What's the deal with Jerry?

[David Houck]

Bill, I thought that was a very good description!

[tom_z]

Bill - you may still be feeling the effects of last night but I completely recognize your description.  
 
Glad you like the site. I forgot to mention that the song titles on Deadstein link to lyrics and chords. I can't vouch for the transcriptions but songs I've looked at seem pretty accurate.
 
I'd like to wish everyone here a Happy Healthy and Musical New Year!!
 
Cheers,
Tom =)

[lbpesq]

One more point I just thought of that is illustrative of Jerry's uniqueness.  Unlike 99% of lead guitarists, (including most that I've played with), Jerry actually LISTENED to the other members of the band, even the bass player!!! LOL  Truthfully, it is telling that in every interview I've read, Jerry always dismisses the guitar hero mantle and consistently speaks of his enjoying being a backing musician.  As you listen to more and more of his work with the Dead and others, you hear Jerrry pick up on bandmates' ideas as much as blazing the trail himself.  He was the consummate team player in a field where most in his position are always auditioning for the highlight film.
 
Bill, tgo

[kmh364]

Cary:
 
Ok, you got a good head start, now get to it, chop chop, LOL! If those tunes don't whet your apetite for more, Jerry and the Dead just aren't for you. Good hunting and listening...we may convert you just yet!  
 
KW Pete:
 
I went to the Capitol Theatre gig on the same Winter '80 tour leg as the Kean show...I think it was within a few days of that show. It was a great tour!
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin

[kilowatt]

Kevin,
 
I remember the lovely Capitol Theater in picturesque Passaic NJ. Spent many great nights in that old movie theatre. I remember seeing Weir there and many, many other bands. I really liked that old place!
 
 
Pete

[studiorecluse]

Thanks everybody, I'll get to it.  
Funny thing, flaxattack mentions the concert at Harpur College in 1970.  I LIVED in Binghamton in 1970, had I been a convert I would have gone to that show.  Ain't life a hoot.
Peace,
Cary

[lbpesq]

My brother was a student at Harpur 67-71.  He, his first wife (then girlfriend), and a couple of other friends of his that I knew were all at the Harpur show.  (Later, after it was all over, they wound up in a local coffee shop eating donuts with Jerry and the boys at some ungodly hour).  It was hearing them all raving about this show that helped push me in the Dead direction.  I heard for years about the INCREDIBLE Cozmic Charlie.  I used to have a poor quality vinyl record bootleg of the show called Cowboy Dead, but I never really appreciated this show until the Dick's Picks came out.  It is a great Cozmic Charlie, and lot's of other stuff too!
 
By the way Cary, did you ever have the french toast at the Roscoe Diner?
 
Bill, tgo
 
(Message edited by lbpesq on January 01, 2006)

[jalevinemd]

My folks bought our house in Rye Brook, New York (once part of Portchester) in 1972. The previous owners were quite close with Jerry and the boys. They would stay at the house when in the area, including their shows at Portchester's Capitol Theater in February 1971. They bunked in the room above the garage, which would come to be mine. When we first moved in, the walls and parts of the ceiling, which followed the roof angle, were covered with quotes, song lyrics and drawings...many of which I assume were done by members of the band. Countless nights, I fell asleep staring at the wealth of 60's counter-culture scribbled on the drywall above me, without the slightest clue what I was looking at. Had I known who they were, at the time, I'd never have let my folks repaint.
 
Oh well...live and learn.

[lbpesq]

Jonathan:
 
Great story.  I fondly remember the Capitol in Portchester.  So your parents painted over the Dead's lyrics?  They tend to do that kind of stuff.  My mom threw out my baseball cards, including a Mickey Mantle, along with my collection of Beatle 45s with covers!  This is all old stuff, he wouldn't want it anymore!  Yeah, right!
 
Bill, tgo

[flaxattack]

i still mourn my trains bill,.,,,

[jalevinemd]

The whole...I was in labor with you for over twenty hours excuse can only be used to justify so many mistakes!

[jalevinemd]

Bill,  
 
I sent you an e-mail to the wgpanzer@earthlink.net address. Is that still valid?
 
Jonathan

[lbpesq]

Jonathan:
 
Yes, it's still a good address.  You've got mail.
 
Bill, tgo

[richbass939]

0 to 70+ in less than 4 days!  With a name like What's the deal with Jerry? I think we all could have guessed that this thread would get a lot of action.
Rich

[jerico]

Shortly after Jerry passed away, Bob Dylan said of him (paraphrasing here): There are a lot of spaces between the Carter Family, Buddy Holly and say, Ornette Coleman, a lot of universes - but he filled them all...
 
Trying to pin him in one song (especially if it's a Dead song, and moreso if it's a studio take) is tough to do.  Listening to the Dead, you sort of get all of his styles at the same time, which might be a bit much for some who've never listened to him/them before.
 
Personally I think you'll get a clearer sense of his influences and styles if you listen to his work outside of the Dead - JGB and Legion of Mary stuff was much more rootsy (and you'll hear him covering the rythm ground that Weir takes care of in the Dead - not to be overlooked since Weir is a very distinctive rythm player), acoustic bluegrass and folk work with guys like David Grisman, even jazz when Jerry and Grisman did that album with a couple of covers of Miles Davis late in Jerry's career.
 
Happy hunting...!
 
Justin