Grateful Dead

York Farm - April 26, 1970 Five stars not enough for this one!Just as the Dead were tuning up, there was an aerial bombardment from a monoplane plowing furrows like a speed boat in blue sky - I swear I saw him (Kesey?) lean out the window and give the peace sign! Multi-colored peaces of paper fluttering into the trees to the NE. Everybody was waiting for instructions, looking at the Dead, who were looking at the trees. A female voice off mike said something like, "go ahead and get the blotters - they won't start playing until you get the blotters," like you won't miss anything... Jerry & Pigpen kind of nodded, and the blotters were retrieved. Lovelight came early (so did I), and I remember Pigpen grunting, and Jerry tilting the red SG (I could swear it had the Bigsby tailpiece, but it's not in the photos) and ripples of paisley or something with those Blue Bland horn riffs. Everybody took their hands out of their pockets... The Other One appeared early on its own, and later as part of "That's It For The Other One." They must have played every song they knew - 4-5 hours - Dark Star at sunset -St. Stephen caused Turquoise Navajo rug/Tibetan mandala diamonds and triangles. Very dry and dusty - water from tanker truck(s), which ran dry and made a run for a refill. When the truck returned, the driver hit the air horn with a syncopated synchronistic "Honk-Honk" - right in time w/the jam. My friend Laurel said she saw Kesey and was sure he vibed at her that he "wanted" her. He wants everybody, Laurel, but then, everybody wants you, anyway... After the Dead, Kesey ("everybody light a match!") consulted the oracle and got "Fire in the Heavens - Possession in Great Measure." I forget which hexagram # that is. That meant either something really great - or we would be busted for possession (in great measure). I'll have to check Confucius' commentary.

The Granny York Farm was a show put on by Sound Storm Promotions, AKA BOBO and Biker Bob to help save the farm and pay thier taxes. There was not an airplane dropping anything but a helicopter dropping down flyers that had all the undercover cops photos on them so everyone would know who they were. They left promply. Also the show would not start until PiG Pen got his cases of beer that was in the contract, so the emergency helicopter went into Poynet and landed at the liquor store. Ken Kesy was not there as far as I know by 1970 he was in a little bit of trouble and not following the dead to Wisconsin, the hippy in the chopper was none other than Peter O'Branavich (Get the book RADS and he is in it a bunch of times under Peter O'Branavich and BOBO and some other AKA's) There is talk of a book being written about this show and Bobos anticks so keep your eyes peeled. My uncle is Biker Bob and he took about 7 carosauls of Kadachromes that weekend as well as other stuff that may have been wet. I have been out to the farm trout fishing and it is beutiful, 500+ acres. I know all this because my uncle was there and I am friends with Bobo so it hurts me to read all the nonsense written about it, kinda like a german porn stars mouth...............full of shit. (yah i stole that line from Fat Albert) Peace

Got in free because I had volunteered a few days earlier to help set up the stage and the sound system. Hard work but fun. First live Dead show for me. Whole thing sounded great.

My baptism... smoked hash with Phil... anyone remember Luther Allison???