharf Rats originally came from a small group of Narcotics Anonymous members who went to a Grateful Dead concert in Philadelphia and located each other by their Yellow balloons with the NA symbol drawn on in Magic Marker. However due to operational differences they soon split off from Alcoholics Anonymous, and are not affiliated with them, NA, or any other twelve-step program, though many of members of the Wharf Rats are members of AA, NA or other 12 step programs. The Wharf Rats see themselves as "a group of friends sharing a common bond, providing support, information and some traction in an otherwise slippery environment."
The unusual name of this group comes from the Grateful Dead song "Wharf Rat", which contains the self-told story of August West, a down-and-out dockside wino.
"a group of friends sharing a common bond, providing support, information and some traction in an otherwise slippery environment." Look for the yellow ballons and meetings are at set break. You don't have to be perfect. Just take it one show at a time (~);-)
Hey CW....First thing I noticed that you joined the site in 2010...whatta ya been doing for the past 4 and a half years if your trying to get sober now?? The first thing I did to get sober: Change People, Places and Things!! You gotta lose all your "using friends" start hanging out with positive, healthy, sober people. Try that for starters and get to a meeting!!
I'm trying to get sober, but I'm sacred. Can I still love the GD? Please help.
hey, any westy campers camping in the area on the coast before the shows want to meet up and sing around the camp fire? let us know-del bear
Hey Mike,
I have no idea if I was at the 1st Unbroken Chain in Philly, to be honest with you! I was living in Pa in the early '80's. from about 1980 through 1985. We used to go to the Spectrum all the time back then.(Still using back then)A bit of a blur...I do remember Barney the Dinosaur playing bass at one of those shows! Best of luck finding a ticket to Chicago!
Pauly
Pauly were you at the Spectrum when they boys did the 1st Unbroken Chain? I was at the Wharf Rat meeting between sets what a great night! Hopefully I will get to Chicago. Amen to Divine intervention, I thank God everyday.
I love you but Jesus loves you the best and I bid you goodnight..........
....hello friends!! Great to see this page getting so much attention. My name's Paul (Pauly-P) and i live in Somerset Co. New Jersey. I am lucky enough to be going to all three nights in Chicago!! I'm very excited about hooking up with fellow Rats at the shows in-between sets, backstage. By the grace of God, the Fellowship and clean and sober DeadHeads, I celebrated 25 yrs this past April 15th. Talk about your "miracle"...we all are. I cant put into words how epic this July 4th weekend is going to be. Following the Grateful Dead, the Other Ones, the Dead, Furthur, Ratdog, etc for the past 37 yrs has been an amazing journey, to say the least. The friends I've made and the friends I've lost over the years gives me time to reflect. Living a clean and sober lifestyle is truly a gift from God (Your Higher Power)and there is NO WAY, I would be here today without His intervention!!
In regards to the Chicago shows, my wife and I are flying in on July 3rd and staying at the Fairfield Suites, Downtown, Rivernorth. Just gonna be site seeing during the day and dancing
all night. I would love to meet up with folks before the shows. Hell, we might even be on the same flight out of Newark!! Peace to all my friends going to the shows. It promises to be a legendary weekend!!
We all have today, make it the best!
Pauly-P
Got shut out for tickets to Chicago, don't want to pay Stub Hub prices. If any sober head has an extra they are willing to sell for face please send me a private message. BTW my last run was the Phila Spectrum Sept 1995 my sobriety date is 9/15/95. Peace & love to all.
The good Lord willing, if he says I may.........
Thanks. Much appreciated.