• https://www.dead.net/features/gd-radio-hour/grateful-dead-hour-no-1114
    Grateful Dead Hour no. 1114

    Week of January 25, 2010

    This week's program features an interview with Bob Drobatz, aka The Starburst Commander, author of a wonderful memoir titled Confessions of a Dead Head. It’s a quick read, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. He got on the bus in 1974 and drove a van called The Orange Barrel. Freaks of a certain vintage will recognize the reference.

    You can read an excerpt from the book on my blog – and while you're there, please read the comments below the entry.

    This isn’t a deeply analytical memoir – just the warmly told story of some wonderful times. I’d like to see a hundred more books like this, ’cause every one of us has a similar set of experiences.

    Also: the first part of an excellent unreleased GD set from the summer of 1982.

    Enjoy!

    Interview: The Starburst Commander

    Robert Hunter, Tales of the Great Rum Runners
    IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES

    Grateful Dead 8/10/82 U of I Field House, Iowa City IA
    FEEL LIKE A STRANGER
    FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
    MINGLEWOOD BLUES
    TENNESSEE JED
    CASSIDY

    Every Wednesday, we post a program from the Grateful Dead Hour archives for your enjoyment and enlightenment. You can browse or search the playlists at gdhour.com or on the GD Hour Search page, and let me know what program(s) you'd like to hear by emailing me at gdhour@dead.net.

    Thank you for listening!

    - David Gans
    Producer/host

    Listen Now

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  • AddictionAddict
    10 years 5 months ago
    Surprisingly, I really
    Surprisingly, I really enjoyed listening to Robert Hunter singing It Must Have Been the Roses. Nice bluegrass-oriented arrangement! I hadn't listened to any of his solo material before. I was somewhat turned off by his guest appearance on the JGB performance on GarciaLive vol 1. I might have to check out Tale of the Great Rum Runners.
  • Default Avatar
    DoubleT
    10 years 6 months ago
    Great stuff
    " longing for the knowledge of something I don’t quite understand." That sums up a lot right there about the power of music, the power of art. That's what keeps us hungry for the stuff. For instance this got me thinking about a song I have been listening to over and over lately: George Harrison's "Savoy Truffle" from the White Album. I have no idea what a Savoy Truffle is or what the other deserts are he lists, but I know how it feels to be in the predicament the song describes... a mix of something sinister, greedy, sweet and desperate. Sure don't know where I'm gonna go, but I'm gonna go for it for sure. Something along those lines.
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17 years 7 months

Week of January 25, 2010

This week's program features an interview with Bob Drobatz, aka The Starburst Commander, author of a wonderful memoir titled Confessions of a Dead Head. It’s a quick read, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. He got on the bus in 1974 and drove a van called The Orange Barrel. Freaks of a certain vintage will recognize the reference.

You can read an excerpt from the book on my blog – and while you're there, please read the comments below the entry.

This isn’t a deeply analytical memoir – just the warmly told story of some wonderful times. I’d like to see a hundred more books like this, ’cause every one of us has a similar set of experiences.

Also: the first part of an excellent unreleased GD set from the summer of 1982.

Enjoy!

Interview: The Starburst Commander

Robert Hunter, Tales of the Great Rum Runners
IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE ROSES

Grateful Dead 8/10/82 U of I Field House, Iowa City IA
FEEL LIKE A STRANGER
FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
MINGLEWOOD BLUES
TENNESSEE JED
CASSIDY

Every Wednesday, we post a program from the Grateful Dead Hour archives for your enjoyment and enlightenment. You can browse or search the playlists at gdhour.com or on the GD Hour Search page, and let me know what program(s) you'd like to hear by emailing me at gdhour@dead.net.

Thank you for listening!

- David Gans
Producer/host

Listen Now

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" longing for the knowledge of something I don’t quite understand." That sums up a lot right there about the power of music, the power of art. That's what keeps us hungry for the stuff. For instance this got me thinking about a song I have been listening to over and over lately: George Harrison's "Savoy Truffle" from the White Album. I have no idea what a Savoy Truffle is or what the other deserts are he lists, but I know how it feels to be in the predicament the song describes... a mix of something sinister, greedy, sweet and desperate. Sure don't know where I'm gonna go, but I'm gonna go for it for sure. Something along those lines.
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Surprisingly, I really enjoyed listening to Robert Hunter singing It Must Have Been the Roses. Nice bluegrass-oriented arrangement! I hadn't listened to any of his solo material before. I was somewhat turned off by his guest appearance on the JGB performance on GarciaLive vol 1. I might have to check out Tale of the Great Rum Runners.