College roomate introduced me to the Dead. Had only heard one song(on MTV) before starting my freshman year. Had no idea of what I was getting my self into at the time, funny thing is I never got back out. If your looking at this, thanks Pete.

Mama, mama, many roads I've come sinc I first left home.

O.K. here's what happened...the story starts at the previous shows in Long beach.After the show on December 10, I headed to "shakedown" and as I was walking around, I happened to look down. I saw what looked like a laminate. Sure as shit it was! It was a laminate for the Fall/Winter 1988 tour. I didn't know what to think or do, so i pocketed it to sort it out. I come to find out that it's real. I took it home and planned how i'd use it. The next shows were the New Years run in Oakland. The first night of Oakland I used the pass to walk in for free! A smarter person may have left well enough alone and used this laminate to get into all the shows for free...but not me. As the lights dimmed for that 1st night in Oakland, Bobby, Phil, Brent,Mickey and Bill walk by me, headed up the stairs to get on stage. The sign on the wall read, Only persons with laminates allowed onstage.I followed the boys onstage! They started rockin' an Iko. Wholly shit, i'm onstage with the Dead. What energy! Robbie Taylor, the stage manager walked up to me and aked who i was. I told him my name, he backed away. a few moments later he came back and asked...who? He grabbed the pass from around my neck and said with a little anger, "How'd you get this"? I told him how, then he took the pass. Bummer. He seemed pretty pissed of as I begged him to let me keep the pass. "No f$#kin' way. Get off the Stage". Anyway, at least I got to be onstage for Iko. A time i'll never forget.