Grateful Dead

I don't feel entitled to anything but respect and honesty. I would never crash a gate. I don't even care that much about the downloads, though I will never bother to stream. I do care intensely about the Dead. As someone else here pointed out, they are long gone. This organization and web site have little to do with them. Even some of the remaining band members may not really know much about the "whole that was greater than the sum of the parts". Like in that Heinlein story "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" where the computer MycroftXXX develops a conciousness (called Mike) and the protagonist befriends it. Then later something goes wrong - most of the machine is still there, but his friend Mike is no longer inside of it, the soul has departed. Who could look at this situation, with any semblance of awareness, and not see the resonance with the download vs. streaming fiasco at Live Music Archive, which so sorely tested the trust between the Heads and the Band? To anyone who knew this history, this seemed in part an effort to heal that wound. "We are concerned about our property, so still won't let you just download whole soundboards. But we all acknowledge that this is a grey area in the GD 'ethic' since this technology never existed back in the day. So to show you that we still honor the compact between band and fans, here are some free jewels, tastefully chosen and intelligently presented." "OK, thanks. Wow, you really do care. And wow, this band really is singularly amazing. Now I remember why I almost dropped out of college and went to 150 shows. Can't wait to buy your next full show release..." Given all this, even if they think they have a point about the legalities and financial realities, how could they act so coldly? Answer - they are not the Grateful Dead. Just some entity with some continuity of machinery that "owns" the name. Far from percieving an excess of vitriol, I'm impressed with the kindness with which everyone here is willing to give "the DL" the benefit of the doubt. Who wants to believe that somebody who clearly loves the music we love could behave so poorly towards us? But he signed his name to it. He made his choice. Not even an apology, an acknowledgement that such an abrupt and unanounced change might have seemed capricious or rude or downright ungrateful. And Gans disappoints me. Apparently somewhat of an insider, in his smug, wisecracking comments he has shown zero sensitivity or understanding as to why some of us might have been upset by this behavior. One thing about the Dead I learned long ago, though, is that the best seats are out in the crowd, not backstage. For a while in the early 80s one of my buds was the band's local supplier of BMP* of which they had a "healthy" appetite. This opened up some access to sitting at the soundboard, etc. for some shows. But that scene was never as much fun as the one out on the floor. The vault is overrated. Right now it seems more like "the jail". Maybe the statue of liberty will burst a giant torch through the wall and liberate all of the skeletons suffering within. But in the meantime, a seeming infinity of wondrously great music is already here with us on the outside, free free free. Thought I'd check back here one more time, as I couldn't avoid the drama of seeing if they would ever offer an "official explanation". Now the suspense is over. Really no reason to ever return. David, I do sincerely apreciate all the incredible music and your lovely commentary up to this point. Maybe some time in the future you can collect these thoughts, insights and recollections in some form, with music embedded, that will be accessible and useful to us. Hope you keep your job even though many of us will not be checking back here on future mondays. Hope it was worth it to you. *Bolivian marching powder

Then All the mean shit pointed at David Lemieux is just imagined? Go back and read all the Bullshit! MEAN PEOPLE SUCK

Point to a single place where someone asserts a "right" to own the mp3s. Nobody is claiming it is a right.