Boomer's story

Rock 'n Roll interlude

Am beyond busy at the moment, mostly in the garden. Lots spinning round my head that I want to post about WRT my Boomer’s story, but here’s a quick part of this feller’s rock ;’n roll heritage.

50 years ago today I was in a small mining village in Lancashire, to see the Grateful Dead play their only festival gig of their tour of Europe.

That’s me in the middle :-). Despite filthy weather and Somme like conditions, the sun came out for the Dead and we were treated to one of their longest show ever, over four hours of music in total, ending with a spectacular firework display.

I’m going to write about me and the Dead at length when I can, in the meantime, their website has been putting up really excellent podcasts on the tour (and prior to these, on their early albums and much more), to be found here. If yuo want to get a feel for what the hell all the fuss us about, do listen - interviews with band members, roadies, and the extended Grateful Dead family.

What this all made me realise, hearing it in retrospect as it were is this; Europe ‘72 is generally reckoned to be their finest tour. Why? I think it was because they had left America, were en famille - nearly 50 travelled, on two coaches - and it is clear from the interviews with one and all they they all had the BEST time. And it’s reflected in the music which is beyond magnificent, roaming from full on rock ‘n roll cowboy songs to profound psychedelic exercise.

It’s never too late to get on the bus…

Ken Kesey’s son Zane, with Furthur II, camped up for the Total Eclipse in 1999 (scanned from a large photo)

Bickershaw podcast

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Grateful Dead. Not only the best at what they do, but the only ones who do what they do. (Bill Graham, RIP). Amen to that