Reviving 'The (Grateful) Dead '

cbs ^ | 11-12-03

[steppenwolffe]

When Jerry Garcia died eight years ago, most people thought that was the end of The Grateful Dead, the band he led. But the surviving members are back together now and talking about the event that tore the group apart.

In a candid interview to be broadcast on 60 Minutes II, Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/PT, the surviving members of The Grateful Dead took Correspondent Charlie Rose back to Haight-Ashbury, where their legend was born.

Band members talked for the first time about Garcia’s death in the following excerpt from Rose's interview:

Rose: "The idea that he died so young -- as brothers, don't you want to say to him...."

Phil Lesh: "We tried. We tried desperately. It's one of the biggest tragedies or the biggest bring-downs of my whole life to know that he loved the drug more than he loved us."

Rose: "I love the drug more than I love giving it up?"

Lesh: "I love that drug more than I love the music."

Rose: "I find that hard to imagine."

Lesh: "I did, too. I did, too, but there it was staring us in the face."

Rose: "Because you could see it in front of you. You knew. You knew."

Lesh: "I'm sorry to say, yes. Yes, we knew."

Rose: "That one day you would get a call, sooner rather than later: Jerry's gone."

Lesh: "I felt like I had mourned him already when I got the call, and I had been mourning him for years. He was gone for years."

Billy Kreutzmann: "Missing in action."

Lesh: "What a waste."

[steppenwolffe]

The article says Garcia, only 53, had battled heroin addiction for 20 years.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

And he played a damn fine guitar.
(For me, this week has been 'Go To Heaven' week. I do believe 'Terrapin' is next...)

[Middle Man]

What did one Deadhead say to the other after their dope supply ran out?

"Man, their music really sucks!"

[nothingnew]

(Slowly I turned...step by step...inch by inch...)

NIAGRA FALLS!....."Hey Abbbbot!!!"

FMCDH

[martin_fierro]

LOL -- beat me to it.

[Middle Man]

Jerry's prayer: "Lord, please help me to stop before I jam on 'Saint Stephen' again for another 30 hours".

[LieFreeGov]

Iko Iko!

[fire_eye]

A friend saw a *terrific* bumpersticker a while back:
JERRY'S DEAD
PHISH SUCKS
GET A JOB

(I want one, if anyone knows where to get one).

The second generation of "deadheads" are the lamest bunch of losers to ever populate rock fandom. Imagine going for your PARENTS' music! Get a life! Start your OWN youth culture.

(Incidentally... the Grateful Dead weren't worth a damn musically after Pigpen died).

[NutCrackerBoy]

I didn't know he had been addicted to heroin that long.

[Mr Crontab]

> Imagine going for your PARENTS' music!
What a loser I am. My dad collected jazz recordings, and I liked a lot of them. Now I'm a huge jazz afficianado.
>(Incidentally... the Grateful Dead weren't worth a damn musically after Pigpen died).
False, but thanks for playing anyway. :^)

[Revolting cat!]

Hippie Muzak!

[ravinson]

Lesh: "I love that drug more than I love the music." Rose: "I find that hard to imagine." Lesh: "I did, too. I did, too, but there it was staring us in the face."

That's a little simplistic. What drug? My understanding is that Jerry was a long time heroin addict but it was probably all the cocaine he did (and all of the exercise he didn't do) that damaged his heart. I think he had a hard time dealing with the his father drowning in a river right in front of young Jerry's eyes and then surviving an auto accident that killed his brother. He probably felt guilty about surviving and having all of that talent, while at the same time feeling burdened by his fame.

In any event, Garcia gave more entertainment pleasure to more people in a relatively short life than almost anyone, so I'd prefer to appreciate what he gave his audience rather than dwell on his sad demise.

[Bonneville]

Sorry, one more joke...
How many deadheads does it take to change a light bulb?
12,000...but first they wait for it to burn out, then they follow it around for 10 years!

[deadhead]

"Garcia gave more entertainment pleasure to more people in a relatively short life than almost anyone"

Yes, he did

[rogue yam]

(Incidentally... the Grateful Dead weren't worth a damn musically after Pigpen died).

I've had a couple of oldtimers say this to me, but I just can't see it myself. Phil is fantastic. Bobby, Brent, Mickey, Billy, and Keith are/were fairly competant. Jerry was truly a one-of-a-kind, gifted artist. But Pigpen? What did he ever actually do? Mediocre voice, cliche delivery, obvious well-worn covers, giant attitude... I just don't get it! Anybody who thinks that Pigpen was a great singer needs to check out Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Leadbelly, etc., etc. Maybe the difference for me is that I grew up in the Deep South a while ago and saw the real deal first hand. But I swear, I just don't get the whole Pigpen thing.

[Elliott Jackalope]

I liked Norm MacDonald's line on SNL news after the "Grateful Dead" broke up. His comment was "followers of the band, known as 'Deadheads', will now be referred to as 'homeless people' ".

[AAABEST]

[Guillermo]

Glad to see you're one of Us.

[tet68]

Was just talking to my brother on the phone and he was watching the program, I could hear the band in the backround
and goosebumps came up on my arm.

I need a miracle!

Missed them here in Atlanta this year, well next time!

JG RIP.

There is a road, no simple highway........
....it is for, your steps alone...

[tet68]

Kewl, thanks for the stealyaface.

Got a subdued one on the shoulder of my camos.