http://www.connollyco.com/discography/grateful_dead/terrapin.html
Hi there, S.F. and any other comers. As promised, this is the story of our meeting with founder and guitarist for the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia... as well as most of the rest of the band.
It was back in the 70’s – The “Terrapin Station” tour. I lived in a room in a nearby house whilst going to college, and my housemate always had these cool connections to interesting experiences. He invited me to go with him to the Grateful Dead show, and he had backstage passes for both of us.
We were seated in the 12th row on the floor, by the center aisle, and everybody in that row – I still don’t know how we managed this feat – wound up standing on the tip tops of the backs of the folding chairs, holding onto each other for dear life…. Sort of sway-dancing besides. Seems physically impossible as I look back on it.
At some point during an intermission, I believe it was, we went and flashed our badges after my housemate had first gone back to check out the territory. It was at the large concert hall in Philly. Was it the Spectrum? Think so.
Anyway, we went back, and it was like landing on a whole different planet. People were quickly moving here and there, all on some sort of a mission. To the right was a gate, with so many people trying to get in. Bob Weir was picking out a few girls to bring back into their area.
In the hallway, a bitter argument broke out between Donna and Keith Godchaux (singer and keyboardist and married couple – all at the time), and they were screaming nose-to-nose at each other, inching farther and farther apart down the hall of stacked chairs. I cannot for the life of me remember what the argument was about. My mind was spinning thoughts like, “Wow – these are two famous and talented people about to throw chairs at each other! What to do?” My mouth might’ve been hanging open, though I hope not.
We proceeded into the main lounging area, and to the right was a toilet bowl filled with spaghetti! I never saw anything like it, and I sure hope it was a pristine brand new, thoroughly scrubbed bowl. Everything did look extremely clean and shiny. ;)
I guess it was the only thing large enough to hold enough food for everyone… I have no idea.
When we went into the inner sanctum, you could really feel the energy in that room.
The guys from the band, without Bob and Keith, were all sitting about – guitars and other instruments twinkling around the room. It may well have been one of the first times that I felt the kind of energy that someone famous – with the personality to become that projective to so many people – uses to radiate and fill rooms of any size.
As you can imagine, I was feeling a bit shy in such esteemed company, but I’d absolutely loved their music for such a long time, and had seen them live before, so I could be genuine when I was introduced, thanking them from my heart for their music.
I didn’t gush, you would’ve been proud of me (probably because I’d so recently seen it demonstrated to bizarre extremes at the gate, with arms reaching through).
They were so gentlemanly, and soft-spoken, and I felt a sort of natural welcoming and gratitude that surprised me, as they must’ve heard this sort of thing every single day of their lives.
I left utterly charmed after about a half hour total, listening cross-legged on the floor to their banter, and then found my way back to where I climbed back on the top of my chair with arms outstretched to folks on either side for the second half of the show. It was an amazing concert… as have been so many of theirs. That was the only time I had an opportunity to meet them, but I would have to say that the last times I saw them before Jerry passed away – in Eugene, Oregon – for a weekend of camping and two days of concerts – was the best and brightest of them all.
That story is for another time.