Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

Cold day, no tickets, bummer. What can I say? Heard the first set from outside, then found a womens restroom window to sneak through. Saw the second set, and later acquired a tape of the first set. What a story to bring back to college. Had never heard of Iko Iko, but caught on quick. The crowd participation with the band was a big influence at this show. I could feel the "Family" thing for the first time.

I must followed you, because I too went through the womens bathroom window to see the second set. Funny! I remember some very fun girls in the bathroom commenting that the strangest things happen a dead shows. They proceeded to demonstrate how strange indeed--and I still made the opening number (with some new friends in tow).

my older former Terp brother's first show. we didn't get in until halfway through Bird Song. Brother and me both big Iko fans, but I only knew it from the John Baldry version. Seemed like they kept starting Truckin', then as soon as the crowd would start to roar, they'd back off. I thought it was cool, but my non-dead-fan sister in law got a little miffed. My buddy Ted mis-timed things and had a long night after me and my girlfriend went to sleep, (I read somewhere that tapers had rated this as one of the best Bird Songs ever, would have been nice if U of M had there shit together and i could have heard all of it.

What a tough place to get great sound......almost a bowl without a lid.....the dead did the best they could and pulled it off....I kept hoping for the Terripn at the home of the Terps as well....but that was the only real down side....got to get up front for the second set...because of the lack of organization and security..solid show...Rossboy777

Lost my tickets since the show but I remember Bob Marley and the Whalers being billed to open for the Dead but sadly Marley was diagnosed with some illiness and died shortly thereafter. The Whalers cancelled.....to bad, would have been really cool to see Jerry and Marley on stage together.

Yes Marley was billed on the ticket but unfortunately that was right at the time he got sick and had to cancel. Would have been an incredible night to remember had Marley showed up. Now Bob and Jerry can make beautiful music together. I'll bet they would have played I shot the Sheriff, Trenchtown and all kinds of great Rasta music. RIP in peace boys and smoke a doobie on me!

Rossboy, I "knew" they'd play Terrapin, and went as far as to bet a friend! Lost that bet.

Anyone besides me see the mechanical BIRD that someone was flying around inside before the show started..?Coolest thing I had ever seen, a f*#%*^g mechanical bird that FLEW...! Then later, THE definitive Bird Song. We got in EARLY & it took forever for the place to fill up. Cold day & I gave 2 tickets away just to get inside & get warm. Watched as some strange toy mechanical bird flew around the back of the hall. I kept seeing people I know but then it was not them at all, just people that looked like friends I knew. (happened ALL the time at shows) It's a strange feeling but you all know what I'm talking about. Oh, there's...no, that's not her. Hey there's John, hey JOHN...oh, that' not John. Jez, must be 500 people here I know but none of them is that person. Really a GREAT show. Too bad so many people got in late. I blame that on the venue, it was hard to get in with just a few doors open. Important to get there early &.....never be late for the Grateful Dead show.....never..!

Can't believe I remember that mechanical bird!

Bob was scheduled to play Cole Field House on Sept 25th 1980.. Poster available on line.. It was to be 5th stop of His N American tour.. He fell out Jogging in New York and Cancelled show at Cole the Day before.. He played first 4 stops so Cole was almost His Last concert venue.. Im a Baltimore/MD boy.. He died May11 1981 and never ecovered enough to Tour after 1980.. I don't think He was booked on this ticket I believe that has and was a rumor.. Anyone have a concert ticket listing Marley?? or a Poster listing Him?? The Deads poster for the event is available online..no Marley listed.. I am wondering if this was a rumor that has persisted.. There is an article online at U of MD about the History of Student Entertainment and How the Sep 25th cancelled Marley Show almost broke them as MArleys sickness was an act of God and they were required to pay Him anyway. It almost ended concerts at U of M.. So I don't think they would have risked having Him back a 6 months later and still sick. Marley spent time in Germany and Florida Cancer clinics until it became evident it was not going to be cured. His dreads had been cut off after mostly falling out from Chemo.. Don't believe any concerts were planned.. Just curious if anyone has real info on this.. Thanks

I agree with your facts. I waited all night in student union and got 6th row seats that Bob Marley which never happened. Simply urban myth now if that Marley rumor is associated with the Dead's show.

http://www.philzone.org/discus/messages/456861/900671.jpg You're right about Bob's health. I believe the concert was planned as far back as just the time Bob was diagnosed.

Birdsong and Iko and the jam after Circumstance. Fun show. Old school hall

i, too; was one of the bathroom sneak in crew. finding myself w/o a ticket, i went over there hoping to get in and succeeded! i don't remember much about the show except the sound was not so great (due to the bowl design of the venue) cole field house was poor for music as was ritchie! both a big, murky sounding MESS! saw both the ramones and the airplane in ritchie, and the sound was as bad as it gets! this is STILL true of ritchie. as for cole, i think its' either DEAD or soon will be! -good times, can't throw my arms around this 'old man' crap!...

I still have my ticket with Bob Marley and the Wailers listed.

Missed the first half of the first set because of traffic

Seriously, this show was one for the ages as I had only seen 2 shows in Colorado - Red Rocks '78 & Boulder '80.
I had just moved back to Virginia and got to ride a Dead bus to the show. I was tripping so hard I lost my ticket stub and was really bummed about it. I actually found it hours later while dancing around the outside hall - I remember that being so cool and seeing people dancing in a circle in the halls. I was never the same after this one & was officially "on the bus". I got to see many more, so this was just the third show that took me over the top.