October 2, 1967: The Bust

THE DEAD DID GET IT: REPORTERS AND COPS

"That's what ya get for dealing the killer weed," laughed state narcotics agent Jerry Van Raam at the 11 members of the Grateful Dead household he and his agents had rounded up into the Dead's kitchen.
The Good Ole Grateful Dead had gotten it. Eight narcotics agents, followed by a dozen reporters and television crews, raided the Dead's house at 710 Ashbury Street on October 2nd. A little after 3:30 in the afternoon, two members of the band, Pigpen and Bob Weir; their two managers, Rock Scully and Danny Rifkin; their equipment manager, Bob Matthews; and six friends had been busted on dope charges.
The cops carried no warrant and broke in the front door even after being denied entry. Danny and Rock weren't in the house, but were yanked from the porch when they came strolling by after the reporters had arrived. As well as members of the band, the police confiscated the files, money and phone books of the band and of the Haight Ashbury Legal Organization, whose offices are in the Dead's house.
While the narcs did their work, a rooting section gathered across the street from the house and, like a Greek chorus, filled the air with a running commentary on the proceedings.
Jerry Garcia and Mountain Girl weren't home at the time of the bust. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann and bassist Phil Lesh live elsewhere, but Phil's old lady, Florence, was at 710 and was handcuffed to Weir on the way to the Hall of Justice.
After six hours in jail, the dastardly 11 were released on bail. On October 23rd, they return to the Hall of Justice for a preliminary hearing. Their chances look good. In the meantime, they showed up at their bail bondsman's office the cold morning after the arrest, were arraigned in Court (where Rock was arrested again on the additional charge of maintaining a house where narcotics were used), and had a press conference.
The press conference was held in the Dead's living room, filled to capacity with a tangle of microphones, television cameras, lights, wires, notepads, soundmen, reporters and photographers. Danny opened it with a statement:
"The arrests were made under a law that classifies smoking marijuana with murder, rape and armed robbery as a felony. Yet almost anyone who has ever studied marijuana seriously and objectively has agreed that marijuana is the least harmful chemical used for pleasure and life-enhancement.
"The law contains an even greater evil. It encourages the most outrageously discriminatory type of law enforcement. If the lawyers, doctors, advertising men, teachers and political officeholders who use marijuana were arrested today, the law might well be off the books before Thanksgiving. The law creates a mythical danger and calls it a felony. The people who enforce the law use it almost exclusively against individuals who threaten their ideas of the way people should look and act.
"Behind all the myths is the reality. The Grateful Dead are people engaged in constructive, creative effort in the musical field, and this house is where we work as well as our residence. Because the police fear and misinterpret us, our effort is now interrupted as we deal with the consequences of a harassing arrest."
Questions and answers followed, much like a Beatle press conference. In response to "How long did it take you to grow your hair that long, Danny?" Rifkin said, "We've always figured that if we ever held a press conference, the first reporter who asked a stupid question would get a cream pie in his face, and you're him."
A huge bowl of whipped cream was ceremoniously produced, to everyone's obvious delight including all the reporters except the one. He cringed and Danny, taking pity, spared him. After the conference was finished, cookies, coffee and cake were served and the predictable jokes made.
Rolling Stone didn't leave. We adjourned to the porch to take a few pictures of one of the most beautiful bands in the world.
Notice all the rifles. Pigpen has a big collection. If he had been thinking quick, he would have been prepared for all eventualities.
Dig Jerry: he's Big Man on Campus. Who else has a T-shirt like that? Jerry said that if they put out a warrant for his arrest — which so far they haven't — he would beat them to it and go down to the Hall of Justice voluntarily to surrender, carrying a white flag.
Oh, yeah. Ever see a picture of Phil wearing those dark glasses before?

(by Jann Wenner, from Rolling Stone, November 9 1967)

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-grateful-dead-did-get-it-reporters-and-cops-19671109

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NARCOS BAG GRATEFUL DEAD

The Haight-Ashbury pad of The Grateful Dead — San Francisco's reigning "acid-rock" band — was raided yesterday by State narcotics agents and two members of the group were booked on marijuana charges.

They will appear in court this morning.

The raid on the Dead's 13-room Victorian house at 710 Ashbury Street also led to the arrest of the group's equipment manager, two business managers and six girls — ranging in age from 13 to 22. The two recording stars bagged were Ron "Pig Pen" McKernan, the Dead's lead singer, and Robert Weir, a rhythm guitarist.

It was uncertain yesterday afternoon if charges would be filed against the three other members of the group not actually present at the house at the time of the raid — Jerry "Captain Trips" Garcia, the lead guitarist, Phil Lesh, the bass player and song writer, and Bill Sommers, the drummer.

Of the eleven taken down to the station, all were free on $500 bail a few hours after their arrests.

The bust was pulled by State agents and San Francisco police at three in the afternoon, and was described by State Narcotics Bureau Chief Matthew O'Connor as the start of a stepped-up attack on Haight-Ashbury marijuana traffic.

O'Connor said the Grateful Dead raid was made because other investigation "kept turning up the address 710 Ashbury as a supply source."

He said the five state agents and two city inspectors confiscated over a pound of marijuana and hashish.

The chief described the scene as follows: "They were processing some marijuana in the kitchen by running it through a colander — to get rid of the stems and seeds."

Some hippie acquaintances who were in the house when the raid came but who were released, walked across the street and sat on the sidewalk to watch the proceedings. When the first person came out of the house in handcuffs, one girl yelled a familiar 12-letter epithet at the officers.

But it had little effect, and the eleven hippies were put in a paddy wagon, taken to city prison and booked on one charge each of possession of marijuana.

Most recently the Grateful Dead have been playing at the Straight Theater in the hippie district. The managers of the theater have lately delighted Hashbury by side-tracking a city ban on further dance halls in the area. They call themselves a dancing school.

(from the Stanford Daily, 4 October 1967)

* * *

The Stanford Daily is a slightly-rewritten copy of the SF Chronicle article from the day before:

ROCK BAND BUSTED
POT ARRESTS
HAIGHT ROUNDUP
COPS RAID PAD OF GRATEFUL DEAD

Two members of the Grateful Dead - the lively San Francisco group responsible for such rock hits as "Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl" - were busted on marijuana charges yesterday.
The raid - on the Dead's way-out 13-room pad at 710 Ashbury Street - also led to the arrest of the group's equipment manager, two business managers, and six girls, variously described as "friends," "visitors," and "just girls."
The 3 p.m. foray by State agents and San Francisco police was described by State narcotics bureau head Matthew O'Connor as the start of a stepped-up attack on Haight-Ashbury marijuana traffic.
Within three hours there were two more raids. At about 5 p.m., nine other persons were busted at 360 Haight Street for possession of some five kilograms of marijuana. Then, an hour later, agents swooped down on eight hippies at 234 Divisadero Street and also charged them with possession.
Arrested in the first raid were Ron (Pig Pen) McKernan, 22, The Dead's flamboyant, long-haired singer; rhythm guitarist Robert Weir, 19; Robert C. Matthews, 19, the equipment manager; and the business managers, Rock Scully, 26, and Daniel Rifkin, 23. All - including the six girls - were later released on $500 bail.
O’Connor, the State narcotics chief, said he was not sure whether charges would be filed against the three other members of The Dead not present at the pad — lead guitarist, Jerry (Captain Trips) Garcia, 24; Phil Lesh, 27, bassist and song writer; and Bill Sommers, 21, the drummer.
Scully was arrested as he walked up the steps of the two-story pad and told observers he knew of no pot arrest. 
A San Francisco inspector then took him by the shoulder and led him inside. 
Five other persons - a 13-year-old girl, a young man and three other girls - were inside the house at the time but were released. 
O'Connor said the Grateful Dead raid was made because other investigations "kept turning up the address of 710 Ashbury as a supply source."
He said the five state agents and two city inspectors confiscated over a pound of marijuana and its big brother, hashish.
"They were processing some marijuana in the kitchen," he said, "by running it through a colander to get rid of the seeds and stems."
The hippies who were released walked across the street and sat on the sidewalk watching the proceedings. When the first person came out of the house in handcuffs, one long-haired girl yelled a familiar 12-letter epithet at the officers.
But it had little effect and the ten hippies were put in a paddy wagon, taken to city prison, and booked on one charge each of possession of marijuana. 
The girl friends were identified as Susan Swanson, 19; Rosalyn Stevenson, 19; Veronica Grant, 23; Christine Bennett, 23; Florence Nathan, 21; and Antoinette Kaufman, 22. 
All except Miss Kaufman told officers they lived at the Dead's house. She gave her address as 1333 Lincoln Boulevard. 
The band's attorney, Michael Stepanian, arrived at City Prison at 4:30 p.m. and said he would have everybody out as soon as bail was set. 
The Dead, who have bent the minds of high society as well as hippies at the psychedelic dance halls, came on the scene last year as the group playing for a Capital Records documentary called "LSD." The record was produced by Owsley Stanley, a 31-year-old who reportedly retired a millionaire by selling acid before it became illegal. 
Then the group teamed up with Ken Kesey for his "Acid Test" happenings. 
Critics have said that as exponents of the "San Francisco Sound" The Dead can be equaled - if at all - only by Jefferson Airplane. One critic wrote that "together, they sound like live thunder." 
Most recently, the band has been playing at the Straight Theater School of Dance - a unique combination of entertainment and instruction which began last Friday under the watchful eyes of city police and fire inspectors. 
The name of the group, informed sources commented ironically, comes from an Egyptian prayer: 
"We grateful dead praise you, Osiris..."        

(from the SF Chronicle, 3 October 1967)

http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2013/07/25/grateful-dead-and-the-710-ashbury-st-drug-bust-of-1967

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LOTS OF GRASS -- GRATEFUL DEAD MOWED DOWN

Two members of the Grateful Dead, a leading rock band, three of their managers, five girl friends, and 26 others face narcotics charges today following a series of Hippieville raids by police and state agents.
The forays began yesterday afternoon at 710 Ashbury St., the 13-room pad of the Dead where 1-1/2 pounds of marijuana and hashish were seized, then continued on into the night with four more swoops.
Of the 36 arrested, two were juveniles. Municipal Judge Joseph Kennedy released the others, all charged with possession of narcotics, on $550 bail each.
The band members booked are Robert Hall Weir, 19, guitarist, and Ronald Charles (Pig Pen) McKernan, 22, long-haired blues singer.
The managers charged are Robert C. Matthews, 19, who handles the equipment, and Rock Scully, 26, and Daniel Rifkin, 23, business managers.
The five girls arrested with them were Rosalyn B. Stevenson, 19; Antoinette Victoria Kaufman, 22; Veronica Grant, 23; Susan Swanson, 19; and Florence L. Nathan, 19.
Police Lt. Norbert Curry and Matt O'Connor, head of the State Narcotics Bureau, said the raids culminated several weeks of investigation in which two state agents, who grew beards and lived in the Haight-Ashbury district, were used.
The other four raids were made at 234 Divisadero St., 10 arrests; 369 Haight St., seven arrests; 366 Herman St., four arrests; and 140A Fillmore St., five arrests.
"These raids, "O'Connor said, "were touched off by complaints from the parents of runaways that their children were becoming marijuana users.
"Information from our undercover agents indicated that 710 Ashbury, headquarters of the Grateful Dead, was frequently mentioned as a source. At least, we have dried up that one."
The third member of the band, guitarist Jerry Garcia, was not at home and escaped arrest.
The Grateful Dead, whose name comes from an Egyptian Prayer, is much in demand in the City's ballrooms and concert halls specializing in San Francisco Sound music.
The group had planned to move to New Mexico to a farm later this fall. 

(from the San Francisco Examiner, 3 October 1967)

A brief early report in the 10/2/67 Examiner, "Grateful Dead Pad Raid," added one detail:

While narcotics agents and San Francisco police were inside the flat, one member of the band arrived to find newsmen waiting outside on the steps.
"There's no bust going on here," he told reporters, and walked in. 

* * * 

'GRATEFUL' MANAGER RE-ARRESTED  (excerpt)

At least one member of the rock-n-roll Grateful Dead was less than grateful today as he pleaded not guilty to one narcotics charge and was promptly re-arrested on another as he left the courtroom.
Booked in City Prison for maintaining a place where narcotics were either sold or dispensed was Rock Scully, 26, one of two business managers of the aggregation.
His bail was set at $2500.
Scully and four companions entered their not guilty pleas before Municipal Judge Harry Low, who set Nov. 27 for a preliminary hearing on charges of possession of marijuana.
The others [are] all out on bail. [ ... ]

(from the San Francisco Examiner, 4 October 1967)

* * *

NOT DEAD YET

"We're not guilty. That's our plea, and our lawyers will prove it."
This is the comment of Danny Rifkin, manager of the Grateful Dead, about the Monday afternoon raid on the Dead's pad at 710 Ashbury where eleven people were arrested by rampaging state narks.
The busted included Pig Pen, the Dead's organ grinder, and Bob Weir, rhythm guitarist. Both were charged with possession of marijuana.
Neither of them turns on.
Pig is a devoted wine freak, and Weir, who has long been a student of eastern meditation, has been applying the methods of the Maharishi Yogi for the past two weeks. The meditation methods forbid the use of drugs.
Three more raids were made in the city the same day, including one on the Blue Cheer's house at 369 Haight St. Ten people were arrested there, though none of the members of the band were in the house at the time. [ . . . ]
[The 10/13/67 issue included a correction: "BARB erroneously stated that a house belonging to the Blue Cheer was busted, with narks netting ten people. Though the statistics were correct, the house did not belong to the Cheer. The confusion was cleared when the Cheer's former equipment manager appeared at the BARB office and stated that the house formerly belonged to him."]
Feeling runs high that the Dead bust was in retaliation for their playing at the Straight Theater School of Dance last weekend. Blue Cheer is also scheduled for an appearance there.
However, the parties involved tend to discount this rumor. They feel rather that there is a mass push to bust, regardless. One theory is that by busting the rock bands, state and city police hope to create an unfavorable image of the people they claim local teenagers emulate.
In any case, more than a few houses, particularly those belonging to bands, have undergone hasty clean-ups since the Monday raids.

(from the Berkeley Barb, 6 October 1967)

* * *

GRATEFUL DEAD TELL THEIR SIDE OF THE BUST

The sign at the head of the stairs proclaimed, "Funeral in Process."
But the noise and clatter filtering out of the Grateful Dead's house at 710 Ashbury St. yesterday indicated that something else was happening.
The Dead staged a jolly news conference to tell their view of the saga which ended in the arrest of two of the rock band's members and three of its managers, and the confiscation of some grass - not the green kind - last Tuesday.
The five members of the City's No. 2 rock band, managers, and attorney, sat around a desk in the two-story post-Victorian flat and cheered as manager Danny Rifkin read a statement about the arrests and subsequent charges for possession of marijuana.
A giant crock of whipped cream sat on the desk in front of them, reserved for newsmen who asked inane questions like: "How long did it take you to grow your hair that long?"
The statement read by Rifkin said:
"The San Francisco Police Department and the state narcotics officers invaded this house on Tuesday for the unpeaceful purpose of arresting 10 persons (six visitors and the four members of the Dead company) on charges of possession of marijuana.
"We have invited you (the press) to our 'way out pad' to discuss the meaning of this action."
The statement said that the law classifies the smoking of marijuana with murder, rape, and armed robbery as a felony, and that the people who enforce the law "use it almost exclusively against the individuals who threaten their idea of the way people should look and act."
Finally Rifkin's statement said:
"The Grateful Dead are people engaged in constructive, creative effort in the musical field and this house is where we work, as well as our residence.
"Because the police fear and misinterpret us, our effort is now interrupted as we deal with the consequences of a harassing arrest."
The statement finished, the group, along with their attorney, Michael Stepanian, braced themselves for a barrage of questions from newsmen.
The Grateful Dead thoroughly enjoyed themselves and patiently and lightly answered the questions:
Were the police picking on The Dead?
"No, they arrested other people too," Rifkin said.
Did The Dead stage the bust as a publicity gag?
"Why would we want to do a thing like that?"
Has the bust hurt or helped their record sales and bookings?
"We don't care about such things. Our thing is to make music," said the group's lead guitarist Jerry Garcia.
Are they going to try to get the narcotics law changed?
"No," Rifkin said, "but we hope our arrest will make some impression on the narcotics laws."
Did anyone in the group give the narcotics agents permission to enter the house?
"No, we didn't give them permission, but we couldn't stop them."
On and on the questions came, leading questions were answered with calm indulgence.
Fans and friends stood around and cheered them on.
When it was all over, The Grateful Dead served cake and coffee.

(by Walterene Jackson, from the San Francisco Examiner, 6 October 1967)


See also: http://deadsources.blogspot.com/2015/03/june-1968-dead-in-court.html