A Jam-Bands paradise and hell.



I'm no deadhead. I didn't even like the Grateful Dead until Warren Haynes joined them around 2004 or so. Now I respect their music greatly (some of it anyway). I got to see them LIVE at the Gorge in Washington state with the Allman Brothers and Robert Hunter. I knew they were annoying Cosmic hippies of mindless stupidity and chaos but I had no idea they've grown so little since Garcia moved on. This books shows it all.



It's rather amusing how the Grateful Dead got fu

A Jam-Bands paradise and hell.



I'm no deadhead. I didn't even like the Grateful Dead until Warren Haynes joined them around 2004 or so. Now I respect their music greatly (some of it anyway). I got to see them LIVE at the Gorge in Washington state with the Allman Brothers and Robert Hunter. I knew they were annoying Cosmic hippies of mindless stupidity and chaos but I had no idea they've grown so little since Garcia moved on. This books shows it all.



It's rather amusing how the Grateful Dead got fully behind Obama and the Democratic party for their values and ability to unite America in a Utopia of success and prosperity. Yet they didn't bother to look around them at the wreckage of their own lives. And worse: the lives of the people who have been loyal to them for decades. I must assume that Obama knew all of this Drug filled Greed and chaos AND DEATH when he fully embraced their support? NO? Wow! How embarrassing.



Yep! This book is filled with the tales of Greed by "The Grateful Dead" remaining members, who fired, laid off, broke contracts, dismissed decades of loyal service, or simply refused to acknowledge past musicians who played with the band. They all burned through their bank accounts and ruined everyone else's lives to fill them back up again. Endless infighting and Ego's. No reason to even mention the illegal drugs and alcohol abuse... that's a given. (Is Obama okay with Illegal drugs in his campaigns??? I guess so. Anything for a vote. As long as they're breathing)



I fully enjoyed the side musicians who filled up this story. Probably too many to mention - but you gotta celebrate the passion of Joan Osborne, Trey Anastasio, Jimmy Herring, Bruce Hornsby, and most of all "Warren Haynes".



There are some precious tales of Phil Lesh's wife abusing anyone and everyone who got anywhere near her reunited cash-cow of the Grateful Dead (It's actually her husband PHIL'S band. She'll remind you of that). She apparently bullied and verbally attacked anyone who didn't obey her every whim. Funnily enough: She tried to bully Warren Haynes. But then she had to deal with Warren wife "Stefani Scamardo". I applauded out loud when I read of Stefani standing up for her husband against that tyrant (aren't they both Democrats??? world peace and unity: Not likely)

I was also glad the book mentioned Bruce Hornsby a fair bit. But mostly as a professional musician who is endlessly reliable. We don't get any crap from him.



Sad, but all of the members of the Dead failed miserably at respecting long term friendships, contracts, even great musical unions. They all come across as bratty children who don't want to share their sandbox if they don't fully get their way AND MONEY. Lots and lots of money. And don't expect them to share --- these aren't no humanitarian hippies we are dealing with (Not one Socialist in this batch): these are people who can't go a few minutes without their bank accounts overflowing.



Yet so much great music. Phil Lesh and Friends is a joy to listen to. As is Bob Weir jamming with just about everyone. It's best just to listen to the music and hopefully hear absolutely NOTHING about their personal lives. Just don't be dumb enough to believe the songs they sing or the Hippy Love Crap they spout from the stage. this is "big corporate business" folks, and not much else these days. We can bet they all claim to hate Capitalism.



I'm watching the Soldiers Field Fare Thee Well concert in Chicago on DVD. Slightly above mediocre. I agree with the author: maybe Phil Lesh shouldn't be singing lead on anything EVER! He's a great back up singer though. And his bass playing is excellent as ever. Just let Weir sing... maybe take his guitar away from him though. I can't imagine any other drummers playing with the Grateful Dead: and that's NOT a compliment.

I'm gonna dig into my Garcia DVD's now.