tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post4882831547871723158..comments2024-03-26T23:10:34.814-07:00Comments on Grateful Dead Sources: April 1972: the Dead arrive in LondonLight Into Asheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-9141879239207722692022-04-30T06:57:15.255-07:002022-04-30T06:57:15.255-07:00It's interesting to read Weir "We got wit...It's interesting to read Weir "We got with the Acid Tests when we were living at the Chateau, a big house only a few blocks away from where Kesey lived on Perry Lane. They were giving a party, a real high fun party, and a good party needs a rock and roll band. Somebody went up to Kesey and said there's this group of freaks that's a bug-eyed rock and roll band. It sounded like just the thing, and it was fun hanging out. I guess that's more or less the sum and total of how we got together. We were drawn together by good times." If correct, this must be summer 63 at the latest which was when the Chateau was sold, when Kesey moved out of Perry Lane and when Weir spent the summer on Barlow's ranch. This is before the jug band formed let alone the Warlocks. My guess is meeting Kesey for the first time has been conflated with later La Honda parties.runonguinnesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11089424718490613109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5195590583641426943.post-52564602837249921042022-04-30T01:42:02.629-07:002022-04-30T01:42:02.629-07:00A good description of the Dead's arrival. A lo...A good description of the Dead's arrival. A lot of attention is paid to the tour arrangements - setting up the initial bookings, the tour buses, the traveling Dead family. They seem bewildered to be in Europe at last. After the "disappointment" of the 1970 Hollywood Festival, they're relieved at how well the Empire Pool shows went. ("It's the same as at home!" Garcia says oddly.) <br />There are a few comments from various Dead members, mostly Weir with a little recap of how the band got together. Donna is giddy with delight. The band's "old ladies" traveling with them had also been in New York for the Academy of Music run, and were apparently astonished by the New Yorkers' wild reaction to the Dead. <br />Ramrod's status within the group is hinted at when he brings a baby on tour, while everyone else leaves their kids at home. <br />Early in the tour, the plan was still to record something in the studio at the end of the tour for a Glastonbury Festival benefit album. In the end, they decided to just mix a Dark Star from the Wembley shows for the album. <br />Writer Danae Brook is described as "a longtime friend of the band;" she also edited the "Book of the Dead" that was printed for the Lyceum shows in May, so her involvement with the band was more than just journalistic. Her description of the band at the end is quite sympathetic.Light Into Asheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06943335142002007213noreply@blogger.com