Grateful Dead

Hey, now, i know bout you guys but never did participate back in the day. I live now up in the place they use to call The Lost Coast, where they grow the kind - the kind about which I used to be obsessed. Tried MA (Marijuana Anonymous) and have made the AA rounds though not "technically" a drunk. To close, I'd like to paraphrase Jerry when he stated in an interview that Wharf Rat was the kind of character, as he said that "I'm not, but could be." Danny

I missed the Wharf Rat boat back in the day too. I was too high to notice I had become an addict. I am 9 years clean an sober today. I still love this music.

Almost one year to the day after the last time I saw The Grateful Dead perform at Highgate,'95, i would be "introduced" to AA and eventually The Wharf Rats. What a Godsend.10+ years now and I've never been more Grateful, though I still sorely miss Jerry.... I'll get down to it and write my story here one of these days so others may possibly benefit, till then, thanks for shaing and keep those yellow balloons(not the nitrous ones), flying for all to see. "if you get confused..."

This site is so cool! To have a Wharf Rat foru is quite a statement! As you can see, I am so Grateful for my sobriety and the fact that AA & The Wharf Rats have allowed me to continue my life’s, musically based, spiritual journey, that I adopted ‘WR’ into my identity. I often identify myself as a WR in the hope of letting fellow travelers, who may be struggling, know there is a solution, and that they are not alone. My first sober show was 3/16/90. I had about 65 days. The Music held me up as usual, but My sobriety had to come first. That included devoting time to my 7 year old son. So my next show was not until Orlando, 4/4/94. (had tickets for both nights) That show is where I made my first WR meeting. What an Awesome experience! I’ve been going to them every show since. My son has gone with me too, as a visitor, at the Further Festival shows. (He attended two GD shows with me: Cap. Center 9/6/88 & RFK 7/1389) I have been privileged to hold WR meetings in my area and even met the founder at a meeting in Charlotte. In the early to mid 90’s, I had a hand in helping start the meeting in the Rose Garden on AOL. Is that still going on? I haven’t been an AOL user for years now. Also I have lost a lot of my vision to a rare eye condition and have trouble with chat rooms. The text moves too fast. I haven’t been as active in recent years; my vision loss has slowed me down a little. I play bass in a local 60’s cover band, another incredible gift of my sobriety. Another great moment was meeting Phil 4/14/01, at his Florida blood drive. We shared stories of our sons and how playing music together has bridged the ‘Gen. Gap’. That night I had front row seats at the P&F show. What a day! Glad I was sober! Well I’m rambling! LOL! No need to bore you any longer. Be well! And Thank You! Peace!

First found the Wharf Rats in 1989. First clean show was Deer Creek July 18, 1990, and I stayed clean for several years. My last Grateful Dead show was 6/23/93. Unfortunately, I went back out in 1998, and came back in 2003. I was glad to hook up with the Wharf Rats again, and my sponsor is also a Wharf Rat. It is SO WONDERFUL to be able to attend shows like Phil & Friends, Yonder Mountain,etc. clean and not get into all the BS that went along with trying to cop. Thanks for being there when I needed you. If I can help, let me know. Sean K. On the Illinois side of St Louis 9/10/2003

In 2000, I became a Wharf Rat and even got a Steal Your Face tattoo with "Whaft Rats" written around the skull to celebrate my "going on" 8 years of sobriety. Whenever I think I might stumble, it is in plain view on my arm to keep me strong and encourage me to keep going. Being able to enjoy the real joy which is the music and my life now which are the most valuable things. Fatjack West Virginia

... that i walked by the gathering of wharf rats and nodded and acted polite. ha ha! now i am almost 17 months clean and sober and life is so positively different. 46 and back in school at iupui. i cruise with my earbuds everyday and describe my sobriety as 'hearing new things' all the time. i love the gd! before i write a senior thesis or something, i wanna say one more thingy: when jer-bear passed i had the premium built in excuse. i got sooo wasted for 11 yrs. poor me. what fun now is! peace, shack deer creek - indpls.

Thanks shack. I love the sound of that. My first meeting of the friends of August W was the hope of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field 91 (in sight of a Green Bay Packers banner!). I remember a couple of beat cops inside the stadium checking out the group. One was nervous, the other saying something like, "It's an AA meeting." The first cop was skeptical, and the way the second cop told him "I know it is," still gives me a goosebump or two. Thanks for showing up, everybody.

The bus came by on 12-7-81 in Des Moines, Ia., I got on, that's when it all began.First song-Bertha Last song-Brokedown Palace (Denver 12-1-94) And Leave It On!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! searchin' for wharfrats in portland.find some heads @ na meetings, but it's not the same. don't have the time to form a group myself ( back in school after 20 yrs) even a blind man knows when the sun is shining

good to here from all of you!lets have a meeting peace and keep it green

Looked for yellow balloons at summerfest ratdog Were any WR's there? (besides this bear) Won't make Aragon date in Chicago. Great 2nd step meeting this am with my homegroup. Rev Al's, one of the gys at the meeting fronts a band After Curfew(good rockn'roll) plays tonight in hometown music and brat tent The Rev's a bona fide real Rev. and serious heat on the stratocaster. qualifications First show ever Famliy Dog 11/1/69 Too many roads to try to count since then and I've tried bear's first sober show(s) 3 days at the uptown in Chicago Feb 1981. First AA meeting 1/24/80. My sponsor gave me Good Orderly Direction and I went with a couple of sober buds, same to this day. Found the briliant Wharf Rats later on down the line. Nice to be here.

Hey all, Im new 'round here, but wanted to let ya know if your going to be at the Rat Dog show in Council Bluffs IA stop by the Wharf Rat table and say howdy to Clint and Eric and the other Wharf Rats in attendance. I'll be at 10KLF flying my yellow balloons so if you're there say hey:)

Hope everyone is doing well. I arrived here recently, through the direction of some Dead Head friends I have in the NA Program. Looking forward to the Ratdog Concert at the Greek Theatre in a few weeks. This will be my first Ratdog concert and I'm really looking forward to it. I saw The Eagles at the Staples Center and The Rolling Stones at Dodgers Stadium recently. I expect to have somemore fun at the Greek Theatre too. Take It Easy... Peace & Hugs, Nez

i never got to see the dead clean.i knew about the WR's,but thought you were all a little strange.now i am clean and i KNOW WE are a little strange!lol...i have to say that i have had alot of fun at the furthur fests and other family events since then.i have more fun now because i was always in some horrible haze,unable to see the light.it is great to remember shows now too.what a long strange trip it's been.

hello rats, ah i am finally what i knew i shoulda been ... a rat! i really do not have anything specific to say, but that sobriety is great. i hear stuff on my ear buds that just wasn't there before, what fun. i love when some misguided person says "they are dead" about the band. what idiots, they just do not realize how little threads like this and these keep it so much alive. just like my ear buds; the creation of new options and of new possibilities is absolutely wonderful. ODAAT!!!! deer creek - indpls. peace, shack

tj crowley thnakyou wharfrats for the option to attend a p.p.t. sobered in early '88 and quickly introduced to the yellow balloon syndrum..again thankyou oh! clear message(s0 on fried-days 6pm - midnite (e.s.t.) www.esu.edu/wess highlights the sounds and vibes of the 60's/70's with a splash of the 50's AND todays sounds/artists official GD hour 10pm www.esu.edu/wess fried-days 6pm - midnite e.s.t.

glad to be sober. My last few shows were sober, but that was then, '90? I've fallen since then, but gotten back up. Any Texas rats out there? We have shows in Austin, no dead related lately. Wish I could see Phil in S.F. I'm a new Whart Rat, don't know anyone yet. Grateful.

hey kids, wanted to point out that a lot of people think they have everything figured out after a short time sober. sddictions are tricky - well cunning, and that. the point is about getting back on that horsie. way to go arthur! i do not know when it was that you got back and that is not the point even, it is justa thing about "keep coming back." everbody please keep connected, love ya! deer creek - indpls. peace, shack

Hi all Good to find this place. Getting sober was tough and one hard aspect was wondering how much of "me" was being lost as so much of my persona had been caught up in using. Sort of like a friend of mine, a professional musician, who was told early in the program that he would have to give up music because it involved playing in bars. He tried that for a short while and realized that it was like having an arm amputated and instead started a musician's AA group. Much better solution. For myself I found that all the best parts of me were still there on the other side only more so, with a lot less fear and shame. I guess I saw the Dead Sober about half the shows I attended, never did connect with the Wharfrat community directly but feel that we were all drifting in the miasma of sobriety and that's good. Yesterday this day's madness did prepare.

thinik i saw a bumper sticker once that said, REAL DEADHEADS GET HIGH ON THE MUSIC- sooo true. hope today is a beautiful day for everyone. peace nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

tj crowleygypsy soul > > > > are you in need of a sticker for your vehilce? tom

Iwas on the Ratdog.org board and have been for 3 years..I sold for face 2 pit tix to the Greek this weekend to Deadhead nana. Today the tix returned in my mail because of a wrong addy on her end..She is out West on tour.I have her 100.00, but she never received my tickets..I still have them in the envelope that was returned with 2 un used friggen tixs. Ugh. Iam sure she is pissed. She never called,zip, nada. Any thoughts.

but this is why God gave us Fedex, and there's still time if you can make contact...

My first Whart Rat meeting - though it was far from my first "program-related" meeting, Was at Soldier Field on 6/22/91 We had Grrreat seats - it was a grrreat show.....my first "Dark Star Jam"...... ....and the meeting was wonderfully spiritual.......

ya got one??? btw i was alsked last night to speak next week at my usual thursday nite meeting. kinda nervous, but excited too. peace. nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

Someday... Great to see the yellow balloon floating in cyberdeadspace! Knew I was a Wharf Rat before the deal went down. Gave them my last $20 at Atlanta 1991 shows, but couldn't remember my own address for the sign-up sheet! Ouch! July 1993 I finally hooked up with the original Rats, Bill and Dr. Bob. Then saw 5 shows sober, miraculously, plus many post-Jerry incarnations. First Wharf Rat meeting was a HUGE one at Soldier Field, 1994. Will stop in on this cyber-meeting again, for sure! You can't go back and you can't stand still... Patrick B (kydead and not brain-dead!)

hey my friends, my little brother fred died today and in finding strength in this still new journey, i post this note. his first shows were atlanta omnis 4/1-2-3/90. soon thereafter he was boogie woogie at a bunch. i bet he was at at least 20. i have been thinking about that concert in the sky with jimi and jerry. his was the youngest in my immediate family and also the first to pass. i find strength and hope and a ton of promise ahead as i stay sober and clean through this time. suit up and show up, 3 weeks from my 18 month token; lucky me! he was 42 and survived by his cool loving wife kimberly. thank you for allowing me to tell you all; i love you! deer creek - indpls. peace, shack

so sorry for your loss.

Deep condolences and beams of positive energy >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

stay strong shack, remember that we are here for you peace nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

thank you bobby and phil.we damn sure cant forget mickey and bill.we love youi came in and out of the bus but was always welcome.i need some family now...i fell off after 12yrs and cant seem to get a grip againfeel free to write , i could sure use some support.the shit got me and wont let go. thanks keith colorado

Hi Keith, I'm having trouble myself, and haven't kept sober. I don't have the answer. I think for me if I had more things to do, get involved in, then maybe I'd need to be clean. But I currently am not choosing anything to participate in. Write me if you want. Also, you gotta want help, or want to be sober, which I can't say I want now. Maybe I have to hit bottom worse. Should I get off this forum, since I am maybe not deadicated enough? I don't know. But I'm digging the dead, and that's something, or some connection with y'all.

deer creek - indpls. peace, shack ----- hey guys one little piece of advice that i would like to share is simple: keep in touch, stay connected! meetings are great and this site is a super tool. this little wharf rats thingy is a double whammy with grateful dead interwoven with true sobriety. do not act like you both maybe shouldn't be here, this is indeed where you should be. stay connected to safe people and safe places. go to a meeting or a bunch, there are people who care. have a grateful day! peace, shack

Thanks Shack, I appreciate the encouragement!- Two Sets

I told Donny that Wharf Rat meetings were for people trying to quit Dead shows. He believed me and we sat in with the group and Donny kept wondering why they would pick a Dead show to do this at. We got the free candy and then I go t really stoned.

arthur & keith-keep comin back brothers-like shack said, this is exactly where you need to be-i've always managed to find fellow rats at NA mtgs, though i might have to go for a wk to meet em-doin 90 in 90, gettin a sponser & workin steps worked for me when i was ready to do the deal-keith, after doin this for 12 yrs b4, ya know it's possible-get back on the bus bro, we're waitin for ya-arthur, i didn't get clean cause i wanted to be clean, it happened cause i was tired of the pain & wanted things to get better-i had to put down the dope b4 i could work on havin a better life-it's been a worth trade off for me ever since-after 3 yrs, i stay clean not because of wanting to be clean, it's because it's a lot better than the option love y'all wharfrathoss

I stumbled into my first wharf rats meeting at one of the 1990 Atlanta shows. "Whats goin on here?" - "Were havin a meeting" - " oh sorry man" - " No problem bud, you can stay if you like" - I knew then I was in the right spot. Unfortunatley, I did'nt get sober for another thirteen years - 1/05/04. I had to be thouroughlly convinced and self diagnosed. Funny little footnote to that story is that over the years drinkin & druggin I would "stumble" into a wharf rats group at intermission (at least 5 times over the years) The response was always the same " Hey man you can stay if you want" .... DO YOU THINK SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING?........ I am happy to tell you that I finally did attend a Wharf Rats meeting SOBER at a Phil & Friends show in VA a couple of years ago. I have recently moved to Ohio and I am a long way from my people back in Maryland I have a network of good sober people here, but have'nt found any people who I can go to shows with. i was checking out the wharf rats website and it says there is a Fri nite meeting in Indy. Is this still going on ? Its only about an hour from my home in Ohio so I'd like to check it out. If anyone has any info please let me know. Dantheman - you are in the right place Shack- freakin awsome !!!!!

mr drew, where ya at in OH?-just talked to a cat on the wharfrats.org that's in columbus, i'm in canton-LMK

I just moved to Miamisburg which is south of Dayton, back in Jan.

mr drew-talked w/the columbus kid about an informal OH WR campout next year, open to all WR of course-there's a few of us up my way, a couple more in akron/cleve, lefty's in mansfield i think, & mama T's somewhere in OH i think too-figure we're not the only ones i OH, might be nice to meet y'all-at this point it's just a thought, but if there's interest maybe we could put it together

9 months clean today! 22 yrs old, moved to tampa for rehab, and ended up relocating here, at least for a year or two. i'm from ohio and miss the music scene around there so much! seems like everybody stops in atlanta and leaves florida in the dust, oh well. going to my first WR meeting in a week in Bradenton. hopefully get a ride to phil and friends atlanta, but most of all looking forward to the fellowship. though i don't have much time, for those in dire situations, my fav. mantra is "this too shall pass". anyway, thanks to everybody that shares, god bless,

congrats on the 9er NBH-is this your 1st show clean?-i couldn't believe how awesome my 1st show back was-went real smoothly too-i had been a little nervous about people having work for me, but The Great Spirit, Jerry, God, whoever you choose to believe in, worked it all out-the cats that i used to use w/couldn't understand why i couldn't at least smoke herb, but they had seen me pretty strung out, & figured if that's what i had to do then so be it-the meeting at set break was incredible-you know the feeling ya get when your in the city & see some Family?-well, that's how i felt the rest of the show seeing cats from the meeting!-where are ya from in OH-i'm in canton, looking for more brother & sista rats-did ya ever hit up NLQP?-used to work there for 4 yrs, haven't been back since i got clean-keep dancin' forward (never straight!) in your recovery! wharfrathoss

Any Wharf-Rats in the DFW area? My NA friends have terrible taste in music.

ROFL-richard, you crack me up!-thanks for the laugh bro, i needed it today-keep searching, WE ARE EVERYWHERE

A campout would be nice.. Any OH WR's going to the DSO shows over Labor Day?

where & what time?

Thornville, Ohio - Aug 31 & Sept 1 - Fri show starts @ 5:00 PM & there is a late nite show as well - some time after 10:00 PM. On Saturday the show is from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. I am going to be traveling back to Maryland for a sober retreat/conference (AA thing) in ocean city on that Saturday so I thought maybe I would catch the DSO show that saturday afternoon.

so i take it it's a hookerville thing?-probably won't make this one, hopefully next time