Grateful Dead

sounds awesome...i will definitely try to take the day off!!! maybe if i request it now i can go!!!

ok so i talked to someone who told me that these dates are not confirmed and its all kind of made up stuff...hopefully it will come true!

lefty

I haven't been able to confirm anything on these shows, but IF they happen YOU BET I'm in! Let me know if you get some confirmation please.Peace, Love and Recovery, lefty

hey rats!! hope everyone had a sober n blessed holiday-i am so lucky to be alive and have the grate life i do 2day....love n light-hcm

Whew ! Going through the holidays can be lonely at times can't it ? Still approaching 10 months though. Wow, seriously-The Dead and The Allmans ? Gonna have to look into that ! Anybody else break out their DVD's and watch a concert from waaay back in the 70's for the first time sober ? I LOVE the Closing of Winterland show on DVD, watched it sober recently and WOW it was sooo cool. Phil's opening bass on Dark Star is so much more enjoyable now !! Anybody else catch the all-day Dark Star on the GDC Dec 21st ? cooool Hi again HCM ! Look forward to running into you again !

Forgot this earlier... Anybody ever check out the 'Dead videos on YouTube ? There's some really cool stuff there from all around the globe. Gonna have to upgrade my 'puter speakers though ! Can anyone recommend any other sources for vid's ? P.S. Thanks for the warm welcome everybody ! :< )

ya-good holidayz but kinda weird...i never did fit in really well at family stuff- and now i am the only one that wasnt drinking too!!! its all good..........i dont know about videos but some neat stuff on myspace (look me up im hippiechickmom031308 if u like!!) did u guys see the spring tour dates-yaaaaay! im so so so so so excited-im going to every show i can get too for sure!!! i would love to be in colorado in may-we will see if i can get that lucky-not at red rocks which sucks though-but hay the dead is the dead ill take it anywhere anyway (as long as its sober :):):) ) so much love and light fellow rats!!! c u there!!

Got the word on the Spring Tour this morning! Having just gone through my first sober holidays, I am sure looking forward to seeing the band and getting into the music without any additives in my brain and body! Hoping to get to Denver, LA and Shoreline - a wonderful excuse to get out of AZ before the summer heat set in! Hope to see lots of you out there!

I was an exchange student to Japan in '70. To return the favor, and to expose our children to other cultures, our family has hosted a dozen or more students from all over the world. And we always took them (our kids AND the echangers) to see the Dead. Back in '91 we took on of these exchange students to a Shoreline show. We gave him a place to meet up after the show and turned him loose. On the way back we asked him what he did at halftime. He said, "Oh, I had the most wonderful time meeting Grateful Deadheads. They were all visiting and introducing themselves, saying things like "Hello, my name is Rocky and I haven't taken acid in 2 weeks'. I told them, "Hello, my name is Ulrik and I am from Denmark. Then they asked me all about the people in Christianania and the Roskilde Music Festival. I really like the deadheads!" M.Barcadero

welcome, M!

thats awesome!! I was so worried that when I got sober that I would lose my deadheadedness-wow is that a word? anyways so the moral of the story is i am actually so much more in touch with my hippie spirit and my deadheadness now then ever....gratefully-jodi

I was also worried that getting clean would mean cutting ties with the Dead and my Family. I think without the Wharf Rats around I would have had to make the choice: Stay clean, or go to shows. Thankfully they showed me that I can do both. By the way, anyone looking for some great videos, I recomend you sign up for the Bill Graham Tribute 11/3/91 (VIDEO DVD) Vine in the vine forum. The quality is outstanding. Peace Robert

I'm so grateful I've found people who understand me. I'm sort of a newcomer to this scene. I would love to learn more about this fellowship. I never really followed The Dead, but I love all the modern jam bands. I first got clean in October of 06', but recently made a decision to go do some 'research' and found my way back. I thought I would never be able to attend a show clean. But this is very enlightening to know that it is possible. Thank you guys and gals for making this happen. KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

I'm looking for a sober head that can help me on my continual STRUGGLE. All help/input would be GRATEFULLY appreciated

whatz up!! i tried 2 write u a private message but i dont think i am receiving any and cant figure out how to send any.....why dont u myspace me-my url is hippiechickmom031308....all i have is my experience strength and hope but ya never know....love n light!!

Hi there :I started seeing shows in '84 and the partying kind of went along with the music for me. Even outside of the shows my friends and I would always listen to the music and have our own little scene going on. Believe me, it was a great time with great people, but my life has changed a lot since then. I am a musician and have played in bar bands throughout my life. In February 07 I decided to get sober. I was aware of the Wharf Rats when I went to shows, but for obvious reasons I never really got to know too much about it. Looking back on it now I really wish I had, but that is another story. Anyway, I recently learned that The Dead are going on tour now and I am excited about it, but I am also a little nervous about all the old stuff that went along with the shows for me. The first thing that came to my mind was The Wharf Rats and I wanted to come by and introduce myself. I am in Boston, Massachusetts and am thinking about going to the shows in Worcester. I am interested in learning more about you all and was wondering if people ever have meet ups in the Boston area. Thanks and good luck to you all.

I just thought I would drop by. Like a lot of people have commented I use to see you guys shows but I was stuck in my active addiction. I now have some sobriety and heard about the up coming tour and my son wants me to take him. I think its time I have stayed away for aong time. Glad to know you guys are still here will be looking for you at the show.

i to stumbled on big group in a circle at eugene. thats where i found y'allwould like to get in contact with kind:) in the portland or area. like to get in touche specially for the tour. drop me a line. can used all the love and support i can get. peace

Just wanted to say that it was (once again) marvelous to be at a show surrounded by madness and yet find my folks. Thank you thank you all you wharf rats. Been sober at Dead shows for over 17 years now and life gets better all the time. peace and love

Well can't say i been to a bunch of Dead shows i am only 27 years old, so i have only been to a few, i toured with Phish and definatly did my share of drugs and alcohol. I became an addict and got in my share of trouble, been clean off drugs since july of 08 and sober off alcohol since september of 08 i know it is only a short while but definatly happy to have woken up sober after new years for the first time in 12 years!! so i am absolutly impressed with myself and happy with the changes i have made. Peace

hey Acoustic...thats amazing...Im 31 and Im an addict too...I will have one year sober March 13th...Im really excited...all that matters is that you live to the best of your ability now....Im going to at least three shows for the upcoming tour, and went to my first sober show over the summer in Rochester to see Phil Lesh...wharf rats rock...take care-keep up the good work!!!love n light!!

Hey acoustic ,Awesome, If you do the PHISH thing ,look for the PHELLOWSHIP! Widespread-GATEWAY, MOE -Happy Hour Heroes, Disco Biscuts-Digital Buddas, Yonder-Velcro Kangaroos.Many of us out there with a common goal -To attend shows Clean and sober and provide traction in a slippery environment, ONE SHOW AT TIME! HCM ,it was grate to meet you and yours last night!Your PM SAYS NOT ACCEPTING PM so I couldn' t respond there to yours.Peace, Love and Recovery lefty

Well, I did my second lead last night...it was grate!!! Looking soooo forward to April. Anywayz, grate to meet u 2 UL, I think I fixed my pm, will u try again 2 c if it works...Peace, love, n sobriety!!! ttyl-gratefully-hcm

m.barcadero that is one of the funniest stories ive heard in a long time! my first show me and ex tripping around and saw a big circle at the concert. dude stood up and said hi my name is.... and i havent done..........for 6 mo. we looked at each other and exclaimed dead AA??? of corse now i know all about. :)

newbie to net and having hard time contacting info on web site. anybody could PM me info for NW rats, newsletter chats, online of f2 meetings would be great! see u at shoreline!

hi yallis anyone going to be manning table? if you're interested in a glitter supply, let me know. peace, blondie

Started touring in '88 had good times, been sober since 12/26/07 i needed that miracle! now with tour coming I'm really afraid, want to go soooo bad but can't jeapordize my second chance at life- matty

I find the conversation here inspiring. As one who lost some friends along the way, and knowing many on this forum had their own brushes, I thought I would post the lyrics to a favorite Jerry Joseph tune - a kind of reminder and tribute to our journey: I got two balloons - a red one and a white one well, I found them underneath somebody's tongue Two balloons - a means to find my courage well, it's easier and cleaner than a gun I lie to you - and everybody else I know I'm embarrassed to acknowledge I am well And I fear the truth - and lie at every meeting it's important to impress you with the chill - with the chill If I could give you any gift I'd give you strength and comfort in your eyes But I left my higher power and I did not have the nerve to say goodbye - say goodbye If I could fly I'd make like a coyote well, I'd try to shake the shame like it's a trap Afraid to die - while killing myself slowly it means paying less attention to the map - to the map Girl, I'd love to tell you something but I haven't got the words you wanna hear so I sit here with my balloons - a painless way to kill a couple years - a couple years And I will try to cool my head and calm my heart Well, I know that it will kill me but I hope that I can own it in the end til then I'll be proud and happy to consider my balloons my only friends - only friends I got two balloons - a red one and a white one well, I found them underneath somebody's tongue Two balloons - a means to find my courage cuz it's easier and cleaner than a gun I got two balloons... -Jerry Joseph on "Love and Happiness" (lyrics might be a little off, but close - this is the way I play it these days, anyway)

thanx dancer. i havent thought of that song in years. saw jerrry joseph here in portland yrs ago.theres another song that hits close too. need to get that CD again. talk about a god shot!

Checking in as I'm new to this site. I saw 13 shows back in 86-88. I got sober in 89. 20 years later, I'm on board for the DC and Charlottesville shows in April! How do I find you guys at the shows? Much love, Ted

It's been a while since I have involved myself in any type of Grateful Dead forum. A visit from a friend and a weekend of GD DVD's inspired an overwhelming urge to reconnect. I was a newbie, I started touring in 1990 and saw The Boy's off and on until Jerry's passing. I tried to hang on for Further, The Other Ones, and The Dead but as we all know....times have changed. Although I picked up from my days with the Dead an amazing path of discovery...I also picked up drug addiction. I tried to start a family, tried to make it in babylon, but I picked up opiates (pharmies) and I fell...and fell hard. Even though it is difficult...it is all part of the path...and I am better off for it. I am clean..I am sober...and I am now a Wharf Rat...never woulda thunk it! Watching those videos inspired me. I miss all of you. I... love...all of you, and I need to reconnect with my family. Sitting in this boring old town of 16000 people I realize how few of us there really are, although then I thought we were going to take over the world :). It's kinda sad that we have to rely on a cybercommunity but beggers can't be choosers. I know it's still out there...but it's alot tougher than any time in history (just ask the old schoolers what they thought of us newbies). But I absorbed something, and I live with it everyday. I wish to make some new friends here, and in particular those who understand the ramifications and consequences of drug addiction. Along with the drug addiction, I have had a string of unhealthy relationships. And I don't mean to debase this forum as simply a place to "hook up", but I am looking for that sunshine daydream that contains all of the light that the Grateful Dead personified. Drug addiction and unhealthy thinking has jaded my perception of the American woman, and I had a flash that If anyone had the kind of understanding, compassion, and light that I needed it would be a wharf rat that could restore my faith in a female. I'm a 36 year old male with a passion for philosophy and esoteric religion (throw in some conspiracy theory) who is seeking a Sugar Mag ,preferably an old schooler who saw the boys in the seventies or eighties, that would like to be my friend and/or promulagate a relationship. I also look forward to making some friends here along the way. With all Love, Light, and Laughter................Crypticalmystic

Anyone...I mean anyone...that would like to contact me and talk can e-mail me at crypticalmystic@yahoo.com Later ya'll.

Thanks to you guys HCM and UL it helps to hear helping words from kind like peoples. Peace nad Love

"The journey is the destination"Jerry Garcia Broken heart don't feel so bad......You ain't got half of what you thought you had.

Greetings!I am a student here in Denver and have been participating in a Masters' course on Documentary Production. I am also a fan of the Dead since I can remember listening to music. I have also been sober for just over two years. I am working on pitching a Doc. to my class to make and would love to somehow focus on Sobriety groups in Music concert settings. At the moment the project is in its very early stages of development and there is a very large chance that it will not be made but I wanted to send a message to anyone who might be interested in participating or even talking a little more; especially anyone who might live in denver or be going to the show on May 7th. **** I realize that this idea comes into the territory of breaking anonymity and am very mindful of that boundary. I would love to hear anyone's feed back on this matter. I want to say thanks to every one here. Nefstati

Looking forward to another sober show and meeting fellow Trudgers along the Golden Road of Happy Destiny. First Dead show 4/12/71 ... got sober 12/31/82 ... didn't think I could attend a show until I was 5 years sober and only then did so with a friend who was 6 years clean n sober (whom I had taken to Blacksburg, VA show on 4/14/78) and much to our mutual delight we found others like us ... We were not alone ... Wharfrats everywhere Looking forward to finding the Yellow Balloons and the meeting between sets in the hallway to the left of the stage. One Show At A Time Grateful for another Day Stephen T Kingsport, TN

hi everyone, I am wayne and am sober this time around about seven months now. I am in the no. orange county ca area and am hoping to meet someone here to go to a few meetings with and maybe catch some of these shows this year. I would love to do a tour sober! Been to one show sober and caught an intermission meeting in La colliseum 1991, had a blast! Anyway just saying hello and hoping to make some new friends.

we're going to the 1st dead clean, have about 2 years clean, wanted to know how to get in touch with some other clean folks at the show. any info from anyone would be gratefully appreciated!! THANKS- Althea

find yellow balloons inbetween sets. seen left of the stage but the first one i tripped into was as the back. i wish i could be posted at the beggining of the wharfrat forum

Wharf Rat since 1992!!! Hope to run into some of you folks!!!

AltheaNot sure how they do it in other parts of the country, but here in the bay area they always have a table set up in the lobby too. Again just look for the yellow balloons. http://www.wharfrat.org/ "I'll get up and fly away"

Looking for my mid west peeps. Got a tix for Chicago. Looks like a solo trip for me from Minneapolis. Planning on leaving Tuesday morning & spending the night. It would be great if someone has a couch I can crash on for the night. Also, if someone needs a ride going out from Mlps... PM me. I figure I have a couple months to pull this together.

I'm so excited to meet some of you guys!!! I cant wait to see more sober shows!!! Yay wharf rats-life is sooo good-I'm sober, I'm a mom, I have a good job, a roof over my head, lifes good-and the Dead are about to tour!!!! So good!!! Peace, love, and sobriety

I am blessed enough to get in bolth nights . Trying to get pluged into some people my buddy is running the table. looking to meet new people been hittin tables for 4yrs now. I got to run a few. So any heads going down drop a line. stay in the middle you wont get picked off

Yaaa Hoooo, cant wait!!!!

Unsure that I can make any shows this tour, but sending lots of love !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will likely be doing the Ohio DSO shows so stop by and say hello. I will be the guy smilin and having fun in the middle of the yellow balloons.peace, love and recovery, lefty

Lookin for west coast rats goin to shoreline. Lets connect and stake out a sacred sober plot on the lawn for dancin and fellowship. Hey now "I'll get up and fly away"

I live near Charleston. Anybody else around here?

I had to post & share with you all. It does work!!! I have attended many a show sober & been to many a Wharf Rats Meetings at shows. I still road trip when I can & plan to for the Rosemount show. Been fortunate to revisit Red Rocks in 2004 where I had an amazing time in spite of the rain. Met lot's of Rats there & hung out on the "12th step" most of the shows. 1st Rat meeting was in Soldiers Field in 91 or 92 (getting old here). We are the best bunch of heads/fans out there cause we truly get it > "You don't need dope to dance" & "Real Heads get high on Music". When I finally hooked up w/ the Rats, I knew I was finally found a home. I spent many years wandering around the "desert" looking for water. Even after I sobered up, shows were great but not quite the same till I met w/ the Rats. You guyz are my family, I love ya!!! "No matter where you go, there you are..." Buckaroo Bonzai