Troy, Sandy. 1991. One More Saturday
Night: Reflections with the Grateful Dead, Dead Family, and Dead Heads. New
York: St. Martin’s Press.
Night: Reflections with the Grateful Dead, Dead Family, and Dead Heads. New
York: St. Martin’s Press.
Reading Notes
“by the fall of 1974 the band’s business ventures began to
unravel” (Troy 1991, 27). #business
unravel” (Troy 1991, 27). #business
JG and MG moved in together early 1967 (Troy 1991, 68).
#women
#women
#v-Carousel as described by MG: “It was a beautiful place;
nobody could believe it. It had wooden floors, a fairly low ceiling, plus sets
of French doors that opened to let in fresh air. It also had beautiful gold
framed mirrors, strange 50’s light fixtures, weird old tables, and red push
sofas. It even had a great kitchen and we served dinner, too. (MG in Troy 1991,
91).
nobody could believe it. It had wooden floors, a fairly low ceiling, plus sets
of French doors that opened to let in fresh air. It also had beautiful gold
framed mirrors, strange 50’s light fixtures, weird old tables, and red push
sofas. It even had a great kitchen and we served dinner, too. (MG in Troy 1991,
91).
#Chet Helms knew Phil first, through the Mime Troupe, though
they had a totally non-musical relationship. They’d hang out, smoke grass, and talk
politics. (Troy 1991, 98).
they had a totally non-musical relationship. They’d hang out, smoke grass, and talk
politics. (Troy 1991, 98).
#houses #Olompali interview with Rock Scully says when they
left Haight they went to Camp Lagunitas, then moved to Olompali. But I think he’s
confused. “Olompali was a big old Spanish estate that had a swimming pool, some
outbuildings with bedrooms, and enough space so that we all could live there
and have a good time. We would [122] get the word out that we were having a
party and people would come and jam. It wasn’t a set thing where the Dead would
play, but it was a jam session where musicians from the Airplane, Quicksilver,
the Charlatans would jam with us. It was a chance for all our friends from the
City to come and hang out with us outdoors in the sunshine. We’d set up the
stage between the house and the pool and people would being [sic] doing acid
and hanging out by the pool naked. Sometimes there would be several hundred
people partying” (Rock Scully in Troy 1991, 120, 122).
left Haight they went to Camp Lagunitas, then moved to Olompali. But I think he’s
confused. “Olompali was a big old Spanish estate that had a swimming pool, some
outbuildings with bedrooms, and enough space so that we all could live there
and have a good time. We would [122] get the word out that we were having a
party and people would come and jam. It wasn’t a set thing where the Dead would
play, but it was a jam session where musicians from the Airplane, Quicksilver,
the Charlatans would jam with us. It was a chance for all our friends from the
City to come and hang out with us outdoors in the sunshine. We’d set up the
stage between the house and the pool and people would being [sic] doing acid
and hanging out by the pool naked. Sometimes there would be several hundred
people partying” (Rock Scully in Troy 1991, 120, 122).
“Garcia, Lesh and Weir really enjoyed Crosby, Stills and
Nash harmonies and I think Crosby’s influence helped the band improve their
harmonies” (Rock Scully in Troy 1991, 122).
Nash harmonies and I think Crosby’s influence helped the band improve their
harmonies” (Rock Scully in Troy 1991, 122).
ST: How did the concept of AEWTGD come about? Rock: “It came
about because Jerry was playing pedal steel, and digging it. John Dawson knew
Jerry and asked him to play pedal steel in the New Riders. “An Evening With The
Grateful Dead” worked conceptually because the music of both bands went well
together. It stopped being a concept when Jerry realized that playing pedal
steel was screwing with his electric guitar playing. The instruments were so
different from each [other] that his guitar playing was suffering” (Rock Scully
in Troy 1991, 124). #NRPS #pedal steel
about because Jerry was playing pedal steel, and digging it. John Dawson knew
Jerry and asked him to play pedal steel in the New Riders. “An Evening With The
Grateful Dead” worked conceptually because the music of both bands went well
together. It stopped being a concept when Jerry realized that playing pedal
steel was screwing with his electric guitar playing. The instruments were so
different from each [other] that his guitar playing was suffering” (Rock Scully
in Troy 1991, 124). #NRPS #pedal steel
Rock on #NRPS: “There wasn’t really one [New Riders] manager.”
Rock involved first album and Powerglide. “I remember when the New Riders were
living in my house. That picture on the back of the first album, when the band
is leaning on the banister, was actually in my house in Kentfield. I guess you
could say I was managing them at the time because pretty much all their gigs were
with the Dead because Jerry was playing with them. When they got Buddy Cage
they started doing shows on their own. Then Dale Franklin and Jon McIntire
became their managers for a time” (Scully in Troy 1991, 125).
Rock involved first album and Powerglide. “I remember when the New Riders were
living in my house. That picture on the back of the first album, when the band
is leaning on the banister, was actually in my house in Kentfield. I guess you
could say I was managing them at the time because pretty much all their gigs were
with the Dead because Jerry was playing with them. When they got Buddy Cage
they started doing shows on their own. Then Dale Franklin and Jon McIntire
became their managers for a time” (Scully in Troy 1991, 125).
Chateau d’Herouville 6/21/71 “was Jon McIntire’s baby” (Rock
Scully in Troy 1991, 125).
Scully in Troy 1991, 125).
#v-Carousel Healy “It held about eight hundred people …
though we would put as many in there as we could get. It was an old ballroom
left over from the Swing era. It was owned by an Irishman.” JG: “They had Irish
music there on Thursday nights.” DH: “That’s all they had in there. Aside from
that it was closed all the time, and had been closed down right after the Swing
[145] era. It was still in its original state, right out of the ‘20s, right
down to the chandeliers in the place. The interior was beautiful. It wasn’t at
all torn up: it was in mind condition.” (in Troy 1991, 144-145).
though we would put as many in there as we could get. It was an old ballroom
left over from the Swing era. It was owned by an Irishman.” JG: “They had Irish
music there on Thursday nights.” DH: “That’s all they had in there. Aside from
that it was closed all the time, and had been closed down right after the Swing
[145] era. It was still in its original state, right out of the ‘20s, right
down to the chandeliers in the place. The interior was beautiful. It wasn’t at
all torn up: it was in mind condition.” (in Troy 1991, 144-145).
Lesh on Watkins Glen, the Dead had to run the show, in spite
of promoters. “The biggest hassle was convincing the Band to come out and play.
Hey man, it’s just down the road a piece, come on out and play. What can you
lose? They played great!” (Lesh in Troy 1991, 153).
of promoters. “The biggest hassle was convincing the Band to come out and play.
Hey man, it’s just down the road a piece, come on out and play. What can you
lose? They played great!” (Lesh in Troy 1991, 153).
Constanten: “That’s a chance you have to take in courting
serendipity – sometimes serendipity comes to grace your performances and
sometimes not” (TC in Troy 1991, 156).
serendipity – sometimes serendipity comes to grace your performances and
sometimes not” (TC in Troy 1991, 156).
The John “Marmaduke” Dawson chapter (Troy 1991, 164-175) is
very important material.
very important material.
Dawson says he was around in 1958-59, taking guitar lessons
from a lady in Palo Alto, when Jerry was with Sara. So that would be 1963. “They
dropped in at a guitar thing that my guitar teacher was having at her house one
night. I didn’t really meet him until later on at a club called The Tangent” in
Palo Alto (Dawson in Troy 1991, 165). Met
Nelson at the Tangent (Troy 1991, 165).
from a lady in Palo Alto, when Jerry was with Sara. So that would be 1963. “They
dropped in at a guitar thing that my guitar teacher was having at her house one
night. I didn’t really meet him until later on at a club called The Tangent” in
Palo Alto (Dawson in Troy 1991, 165). Met
Nelson at the Tangent (Troy 1991, 165).
Dawson: Rancho Olompali is a “place where all the Indians
used to hang out. There’s an Indian burial ground nearby. It’s quite a lovely
place. It had a big old mansion of a ranch house that they lived in for a while”
(Dawson in Troy 1991, 167).
used to hang out. There’s an Indian burial ground nearby. It’s quite a lovely
place. It had a big old mansion of a ranch house that they lived in for a while”
(Dawson in Troy 1991, 167).
Dawson got serious in spring of 1969: “I went with a bunch
of guys down to a place called Pinnacles National Monument, … and a group of us
ate a bunch of what we thought was mescaline but was some weird little chemical
cocktail that had some LSD in it. I had an experience on that particular
occasion and I made up my mind that I wanted to write songs more seriously and
learn how to sing more seriously. I liked the idea of being a country-western
singer and started picking up Buck Owens and Merle Haggard records to try to
learn how they were doing it.” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 167).
of guys down to a place called Pinnacles National Monument, … and a group of us
ate a bunch of what we thought was mescaline but was some weird little chemical
cocktail that had some LSD in it. I had an experience on that particular
occasion and I made up my mind that I wanted to write songs more seriously and
learn how to sing more seriously. I liked the idea of being a country-western
singer and started picking up Buck Owens and Merle Haggard records to try to
learn how they were doing it.” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 167).
“Hunter was going to try to be the bass player for a while
but he didn’t have that many chops together. Bob Matthews tried out but he
wasn’t able to pick up on the instrument quickly enough because all of the rest
of us had been playing for a long time. That’s when Phil Lesh finally stepped
in and played bass with the New Riders.” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 167). #NRPS
but he didn’t have that many chops together. Bob Matthews tried out but he
wasn’t able to pick up on the instrument quickly enough because all of the rest
of us had been playing for a long time. That’s when Phil Lesh finally stepped
in and played bass with the New Riders.” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 167). #NRPS
“What had happened is that I invited myself over to Garcia’s
house one day after he had come back off the road with a brand-new pedal steel
guitar. He had stopped in Denver at a music store that had a bunch of pedal
steels in it. So he bought one and brought it back. I [[168] bumped into him at
the Dead’s practice place in Novato near Hamilton Air Force Base. I asked Jerry
if I could come over to his house and listen to the steel guitar that he just bought.
He said I could come over later if I wanted to hear it. I brought my guitar
when I showed up so he would have something to accompany. I showed him a couple
of tunes that I had been working on and I got to listen to the pedal steel.
That little duet worked into a thing where Jerry asked me if he could come down
and practice his pedal steel at my coffee house gig in Menlo Park. I think it
was called The Underground and it was a hofbrau kind of thing where they would
carve you up a sandwich from a fresh cut of meat, right on the spot.” (Dawson
in Troy 1991, 167-168). #NRPS
house one day after he had come back off the road with a brand-new pedal steel
guitar. He had stopped in Denver at a music store that had a bunch of pedal
steels in it. So he bought one and brought it back. I [[168] bumped into him at
the Dead’s practice place in Novato near Hamilton Air Force Base. I asked Jerry
if I could come over to his house and listen to the steel guitar that he just bought.
He said I could come over later if I wanted to hear it. I brought my guitar
when I showed up so he would have something to accompany. I showed him a couple
of tunes that I had been working on and I got to listen to the pedal steel.
That little duet worked into a thing where Jerry asked me if he could come down
and practice his pedal steel at my coffee house gig in Menlo Park. I think it
was called The Underground and it was a hofbrau kind of thing where they would
carve you up a sandwich from a fresh cut of meat, right on the spot.” (Dawson
in Troy 1991, 167-168). #NRPS
“they just added Nelson and me to the Grateful Dead tour and
we came along with them that way. That’s when we first got started on the national
scene and you heard us back there in 1970 on the East Coast at the Fillmore –
“An Evening with the Grateful Dead featuring the New Riders of the Purple
Sage” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 170). #AEWTGD
we came along with them that way. That’s when we first got started on the national
scene and you heard us back there in 1970 on the East Coast at the Fillmore –
“An Evening with the Grateful Dead featuring the New Riders of the Purple
Sage” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 170). #AEWTGD
“That’s when you only had to add Nelson’s and my ticket to the
tour and you had a whole new five-piece band to open, which made it quite
handy. That got my songs exposed to a national audience a lot sooner than they
would have been otherwise. We also had a
gospel quartet that did some stuff. Nelson would play an acoustic and Bob
Weir, Jerry, and I would come out and would sing a couple of gospel tunes.”
(Dawson in Troy 1991, 170). I love he says “they had a gospel quartet”. A
self-contained hippie hootenanny. #AEWTGD
tour and you had a whole new five-piece band to open, which made it quite
handy. That got my songs exposed to a national audience a lot sooner than they
would have been otherwise. We also had a
gospel quartet that did some stuff. Nelson would play an acoustic and Bob
Weir, Jerry, and I would come out and would sing a couple of gospel tunes.”
(Dawson in Troy 1991, 170). I love he says “they had a gospel quartet”. A
self-contained hippie hootenanny. #AEWTGD
“Phil at some point said, “Hey, I don’t want to do it
any more:· So that’s when David Torbert joined the band.” (Dawson in Troy 1991,
170). #NRPS
any more:· So that’s when David Torbert joined the band.” (Dawson in Troy 1991,
170). #NRPS
“When we finally met another pedal steel guitar player in
the person of Buddy Cage on the ride across Canada in 1970, that gave Garcia a
chance to go back to just the Grateful Dead” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 171). #NRPS
the person of Buddy Cage on the ride across Canada in 1970, that gave Garcia a
chance to go back to just the Grateful Dead” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 171). #NRPS
Festival Express: “The Band was supposed to be on [the train]
but the only person from the Band that actually showed up and rode the train
was Rick Danko” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 171).
but the only person from the Band that actually showed up and rode the train
was Rick Danko” (Dawson in Troy 1991, 171).
Port Chester February 1971 run Howard Stein painted the Cap
performance surface, and they were the New Riders of the Purple Stage! (Dawson
in Troy 1991, 173). #NRPS
performance surface, and they were the New Riders of the Purple Stage! (Dawson
in Troy 1991, 173). #NRPS
Dawson: Garcia “is a picking junkie, first and foremost. He
would rather be playing than anything else” (Troy 1991, 174).
would rather be playing than anything else” (Troy 1991, 174).
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