Author Topic: Grateful Dead Movie - again (Read 414 times)

David Houck · « **on:** May 16, 2005, 05:06:43 PM »

Last week I received my Grateful Dead Movie DVD. Since I had recently seen the movie on PBS, I started with Disk 2, which was great! Then a few nights later I chose the Feature-length commentary, and that turned out to be very enjoyable and informative. Then finally I watched the movie itself again. This is just a great DVD in all respects! I had previously posted about how watching this movie had given me a greater respect for what Bill Kreutzmann was doing, especially in the one drummer lineup of that period; and now watching the DVD at home, I'm also getting a much greater respect for what Bob Weir is doing as well.

dadabass2001 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2005, 08:28:16 PM »

Hi Dave,
I'm a Dead fan as well, and the early-mid 70s line up was my favorite because of the elements you mentioned. Both Bobby and Bill were in fine form, and Phil and Jerry seemed more focused as well. I also like everybodys compositions during the period. I haven't checked out the commentary on this film yet. I'll have to go back and do so.
Mike

bassman10096 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2005, 08:48:28 PM »

Bob and Bill were the unsung heroes of that era. Both had reached very high levels of their games by that time. Neither seems to get the recognition their playing deserved, either. At least Phil makes it pretty clear in his book that both guys did pretty exceptional stuff in his view. Take Not Fade Away/Goin Down the Road from Skull and Roses as just one example of how both Bob and Bill shined.

Bill

exploiterplayer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 17, 2005, 09:56:11 AM »

I thought Bill added a jazzy feel to the band in that era.

kmh364 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 17, 2005, 11:09:37 AM »

Weather Report Suite from Disc II shows Bobby at his rhythmic best. The band figured this was their swan song, so they were generally in fine form. They were (are) all excellent musicians that generally don't get their just due, despite ample evidence such as the strong performances documented in the GD Movie reissue set.

As an example of what I mean:

In a Guitar Magazine special issue ca. Spring '03 devoted entirely to Hendrix, various musicians were asked what their favorite Hendrix composition was. Robby Kreiger from the Doors responded that Purple Haze was THE de facto example of psychedelic (acid) music. According to him, ONLY Hendrix GOT IT with regards to musically representing an acid trip, unlike others like the GRATEFUL DEAD that played horribly. Amazing words from a VERY (technicaly) limited guitarist that seemed to think that string bending was reserved for ONLY the G string, LOL!

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** May 17, 2005, 03:37:24 PM »

Yes, Jazzy feel is an apt discription of what I was seeing watching Bill during the longer jams.

And yes, Weather Report Suite is pretty neat to watch. It's a difficult song, and they were all watching Bobby for the changes. Very nice writing on Bobby's part.

Amazing words also because Robby Kreiger did some really nice stuff in the psychedelic vein. The End comes to mind.

kmh364 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2005, 06:49:34 PM »

I definitely dig the Doors, and they did make some great music (what would Apocalypse Now be without The End), I just don't feel they were particularly great musicians, IMHO. Particularly, for Robby to knock Jerry and Bobby (and Jorma!) considering his limited instrumental prowess (as compared to those three) was pretty disrespectful, don't you think?

kmh364 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2005, 06:53:36 PM »

BTW, New Dead DVD/CD release pre-order just announced:

Truckin Up To Buffalo Rich Stadium, Buffalo, NY July 4, 1989

http://stores.musictoday.com/store/dept.asp?dept_id=1968&band_id=601

kmh364 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2005, 05:20:31 AM »

I got mine! TUTB DVD, CD, and Tie-dye Tee, LOL!
They ship around Memorial Day.

I just love to listen to psychedelic music performed by people that play horribly, LOL!
(Sorry, Robby, I just couldn't resist the dig, LOL!)

grateful · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2005, 06:04:08 AM »

Right on Kevin, I wish I could play as horribly as Jerry.

Mark, ago

kmh364 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2005, 10:26:56 AM »

I'm with you, Mark. I like the Doors, but they ain't no Dead! Krieger plays OK (i.e., better than me), but he's got some Jones ragging on Jerry and Jorma!

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2005, 11:52:46 AM »

Did Kreiger really say that Jorma stinks? While I disagree with those who say it, I can understand people not appreciateing Jerry and Bobby - though they are among my personal favorites, (at least early Bobby when he cared more about playing his guitar, before he became the cute one and got distracted with posing for the girls). Both of them had very unique styles that some people just don't get. But Jorma stinks? I guess it's true, he is as bad at fingerpicking as Stanley Clarke is at bass, or, for that matter, as Michael Jordan was at basketball, or Lennon/McCartney at songwriting.

As for the G.D. movie, I was there every night but one (including the last night when Mickey rejoined the band). My friends and I always thought that these shows were far from their best. It seemed there was friction among them that unfortunately manifested itself onstage. I love the movie for it's historical perspective and the fact that I am no doubt somewhere in it as a little speck in the backgound. I also love the nitrous scene - very creative given the low-tech special effects at the time. But as for their playing, I thought they were far better in '73 and earlier in '74 - especially the 3 night stand they did at Winterland in February of '74. Also, when they returned a couple of years later, the batteries seemed to have been significantly recharged.

Bill, tgo

kmh364 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2005, 12:04:28 PM »

Not by name...he referred to the Dead, Airplane, and others that did acid rock but didn't get it like Jimi did and they played horribly. I thought that was absolute blasphemy coming from him. If it was Jimi saying that (and he was much too humble to go on record with a comment like that, even if it was true), he'd have a leg to stand on.

As far as the performances: I'm a Pig Pen-era fan. To me, after Pig died, the band was never the same. Having said that, I still dug their performances in the movie (and afterwards). Bad Dead is still better than most others on their best day, and it is certainly better than having no Dead at all, LOL!

kmh364 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2005, 12:13:08 PM »

I'll post the entire quote from Krieger word for word when I get home this eve. I personally don't understand why it was necessary for him to knock those guys when asked what Hendrix tune did it for him. Ragging on other players (who ALL play better than him, IMHO) to underline how good Jimi was (and we all know how good Jimi was), especially considering he's no friggin' virtuoso himself, just makes him look like an Ass.

Personally, from my own experience, NOBODY got the essence of my trips like the Dead (e.g., Morning Dew). Er, um, in a past life, that is ,LOL!

kmh364 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2005, 02:26:05 PM »

Here's the quote as published in the Guitar World Magazine Special Collectors Issue of Guitar Legends, Issue #57 - Winter 2002:

The Doors were in NYC doing a TV show with (famed NYC deejay) Murray the K, and he brought us up to his office after the shoot and said 'Hey, I gotta play something for you . Ever heard of Jimi Hendrix?' Well, no...' So he put this record on, and I just couldn't believe it. People call the Doors psychedelic, but this was true psychedelic music. To me, Hendrix was the guy who was able to convey the feeling of the LSD experience in his music, whereas most of the people who took acid, like the Grateful Dead, played terribly. They may have been having fun, but nobody else got it

I stand corrected: He didn't rag on JA/Jorma specifically, I just assumed he did based on my recollection of his statement. My bad. Robby simply inferred that there were others that played terribly, but he specifically had the Dead in mind when he made his statement. I guess us DeadHeads out there don't count among those that didn't get it, LOL!