Author Topic: The dead, BACK ON TOUR (Read 757 times)

lbpesq · « **Reply #45 on:** January 13, 2009, 07:04:28 AM »

1974. Cow Palace. Official unveiling of the infamous wall of sound. All night with the Dead. Free 4-song mini LP (that's a vinyl phonograph record for you young 'uns) on the way out. $4 Times have indeed changed. $98? Gotta think twice about that.

Bill, tgo

P.S. I never meant to disparage Bobby's guitar abilities. At his best he could be an exceptional, highly original rhythm player. His playing actually exceeded the rhythm chair - expanding to lead with chords, and straight lead. He essentially played quarterback in the jams, somehow finding the space-glue that helped connect Jerry and Phil. He's certainly the biggest influence on my playing. That's why I found it so frustrating when, in the later years, he seemed to become far more interested in being the cute one than in playing.

glocke · « **Reply #46 on:** January 13, 2009, 08:20:29 AM »

Well, Im pretty much out of this one...be nice to see what may be the last get together of the surviving dead members AND what may be the last shows at the Spectrum in philly where I saw my first dead shows starting back in the early 80's.

But $98.00 per show is just insane.

pas · « **Reply #47 on:** January 13, 2009, 08:38:42 AM »

(Message edited by pas on January 13, 2009)

hieronymous · « **Reply #48 on:** January 13, 2009, 10:29:37 AM »

I woke up this morning, I've already decided to pass on this run. Part of me would love to see them play together, but I think I'll wait for The Trio (Bill Kreutzmann, Oteil Burbridge, Scott Murawski) to come around...

flaxattack · « **Reply #49 on:** January 13, 2009, 10:41:10 AM »

my first show 9.28.72
tickets in the orchestra were $6.00
the stanley theatre was a small venue.

ok i did some math- before i do this- order me one defibrilator
assuming the spectrum holds 17,000 for a show
that comes out to 1.70 million per gig
lets deduct say 500k for the venue etc
thats 1.20 million which is 200k per band member
do ya think the originals are getting more than warren and chimenti?

glocke · « **Reply #50 on:** January 13, 2009, 11:49:09 AM »

do ya think the originals are getting more than warren and chimenti?

Id guess that Warren and jeff are probably getting what, maybe 20k-30k per show?? seems doubtful the originals would splite the pie evenly.

svlilioukalani · « **Reply #51 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:11:25 AM »

One can never begin to understand the attraction of the Dead unless they spent time in the parking lot at one of their shows.(Shanty Town) The Dead was so much more than just a great band. People who don't understand the attraction to the band, most likely don't understand the quality of the sub-culture that grew around the band. They search for some flashy thing in their music to help understand the phenomena. Yet they don't find it, and are unable to comprehend the big picture. This band was the opposite of flash. No pop music here. The depth and power of the lyrics elude casual rock music listener. Go back and play American Beauty.

We traveled around the world to see them, because we knew we would see good friends at every show. The music gained power in our minds when the songs become associated with extra-ordinary memories. It helps that these memories were colored by acid, pot, and girls who don't wear underwear. But, as all Dead Heads would say, the shows were some of the greatest moments of our life's.

I saw the first in the mid 70's. They actually played the same songs 2 nights in a row, but did them country one night and rock the next. Can you name one other large touring band with the guts, and skill, to pull this off today. It wasn't about the money to them. I was all about community, love, and a real good time

I play an Alembic bass because this company was founded upon the same ethic the Dead put into their music. It's about quality, and love for your craft. Something rarely seen in all aspects the music business today.

spose · « **Reply #52 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:29:51 AM »

assuming the spectrum holds 17,000 for a show
that comes out to 1.70 million per gig
lets deduct say 500k for the venue etc
thats 1.20 million which is 200k per band member
do ya think the originals are getting more than warren and chimenti?

Come on, this is not how concert production works.
This is not a bar band splitting the profits after expenses. The venue is only one cost factor and really has nothing to do with who gets paid what.
I understand Haynes and Woody got scale in the ABB period. I would bet each player has negotiated their own deal which has nothing to do with net production profits.

crgaston · « **Reply #53 on:** January 14, 2009, 05:44:25 AM »

Priced pro sports tickets lately? This ain't the '70's anymore, people.

Anyway, for the first time in 12 years, I can say...

I HAVE DEAD TICKETS!!!!

My drummer and I are going to Greensboro and DC. Gotta book hotels next. That won't be cheap either. Back in the day, for weekday shows, we'd find little independent churches out in the country and sleep behind them. Nobody ever bothered us, and it sure was cheap!

(Message edited by crgaston on January 14, 2009)

kmh364 · « **Reply #54 on:** January 14, 2009, 06:53:53 AM »

Yeah, me too. I got mine for NJ yesterday. It's true guys...the '70's are a few years behind us, LOL!

Yes, the tix ain't cheap. If you want floor and/or lower tier seating, they have the VIP tix...$350 and $475, respectively. Add accomodations and it's $939 to $2599per, depending on level of luxury!!!

While I'm not excusing corporate greed, did anybody price VH or Eagles tix last year? The Dead's cheap by comparo. I took my Moms to see the Eagles @ the Borgata Hotel/Casino in AC, NJ and it was $170per before fees AND we sat in the BACK! That's regular price...no scalpers or tix agencies were involved, LOL!

While I don't like it, I got over ticket sticker shock a while back. They're all not gonna live forever, so see 'em while you can. I rather support my musical heroes than any of the modern acts or sporting events (talk about NOT cheap!). Yes, I can stay home with my albums, tapes, cd's, DVD's, Blu-rays, etc., but every once in a while, I like to (and the GF demands, LOL!) to go out (of the house), LOL!

To each his own...,

Cheers,

Kevin

David Houck · « **Reply #55 on:** January 14, 2009, 07:41:41 AM »

I just thought I would throw this out there, although I really don't know, and can't remember what I did know. But as I recall, the Grateful Dead at one time had a huge number of people on the payroll. And the constant touring was necessary to keep everyone employed. And if I recall correctly, they had benefits, including medical and retirement. My guess is that they still have a lot of people on the payroll and that they have retirees. With the skyrocketing cost of health insurance, and they may be paying premiums for retirees as well as current employees, an occasional tour may be necessary. And if their retirement plan was designed as a defined benefit plan, it could very well be that the stock market crash has made it much more difficult to pay the benefits. My guess is that they have determined that the market will bear the $98 ticket price, and that the net proceeds from the tour at that price will make it possible to continue to make payroll and pay benefits for both current employees and retirees. But again, I'm just guessing, based on my recollection of information I have read in the past about the Dead's organization. Oh, and I'm also guessing that they think playing together again will be an enjoyable thing to do.

terryc · « **Reply #56 on:** January 14, 2009, 08:06:15 AM »

Okay I have read this thread a couple of times and I have never got the 'Dead' at all, I requested which songs to listen to on this forum but it doesn't do it for me at all. Maybe it is an American thing as I was a teener during the prog rock 70's in the UK but all that said it is obvious that they have a loyal following even though Jerry has gone to the great gig in the sky. And I commend everyone for that and as kmh says most of today's music is naff but then again we are oldies compared to this generation(just as our parents were oldies to us)
Hope you all enjoy the shows and even though they are not coming to the UK this is one person who will not attend.

flaxattack · « **Reply #57 on:** January 14, 2009, 08:46:34 AM »

whats the first thing a dead head says when they run out of drugs?

THIS BAND SUCKS~

sorry i had to do that.....
lol

ps- the deads entourage aint what it used to be. so using that as an explanation of the high cost of tickets doesnt cut it for me.

the deal is this- the dead spouted their love of obama-yet in spite of the recession their charging a lot of money for tickets imho.

heres the deal- as long as people pay these prices only a fool wouldnt charge that much
same goes for sporting events- i will probably go to the new baseball parks here in NY just to say i went once. But to think that people pay thousands to sit field level at yankee stadium is ludicrous.

phylo · « **Reply #58 on:** January 14, 2009, 09:54:26 AM »

Here is what I think I know. The Dead organization run by Cameron Sears was forced to fire everyone. He had to fire his own mother in-law. Then the whole shebang was sold to Rhino. There really isn't a GDP anymore, its all corporate. And getting the business end out of their hands has allowed the boys to be civil enough to each other to net $2mil a piece over 8 weeks!

How do you know you have had a Deadhead visit you?

6 months later they are still on your couch.

glocke · « **Reply #59 on:** January 14, 2009, 11:42:59 AM »

whats the first thing a dead head says when they run out of drugs?

THIS BAND SUCKS~

Sometimes even on drugs they suck...at least thats what my friends telL me!!