Grateful Dead

Info on this show, pics, and image of ticket stub are here: http://www.thestripproject.com/the-sports-arena/ Not sure how to share above.

The Allman Brothers shared a bill with the Dead for three nights at the Fillmore East in February 1970. Duane joined with the Dead in a monster jam to end the Dead’s late show on 2/11/1970. I doubt he needed an introduction from Mr. Silver three months later in May. I don’t doubt that Allman let the Desd use the equipment for free, but it wasn’t in exchange for an introduction.

Fortunately the entire experience was captured on film and in print by the Great Speckled Bird. True, the Dead arrived in Atlanta without their equipment, and I called Duane Allman at home in Macon early on Sunday morning to ask him if I could rent his sound system. He asked me who it was for, and when I told him it was for the Dead, he told me that I could have it for free in return for introducing him to Jerry Garcia. The Brothers brought their equipment to Atlanta and the two bands met for the first time. At the end of the Dead's set, the Allman Brothers joined them onstage and played a version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" unlike anything that has been heard before or since. A few years later these two bands played before hundreds of thousands at Watkins Glen. But only 2,000 saw them at the Sports Arena on May 10, 1970. In addition to the Dead, I booked Fleetwood Mac, Cheech & Chong, Kenny Rogers & the First Edition, Johnny & Edgar Winter, John Mayall and the Hampton Grease Band at the Arena in 1970. I know of no sound recordings of any of the shows; I ran the lights and sound and made no tapes. I would be happy to hear from anyone interested in the good ol' days. Peace.