Late Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia frequently collaborated with a variety of musicians throughout his all-too-short career. Earlier this week marked the 30th anniversary of Garcia sitting-in with Zero at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Guitarist Steve Kimock and drummer Greg Anton formed Zero in 1984. They were eventually joined by Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina whose last show as a member of the Bay Area-based group was the Soviet American Peace Walk Concert at Golden Gate Park on July 16, 1988.

Kimock, Anton, Cipollina and their Zero band mates at the time, bassist Bobby Vega, horn players Martin Fierro and Hadi Al-Saadoon and keyboardist Lowell “Banana” Levinger opened their set with “Golden Road” and a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.” The band then brought out Garcia along with keyboardist Merl Saunders, harmonica player Norton Buffalo and guitarist Marc Benno for a rendition of Jimmy McCracklin and Don Robey’s “Think.”


The guests remained on stage for a performance of Lead Belly’s “Goodnight Irene” and the collective of musicians closed out the set with a collaborative take on Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” Garcia and the Dead then held a show at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley later that same evening.

Watch Jerry and the others joining Zero 30 years ago below:

[Think]

[Goodnight Irene]

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