Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

I can't believe people felt black peter was a bathroom break song. I always thought it was such a treat to hear that song. I remember that was one of the first songs that really hit me hard when I was first getting into the Dead. It is such a good, powerful song.

Black Peter is one of my favorites. There's a moment during the song when the crowd is really quiet, and the only sounds are Jerry singing and strumming his guitar. WoW!!! And, why would anyone go on a bathroom break during this song? They'd rush back out for the last song only to be treated to.........'Day Job" or something. What a waste!

; )

So I was listening to 8/10/82 Iowa City and I was there and it was a great show and I'm listening to It Must Have Been The Roses and singing along and getting into it and then realized that this was my bathroom break song and I probably missed it and then that maybe the bathroom break that we all took was during the very best version of our bathroom break song ever and we would have loved that song and maybe it would have become one of our favorites but we will never know because we were on bathroom break. Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) Walt Whitman-Song of Myself

i don't think i ever used a bathroom while at a show. it must have been a mind-over-matter control type situation. not healthy, i'm sure, but shouldn't i get some sort of prize for that???? peace stop the war now!!!! nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile

Do think you deserve a prize for that announcement, G.S.! Some bladder-shaped, Oscar-type trophy out of a hard material, symbolic of both your willpower and your iron bladder.

I had heard so many Black Peter's that my friends would give me SERIOUS shit whenever the Boys would break into it. Then at Hampton in 83...it happened again! My friends pointing at me as Jerry sang..."Take a look at poor Peter..." I stood there...2 hits of blotter in, covering my face with my sweater. Suddenly...the first notes...Goin' Down the Road (My first...and at the time FAVORITE GD tune)...From the Outhouse to the Penthouse!!! Smokin version!!! After that...I never minded hearing "The Peter.". First Set Pee - Minglewood...Rooster...Mexicalli... Second Set Pee/Roll/Drink- High Time...Stella Blue (That song just KILLED the momentum)

Cool song, not always well-played IMHO. But the other day I was listening to 8-6-74 RFK Stadium. Changed my whole outlook on the song. Jerry was brilliant!

Oh. no way could I not be in the hall for Stella Blue. But really, had I know the magnitude of my sin, I don't think I'd have admitted here that I never liked Black Peter. I had no idea folks felt that strongly about it!

I had a few songs like that for the 1st set. There was "Cowboy Time" Bobbys' country 2-fers. Also the straight ahead rock tunes at the end of the 1st set like "Don't Ease" or "Might As Well" or "Promised Land". It wasn't because I didn't like those tunes, it's because they weren't "Jam" songs. These were only when I really had to go and didn't want to deal with the crowds during the break. If I had to go during a "Jam" song in the second set, I'd go during the more structured part of the song. For example, on 3/29/90 After the "Eyes" that opened the 2nd set I thought to myself "I do need a better spot, The next song is Jerrys' call, they haven't done "Dark Star" yet this tour, and If there was ever a night they had one in them it's tonight" So during the verses of "Estimated" I got myself a little closer to the stage. I never went during drums and space becasue I didn't like the crowds, and I used to make up names for Drums/Space At the end of the 2nd set there were a few tunes that made me look for my coat right away. The first on that list is "Throwing Stones" I'd pick up my coat and ask me friends "What gate are we parked by?" Does anyone else at Giants Stadium 6/6/1993 remeber the crowd groaning at the begining of "Throwing" "Sugar Mag" and "Lovelight" I wasn't always in the mood for, it depended on the show. On 9/10/1991 I stayed for that "Lovelight" When ever I hear "Touch Of Grey" the first thing that pops into my head is "The guards are leaving soon do I want a better spot?" Check Out My Orignal Music at myspace.com/salaversano

For me this was the time and place. Unfortunately it seemed the same for a lot of others. Watch each card and play it slow.

Always drumz and Space, If I had to go. Liked watching drumz for awhile, but then it was just to much boredom. I always thought that that was the part of the show that would put people to sleep. Just my humble opinion though.

"Standing At The Urinal" A Hunter/Garcia swing and a miss if there ever was one. -OR- Their pitch that was 'Just a Bit Outside." -OR- They swung for the fences and instead hit a broken-bat two-hopper to the second sacker. No big deal. Nobody bats 1.000.

i'll never get this sorted out, how many of y'all -spent - those scrambling brain cells; actually taking a pss break to a contemplation level for your brain to ponder. Going to the rest seat should always "Depend" if you "Depended" enough, or am I and that female astronaut the only 2 to ,,,,,,,,,well,, that "Dependz".. tink about dit. maan !!!!!

hi yas......ya....this is a good topic......i would say my revved up rock out attitude took a major dive when the Boys played Stella Blue......that one always kinda brought me down a peg or three......Leap from my seat jams would be Scarlet Begonias.....Deal....China Cat.....and a few others i cant think of now.......love and peace to all.....Jim

in my first years of going to shows i would drop alil'dose and not drink.so my bladder held up.but however if ya gotta go well than go if it was to the point my bladder was gonna burst and id have 'TEARS ROLLIN DOWN MY FACE'when id go you cant stop natrual body functions.not cool,i could always hear and enjoy the show wheather i was watching them on stage ,in the hall,or at outdoor shows.,walking around hanging out w/friends looking at the vendorshad a blast always.i will not sacrafice the dead over pain from holding it in to long.but drumz/space would be a better time .anytime is a good time if ya cant hold it any longer.expecially when they would do touch of grey.hey how about a TOPIC WORST DEAD SONGS'that would be #1 in my book.CHEEEEEZZZZY!!!!

Corrinna not only drove me to the bathroom, it eventually drove me away from the band. After six years and appx 50 shows it was Corinna and Easy Answers. There was a five show stretch one tour where I saw these songs entirely too much. Another song that would always send me out was Victim or the Crime. That one always freaked me out! So dark and depressing. Way too metallic (whatever that means) It sounded like a war machine bearing down on you. I 'm not intentionally calling out Bobby songs but that's just the way it was and is. Later folks

It wasn't any individual song for me so much as the connection I was feeling with the band and the room. Sometimes the magic was there and other times no. I would say that through the 70s I don't remember ever leaving early. That changed. As the drugs really took hold of Jerry it got harder to me to really connect with what they were doing. There would be moments, but a lot of it was hard to watch and listen to. I kept going tough, hanging on those moments when it was still magical.

gets me going..

the GD moment which always got me to realize I needed a quick comfort break was..... when the bright lights came on, the pupils completely dialated and the encore was over! this is when {in my mind} the body took over and it was time for a comfort break and then time to hook up with my brothers and sisters for a cold drink a sandwich a dry shirt and start headin to the next show. stay safe and feel good!

Certainly a Bobby song! I did really like to hear Memphis Blues, Sugar Mag, Lost Sailor, Music Never Stopped, Stranger. But Throwing Stones or Victim would be a beer run.Surprised that Stella Blue is unpopular. And Black Peter. A few weeks after Jerry died I kept waking from a dream one night because Jerry kept looking into my eyes and smiling. Like right in my face, and I would wake up. In the morning I picked up my guitar and played Black Peter start to finish, but I had never even tried it before!

I don't I've ever gone to the bathroom at a show while the Dead were onstage.

I would rather hear a thousand more Me and My Uncles than to have to sit thru another Tennessee Jed. Dont know why, the song drives me nuts. Its also a great time to go cause it wouldnt be as crowded as it could be during a bobby song.Stella Blue and Black Peter, are you guys out of your minds? Does God look down on the boys in the barroom Mainly forsaken but surely not judged? Jacks, kings, and aces, their faces in wine Do Lord deliver our kind

Victim or the CrimeDear Mr. Fantasy Don't Cheese Me In Walkin Blues I always found drums/space interesting enough to listen to, but I love weird experimental stuff more than the avg head I guess.

OK--they usually played this song as an encore. Man, it seemed like every hot show Jerry would play this song as an encore. This song sent me out early a couple of times. Now that I listen to it years later the boys could play this song real rocking. Still hate it. I mean, Richmond '85--GLORIA!!!! then Jerry plays day Job. AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!! Day Job ruined alot of smiles in my time. You know, I used to love Touch Of grey until '87. Seemed like they played it every other night. I know they played it on every stop that year. The thing aboput that album was that it was great that the boys got their just rewards but it brought alot of shit to the scene.

I always went between sets if for no other reason than to encounter different people than those around me while the show was on. I tried to never go during the show unless it was an emergency, which by definition pretty much ruled out any sort of planning. Frankly, I'm astounded that so many actually decided to consciously think this through... Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.

Gr8ful says when you hear the first notes of Don't Ease, Deal, or Music Never Stopped, it's a beeline to the peeline and then up to the counter for another 90 Shilling. 2nd set busters were Throwing Stones, Victim or the Crime, any Brent tune, and of course Drumz/Space.

Because it would still be playing when I got back. I liked drums hated space.

Sorry Bobby, love ya bro, but the slide's gotta go! Red Rooster sent me scurryin' for the pisser every time. Here's a funny related story. New years '89. Bought a veggie burrito in the parkin' lot before the show. Things went well for awhile and then ..... the rumbing started in the middle of the first set. Had to do the quick step half step and barely made it on time. Sittin' there in Limbo and I hear the first strains of "Big Boss Man". Hadn't heard that in years. With Bonnie Raitt on slide no less. Curses, I'm trapped in here! Let's just say the timing wasn't all that good but I managed to finish up in time to dance out the last half of the song! "Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God" ... ... the Books of Bokonon

Quite a few shows where I didn't go at all, but was too far down front to fight the crowd to the peeline. Used to do my fair share of parking lot shopping and munching on parking lot food. Must have been something in those damn burritos - or undercooked chicken or something at a Shoreline show that also sent me running. You know my poor bowels will "not fade away." Donna, we will always love ya, but there were some nights where you could have given Yoko Ono a run for the money. That was usually my time for a beer run.

Quite a few shows where I didn't go at all, but was too far down front to fight the crowd to the peeline. Used to do my fair share of parking lot shopping and munching on parking lot food. Must have been something in those damn burritos - or undercooked chicken or something at a Shoreline show that also sent me running. You know my poor bowels will "not fade away." Donna, we will always love ya, but there were some nights where you could have given Yoko Ono a run for the money. That was usually my time for a beer run.

how much I drank before the show, strategically where I was during the show...but I loved to encounter all the twirl girlz so toasted in the halls and the jammin boys, so thin and in kilts...only during pee breaks do you get such entertainment. I'd serpentine through them and listen to the bells on their ankles. But a slow and depressing LRRooster was a sure break, space for me, Corrina, Way-Home in the end days....

up and off wanderin

That is one of my favorite songs...:) Jerry would sing it so sweetttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!! space.....pee & wander time.....

yea, yea, but this is when i got to watch the shedervishes twirlling to that sweeeet smiling voice:), i ain't no dummy;)

yep you ain't no dummy!!

this would do just as well!

i never 'got' that song...

"It takes one to know one, she smiles..." Not even when Dylan plays it?

Yeah, sorry Bobby but it was the latter-day Bobby Bluez that got me. Peebreak or wander-about. Rooster, CCRider, even Good Lovin' and Lovelight though I'd usually hang for the last two as they'd close out the 2nd set with a bit o' rabble-rousin' and at the time it'd be okay but a "FF" on the tape later... HOWEVER I'd sit through 100 more of those if it meant another Dead show.

Enough Said.

That's one of my favorite Dylan tunes. You can't stand the whole song in general, or is there a certain part that makes you need to pee? pc pc PEACE

That one 'Feel Like a Strager' and Victim. And usually the Jams during Playin with the band... And a boring Rooster... And two hard boiled eggs

TOOOOOO LOOONG with no jam. Usually the 4-6 song in the first set. Prime peeing time from pre show beve's. Enough info Rider?

Joe from RI

but I could prolly go awhile without hearing "Dont Ease Me In" close out another first set. Peace, Trevor "You know the one thing we need is a left handed monkey wrench....."

when they play Friend of the Devil.

whenever nature called..........Gypsy Cowgirl

Drumz>Space was just always long enough and since they were takin' a break in turns, I figured they wouldn't mind if I did also. Stayed if "the need" wasn't there and was just awed most of the time during Drumz...Space, well............ ..even a blind man knows when the sun is shinin'...you can feel it!..

i had been waiting for someone else to say it first so as not to appear to be a sacreligeous oaf, thus being shunned for eternity but you are right steve.......i mean, ya kno,....the BOYS were takin' a break, so............