MY LONG STRANGE TRIP

The bus came by and I got on.....

Hello fellow heads, friends, travelers and strangers. This page is my description of my life following the best band in my opinion---The Grateful Dead. I was first introduced to the music in the summer of 1989. It was recieved with mixed reviews but I would always find myself popping in a tape and finding myself with a smile on my face. I never followed the scene at that time and it wasn't till the summer of 1993 that my interest really took off. That summers show at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL was sold out so I would have to wait another year before experiencing the greatest thrill of my life. Here's where the story begins!

The news arrived that the boys would be playing two nights at Soldier Field. I was so excited that I had to have tickets at all cost. Having 6 ticket's to the Pink Floyd Concert that Summer I traded 4 of them for 4 Dead tickets. Now I was set. Fellow attendees were my girlfriend at the time, best friend Nate and a friend of his he asked along. Now I see what I was missing. The 2nd greatest time I've ever had. Arrived early and took in the scene. Everything and anything the mind could think of was there. Kinda like a traveling circus. I came, I saw, I was hooked. I didn't know what to expect of the music but being my first time I couldn't complain. I had some good seats and become one with the audience as we melted with the songs. From that point on I made a point that I'd see every show within easy driving from my home. This year was at a end but there was always next year.

The summer of '95. Time for the annual concert ritual that was started last year. Minus one passenger from the previous year we made our way to Chicago. With all the happenings from previous shows, this was to be a little different atmosphere. Arriving the same time as last year we soon found out that the place was packed. I think everyone was out in full force in regards to the happenings at Deer Creek just days earlier. Alot of tensions were high but I was bound to have a good time. The music was as good but not the best I've heard, but I was here and it was live. Ah I joked, next year we can bring the daughter and really have a great time. The response from a friend being, "What if this is the last concert?" "Hell no," I said. "There are plenty more where this one came from!" These words still sting like the curse that it sounds like and maybe it was a premonition I was unwilling to admit. For what lie ahead, I was unprepared for!!!

That fateful day found me at home with my girls. Amongst doing the household chores are briefly heard come across the t.v. some mention of Jerry Garcia passes away in his sleep. At first mention I stopped what I was doing, turned on my favorite radio station for some word and started flipping thru channels to find if there was some truth behing this statement that I could begin to believe since it was just over a month ago that I saw the boys in concert. Before long that fear that started to build inside of me was suddenly all to real as I watched the news report give his account of the facts amidst shots of past concets, the fans grieving in the Bay area and his final resting place -- Serenity Knolls. Tears were streaming down both cheeks before the story was even finish. All I can remember for the next couple of hours is crying while listening to some tapes and my youngest daughter ask me why I was crying and my only reply being, "He's gone, He's gone!"

After taking some time to grieve in my own way, I felt like I should get involved with tape trading since I was insure of the bands future. I can say that I was in denial and feeling guilty over his passing. Guilty cause I knew I should have taken my daughter to that concert but took it for granted that the bus would never stop rolling. In denial cause I wanted the boys to continue on without Jerry. KNowing if they did that we'd find some excuse to blame any replacement they may have found for him on there poor or lackluster performance on any given night. What they were to do next was maybe a blessing since it showed us that the surviving members could give us that same magic without all the past players being present. This is where my story goes Furthur....

The summer after the band announce that the Grateful Dead was breaking up to follow different ventures a few of the alumni banded together to form a touring venture that would become known as the Furthur Festival. That first tour in the summer of '96 was made up of the Flying Karamazov Brothers, John Wesley Harding, Alvin Hart, Los Lobos, Hot Tuna, Bruce Hornsby, Mickey Hart's Mystery Box and Bob Weir's band RatDog. They played 31 shows that summer across the countryside. They only show I saw was 6/29 at Alpine Valley, WI. I was expecting to see some of that magic I've seen in the past but with the absence of Jerry it wasn't the same. Some of the other bands showed us a different time with there versions of various Dead cover tunes. The other surviving members were missing something from there playing and I decided to sit the next summer out in hopes that they would discover that magic along the way.

Upon the news that the surviving members were joining together plus some talented additions but minus Vince and Billy and would be touring with this summers Further Festival as The Other Ones, I decided to go and see if this wasn't the magic I was looking for. As circumstances would have it, I found myself along with the company of my daughter away from home and in the Mid-Atlantic region. Having a copy of Relix in hand, I discovered the boys would be playing there third show since the tour started at close by Nissan Pavilion. We were lucky to get ahold of some tickets at the box office just prior to the show. Finding a good spot at right center on the grass we sat to enjoy the evening to come.

Rusted Root Opened things up. This was the first time I heard them live and instantly found another source for the music I need in my soul. After going into "Send Me On My Way" with my daughter in my arms, I realized this night could be one for the scrapbook. Not for one second was I to be disappointed. We continued to dance together thru the rest of there set. Not much into Hot Tuna, we sat down and took a break to prepare for the main act and the moment I have been looking forward to for some time-- My daughters first experience of the music I so love.

Hot Tuna left the satge and several moments later the Other Ones took the stage to a thunderous welcome. From the first note to the end we were dancing are hearts away. Sugaree came out and I lifted my daughter into my arms to dance with and so she could see the stage. Replacing in the lyrics for Sugaree the name of her; Hailey Free, I sang this in her ear as we danced. Somewhere along the way she stopped to ask me who everyone was. I named off everyone I could recognize and put the name with the person I thought it was. With tears of joy in my eyes her only reply was, "Where's Jerry?" I could only point to the heavens as the tears poured from my eyes and say smiling down on all of us tonight, for even he would be proud and continued our dance.

Ah, a Terrapin tease, would have been nice but what else to they have in store for us tonight? Then I heard the tunes of tunes. My God, No! Yes, Dark Star. The first for us both and I could only stand there and hold her tight as we become one with the music. I was sadden it had to come to an end but the memories still remain and I now have a mental record to the GREATEST TIME in my life. I happily look forward to many more such moments

The next show would see me back home at Alpine Valley. Some of the participants were the same plus a few extra guests who would also find enjoyment for the first time. My daughter left the show early but a great time was to be had by all. We missed both the Rusted Root and Hot Tuna set but the best was to come! Another Dark Star for the ears and as an opener to boot. This was followed by same other tunes greatly played that I was always wanting to hear. Then to end things for the night, we recieved a Dark Star->St Stephen->The 11->Lovelight. Oh man, how I wish I could have been around for the late sixties. They ended with the usual Sat. Night like previous shows. Damn I look forward to being a participant in more of these magical moments. Keep on Truckin' into the new millenium!!!