Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

Show was in New Haven, CT

I was more into "hard rock" as it was called back then - The Who, Zeppelin, Rush, etc. I didn't own any Dead tapes or albums. All I knew were the tunes WPLR in New Haven played. Fortunately, 'PLR was a cool station and luckily for me, the Dead played a lot of songs I knew: Scarlet> Fire, Sugaree, The Wheel etc. My buddies fell asleep but I was hooked! My life changed completely after May 11, 1981. Just like the Red Stripe commercials -- "HURRRAAAAAAY GRATEFUL DEAD!"

I was a freshman in College and was had just started getting into the Dead. Two guys I barely knew recuited me and my friend to go on a "Road Trip". It was about a four hour trip during which it was discovered that this would be my first ever show and that I had never dosed. Our two "hosts" insisted that me & my friend take the two doses they had brought for themselves and said I would thank them later. How true!!! The Dead and the Deadheads blew me away. My world changed that night. The Dead and the Deadheads showed me a simpler, kinder world. I have lived in that world since. What a night. Thanks Adam and Hugey!!

I was an 8th grader and finally was allowed to attend a Dead show by my folks who for years had bad vibes about them until I actually played some Dead for them (Reckoning helped a bunch). I remember getting a ticket to this for about $8 or $9 and it may even have been on the day of the show. Out of a bunch of Coliseum shows, I know I purchased from the box office day-of tix at least twice. I had seen the Kinks, the Cars, and The Police solo before and had been wanted to see the boys before but this was the first opportunity. I'd been familiar with the material since about 4th grade and was pumped. This night sparked a nice love affair with the shows that lasted until the end. I particularly recall the Satisfaction, which blind-sided my young mind at the time. They've since torn that ol' building down. I used to like the crazy circular ramp leading to the parking garage and of course the outdoor escalator was always a trip.

A fantastic show from start to finish !! Sugarre, Lazy Lightnin', another fab Scar > Fire, a tear jerking Lay Me Down with a spine shattering solo, a wicked Playin >... China Doll, etc.. and a rockin' Satisfaction. One of my bests ! Unfortunately overshadowed by others in the solid year.

saw a lot of shows in the hometown too bad they finally tore the old buiding down

A lot of great memories in that building, first Dead, Phish, ELP, Jethro Tull shows there, great hometown venue.Was there for the implosion, had to say goodbye to my old friend, now it's just a parking lot Tammy "We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them." ~ 14th Dalai Lama

I already knew I loved these guys but here in New haven it took on entire new meaning this night . yes the next was good as well as Providence THIS ONE took the cake. amazing song selection. Any time you get the Jerry soft songs Row Jimmy To lay me Down China doll in the same show its a keepa.... everthing else was top notch anyone remember Phil walkin on to the stage before satisfaction twirling his cord around like he was in a circus show? or is it that the things they offered at shows were to much for me? Please someone tell me he did this. Similar to hopping back onto the stage after rythm devils in Ventura 82 the 18 that is.

A year later and still come back to this show very often.... I for sure had time of my life to this point. Ya 80 saw them few times but in 81 I knew what it was all about. So I thought. Remember telling my folks that I was going to visit friends somewhere and came back 4 days later.

During the intermission Bob Weir came on stage and told all of us they had just gotten word that Bob Marley had passed away. Weir then went on to say of Marley "He was a great poet and a gentle revolutionary." I always thought what a simple, beautiful, and eloquent way to descirbe him. I'm pretty sure they deadicated the next night's show in New Haven to BM.

This show blew my mind ,.... I had no idea .... I never knew .....Oh my God! Your God, ...Holy S**T,WHEN THEY SAY, The bus came by and I got on "That's when it all began" Well you know what I mean! If I knew then , what I know now, I can still hear Althea ,jack-a-row, Scarlet-Fire, Last Time, SATISFACTION !! I'm glad it's not a Dicks ,Daves, G.D.P. Release ! It's never as good as I remember, BUT ,look at the set list. 11 songs/ first set, 11 songs / 2nd set . Everyone would buy it ! But I'm sure everyone says this about their first show, But did I get a good one or what, thank you, Bob ,Phil , Mickey, Bill, Jerry, Brent, and all the others who made The 5/11/81 show ! The crew ,the staff , the fans , I love you all, Chris Kelliher (killer). As in Killer Show .