The Dead Head Thread (OT and Not)

Now back to the main event: If any of you attended the Greek in 87' where they were doin' the motorcycle thing! Well, this is were it was derived from! On that board tape one can clearly hear Mickey tell the biker not to rev. it up but to just let it idle unlike here; where this guy with the motorcycle obviously had a different approach!
For example, not only with the bike but with his monkey vocalizations too which he apparently couldn't hear himself with no monitor not realizing (and asking eventually though the mic, "Is this f*#kin' thing workin'?") that it is going out over the P.A. before hand during the improvisational jam with Garcia doodlin' through his envelope filter (on by the way, the "wolf" Doug Irwin guitar i.e. the one in the movie since the Travis Bean had gotten stolen some time late the year before); (Wier unusually had a Ibanez double neck, and Lesh on the 10 button bass (Europe '72) but neither of them were in this jam until the motorcyle); while most interesting and rare Mickey Hart set some spooky Carribean rythmns using genuine steal drums! Not to mention some weird moaning and hollowing from Donna(? not visible or who knows maybe that was Bonnie Raitt or some other chick with the biker, in any case it made for a unique jam into the motorcycle charged Not Fade Away)!

Many attendees of this show recall the craziness that surrounded Warren Zevon's set. Well I have a very nice audience recording of it, and I'd like to share a few comments!!

Number one, Zevon was definitely flying on something the entire set. Therefore he is loud and obnoxious to the audience. Number two, the set goes on a little too long and it's obvious that the crowd is getting bored. You can hear people in the audience yelling "Bring on the Dead!!" The chants get louder as the set wears on.

Before he goes into "Werewolves of London," Zevon says to the restless crowd: "Okay you f*#kin' acid casualties... you vegetables... I want you to say "AAAOOOHHH!" (The crowd either yells "AAAOOOHH" or starts to boo!) "Now, you ne'er do wells....I'm going to introduce one of the greatest living singers to you... you don't deserve it but you got it!" (He introduces Bonnie Raitt, who gets a decent round of applause) "Say AAAOOOHHH!!!" (more catcalls and boos from the audience!!! "Bring on the Dead" chant grows louder and louder) "Just turn in all your drugs to my road manager and we'll see that they are properly disposed of." (More booing and catcalls as Zevon & band starts the song.)

Zevon does finish his set, which ends under an assault of feedback. (Very little applause from the audience). Bill Graham, the master of ceremonies gets on stage and says "Once again, please Warren Zevon..... (Zevon says 'thank you')
We will be back in a little while with the... Grateful Dead." And the crowd cheers wildly.

Warren Zevon setlist:

VERACRUZ
JOHNNY STRIKES UP THE BAND
TENDERNESS ON THE BLOCK
MOHAMMED'S RADIO
EXCITABLE BOY
ACCIDENTALLY LIKE A MARTYR
NIGHT TIME IN THE SWITCHING YARD
A CERTAIN GIRL
ROLAND THE HEADLESS THOMPSON GUNNER
POOR PITIFUL ME
WEREWOLVES OF LONDON
LAWYERS, GUNS & MONEY

If you end up enjoying this, cool, but, honestly:

Set 1 has some truly great moments...but...

Set 2 degenerates into something really bad, starts off well but gradually goes south. It really seems that the band got drunk backstage. Yes, they are pumping out unbridled energy, hooting and hollering by the end (which seems to convince many that the music is great), but the playing becomes just a mess, amateurish. They are certainly pleased with themselves, but very likely upon listening back, they would feel that they'd like to forget about this one, embarrassed by it.

Again, for those that enjoy this show, great. But, honestly the 2nd set is truly progressively bad. There are so very many other better shows. It's worth it to skip this one (or at least sign off a few songs into set 2).

Just tracked down the UCSB show where a hell's angel brought his bike on stage and decided to accompany the band by revving it and Warren Zevon got booed.