Grateful Dead

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I didn't know who the boys were when I arrived at this show, I was 15 years old and it was my 8th concert ever. BOOM! My life changed, and the long list of shows I saw following continue to change my life. The Greek in Berkeley is a BEAUTIFUL venue. The tiedye backdrop was as fat as it was every time there. We waited only for an hour before the show to get in. This would prove to be the latest I ever showed up for a session with the boys. My most vivid memory of this show is that I met Bill Graham that day, I was sitting up on the back of one of the stone chairs that ring the greek in a row. Bill's tapping me on the back telling me to "Get the f*** down you dummy, who the f*** do you think you are, you might get hurt." (He was right, for an adult.) I looked around, recognized him immediately, promptly jumped down, and maybe surprising him a little, straightened up, brushed myself off, and formally introduced myself, as did he, we shook hands honestly, and every time I saw him after that, a good 20 times, he recognized me with a wink or a wave, or a few words. He was a loud extrovert when he's managing a show no doubt, and typically not out to make friends by my and most accounts. But an ooh too brief backstage spliff with Bill and Bobby at Oakland Coliseum in 1990 showed me his good side for sure. A very cool cat, and we owe him and Chet Helms A LOT. The Greek will always remain in my heart as the place that Jerry and the boys first taught me their important lesson about music.

My firstGreek, livin in Bezerkley at the time. BGP is too overbearing. Fuck BGP, no love for Uncle BoBo.

Another fine show at the Greek, despite Jerry singing a bare three songs in the second set. My strongest memory actually is dancing during the drums, which not everyone did but seemed appropriate on this show. "It's always a nice day for a blessing"