Reading Notes: Harris, David. 1970. Rock’s First Family: Grateful Dead. Circus 4, 4 (March): 32-35 .

Just figured I’d post my random scribbles about stuff as I read. 

Harris, David. 1970. Rock’s First Family: Grateful Dead. Circus 4, 4 (March): 32-35.

This article is based on discussions that appear to have happened in January 1970, since Tom Constanten is present.

Recall that there have been various discussions of this timeframe online:

• LLD on GD/JG tour itinerary December 1969
• NRPS’ whereabouts in late 1969 – early 1970 
• LLD on GD/JG tour itinerary January 1970
• NRPS on 1/19/70
• LLD on GD/JG tour itinerary February 1970
• LiA on February 1970
• LLD on a possible 3/12/70 NRPS gig
• LLD on March 1970 NRPS
• LiA on March 1970 GD
• LiA on 3/17/70 

Anyway, here are some tidbits.

p. 32: “songs for a fifth [GD] album [ed: Workingmans] are being taped this month” (i.e., March 1970).

p. 32: GD are making a movie called Zechariah … never heard of this. Here’s  some of the discussion:

Their upcoming movie is Zechariah, described as a kind of fantasy cowboy flick with a plot line closely resembling Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. Costuming has been completed for the Dead; filming may begin in April, either in Mexico or in the old back lots of MGM. Zechariah was written by screen veteran Joe Massot … and will be produced by George England, known for his productions of Shoes of the Fisherman and the Ugly American among others. ‘If it’s done as we originally heard about it,’ MacIntire said, ‘the movie really won’t be a western, but will be an interesting piece of surrealism. … The movie’s star (Ginger Baker) is Zechariah–the Dead have their segment of the picture when Zechariah interacts with them, lusts after the kind of lives they live and wants to be a part of them. We’re really looking forward to filming it.’

p. 32: The article focuses to some degree on the NRPS, listing Lesh as bassist. Says the NRPS “recently” cut a demo tape for Warner-Reprise.

p. 32: “the present schedule often finds the Dead playing on weekends, the ‘New Riders’ on weekdays. ‘They’re going all around to various beer houses and country and western, folk-oriented, collegiate type places,’ MacIntire said. [NB: consistent with a 1/19/70 NRPS gig at UC Berkeley!] ‘But the ideal is to book them into hard-core country redneck places where they can get the feedback they need from the people who really know country-western music.’”